'Tajja 4' actor Miyoshi Ayaka reveals facial palsy diagnosis: 'Not yet fully recovered'

Miyoshi Ayaka, a Japanese actor starring in the film "Tajja: Song of Beelzebub" (Tajja 4), has revealed she was diagnosed with facial palsy.

Facial palsy refers to weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles caused by damage to or abnormalities in the facial nerve. It can result from brain trauma or infection, but it also occurs without any identifiable cause.

On Friday, in connection with the film's VIP preview, Miyoshi wrote on her Instagram account that she wanted to address her health directly after fans who had seen footage of her expressed concern. "About a month ago I was diagnosed with facial palsy and had to take a break from activities for a while," she said, adding that she had fortunately been able to resume work recently.

Miyoshi had been absent from the film's production press conference held Aug. 18 at CGV Yongsan iPark Mall in Seoul. She had originally been scheduled to attend but missed the event due to health reasons.

"I was very surprised myself by the sudden situation, but I am now recovering smoothly," she said. "I have not fully recovered yet, but I feel great joy and happiness to be able to be active in front of everyone again like this."

Bell's palsy: cause often difficult to identify

This image is unrelated to the article. [123RF]

According to Asan Medical Center, facial palsy reduces movement in the muscles on one side of the face, causing asymmetry when a person moves their face. In some cases, the eye may not close fully, food may dribble from the mouth while eating, and speech may become unclear.

For most people who develop facial palsy suddenly, no specific cause can be found even after examination and testing. Such cases are often called Bell's palsy, a diagnostic term named after British physician Charles Bell. It has become a widely used medical term because it is the most common cause of facial palsy.

However, facial palsy can also result from the shingles virus, a skull fracture, or neurological conditions such as stroke or brain tumors. Fatigue, cold wind and stress are also cited as possible causes, though these remain subjects of debate.

Bell's palsy is typically managed with medication alongside physical therapy such as electrical stimulation. Recovery is usually gradual, taking several months, and some patients are left with a degree of lasting paralysis. Depending on the prognosis, full recovery can occur within two months, but symptoms may persist for months to years. When a clear underlying cause such as shingles is identified, appropriate treatment for that condition is necessary.

Seoul National University Hospital advises that while most Bell's palsy cases resolve within six months, patients should seek further evaluation if they experience no recovery after that period, severe headaches, hearing loss, other paralysis symptoms, or recurring facial nerve palsy.

An Eun-jin's experience: 'Water was leaking while I brushed my teeth'

Miyoshi is not the only celebrity to have dealt with facial palsy.

Actor An Eun-jin has also shared her experience of suddenly developing facial palsy during a drama shoot and undergoing treatment. The first sign something was wrong, she said, was water leaking from one side of her mouth while brushing her teeth.

An appeared on the YouTube channel "Yojeong Jaehyeong" on Sunday and recalled the episode while filming the JTBC drama series "Bad Mother." "On a shoot day I was washing my face and brushing my teeth when water started leaking from one side of my mouth," she said. "As I got to the set I kept wondering why my face was moving like that, so I told the director and went to the hospital — and it turned out to be facial palsy."

She initially thought a few days of rest would be enough, but her symptoms worsened. The production schedule ultimately had to be adjusted to accommodate her condition.

"We filmed the Miju scenes only through that day and then stopped everything," An said, looking back on the experience. "Because my face moved with a time lag, they could only shoot my side profile."

In March, Min Woo Lee of the group Shinhwa also shared an update that he was receiving treatment for facial palsy.

In an Instagram story at the time, Lee wrote that his nerves had "been wrecked by stress," adding, "If you leave it untreated for years like I did, a full recovery is difficult — but still, if you consistently receive treatment, it can get a little better."

yul@heraldcorp.com