Justin Timberlake's Lyme Disease Diagnosis Validates That Symptoms Can Be Hard To Spot

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 400,000 individuals receive a Lyme disease diagnosis annually. In an August 2025 Instagram post, singer Justin Timberlake revealed to fans that he had the infectious disease, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected deer tick. (For the record, Yolanda Hadid experienced Lyme disease as well.) He explained that his diagnosis came as a surprise, but he added that it helped him understand why he was experiencing unexpected symptoms like fatigue, nerve pain, and sickness during his recent world tour.

One symptom Timberlake didn't mention having was the "bullseye rash" that's become a symbol of Lyme disease. Yet that's hardly unusual; many people who have Lyme disease don't see any visual evidence of it. In fact, a 2021 article in Frontiers in Medicine mentioned that delayed Lyme disease diagnosis was frequently due to the lack of a skin rash.

Lyme disease symptoms are quite varied and may involve fever, joint stiffness, headaches, and enlarged lymph nodes, as well as the indicators that led to Timberlake's diagnosis. Consequently, if you've always heard that you only had to look for a rash to know if you were at risk of Lyme disease, you've been misinformed by myths about Lyme disease.

Timberlake didn't outline his Lyme disease treatment plan. Nonetheless, the general protocol for anyone diagnosed with Lyme disease is a round of antibiotics, which may be taken for two or more weeks.

However, the CDC explains that up to 10% of people who have Lyme disease may wind up with lasting side effects after treatment, such as exhaustion and cognitive challenges. These may come and go, flaring up and then disappearing. Or, they may become chronic problems that stick around for months or even years, and that can be hard to treat, particularly since additional rounds of antibiotics are unlikely to cure the disease if the first round of antibiotics wasn't successful.

What should you do if you suspect you may have Lyme disease? Contact your healthcare provider if you have any suspicions that you may have been exposed to deer ticks, even if you don't have a bulleyes rash. If your provider is equally concerned about your symptoms, you'll likely take a blood test. As long as it's been a few weeks since you were bitten by an infected tick, your body will have enough Lyme disease antibodies to show a positive result. At that point, you'll probably be given a prescription for antibiotics.

Although Lyme disease is not contagious, cases are on the rise. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that the increasing prevalence of cases may be related to climate change. However, in a Mayo Clinic article, Dr. Bobbi Pritt suggests that the increase may also be related to a better understanding of how to properly identify the disease. Regardless, she advises paying attention to any symptoms immediately to avoid lasting effects: "If the infection is not treated right away, the patient may then progress to having other symptoms, like disseminated rashes, joint pain, arthritis and even neurologic involvement."

You can protect yourself from Lyme disease by taking precautionary measures if you spend time in woodland or grassy habitats where deer ticks are found. For instance, wearing long sleeves, pants, socks, boots, and a hat can make it more difficult for ticks to access your body. Additionally, you may want to use insect repellent. And after being outdoors, check yourself for ticks. Also, be on the lookout for small bumps and bites that you can't explain, as well as concerning symptoms that suddenly arise weeks later.

There's no telling where Timberlake got his Lyme disease or how long he's had it. However, he seemed to have a positive outlook on his health: "I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I'm so glad I kept going."