TV presenter Ranvir Singh on hair loss, dark circles and why going to the gym is about getting stronger not smaller

Body confidence was a battle

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Women have always been told it’s our job to look as thin as possible. I’ve always tried to chase those standards and with that has come a lifetime of confusion, guilt and bewilderment as to why I can’t do it when other people can.

But in the past year I’ve experienced a sea change. I’ve learnt to appreciate my body for what it does for me. You realise as you get into your 40s, thinness is not your friend. All those women I was envious of are now getting injured and feeling old.

I’m now evangelical about weight training. You have to train your body for the future. When I’m doing squats, I’m not thinking I want my bum to look smaller, I’m thinking it will mean when I’m older I can sit on the loo and not fall off it!

I’ve suffered with alopecia

It’s a continuing issue. When I’m on set my biggest concern about my hair is it gapping at the front. When I first started on national TV in 2012 I’d just had a baby, a time when you can naturally lose hair, and a hairdresser said, ‘Why don’t you try extensions?’ Now I have them, but it’s an expensive solution.

I considered a hair transplant, but from what I understand I don’t have enough hair follicles at the back to do that. I looked at tattooing, but I ended up using a basic spray, L’Oréal Magic Retouch Instant Root Concealer Spray (£10, boots.com) to disguise any patches.

My skin is prone to scars

I get breakouts on my chin and because South Asian skin is prone to hyperpigmentation they turn into dark spots almost instantly. To tackle this, I use La Roche-Posay MelaB3 Serum, (£48, boots.com). I also suffer with dark circles, so I use Roc Derm Correxion Dual Eye Cream (£39.99, sephora.co.uk). I always wear SPF: I like Garnier Hylaluron Daily UV Fluid SPF 50 (£13.99, boots.com). 

I don’t wear mascara on TV

I can get contact dermatitis, so I wear little eye make-up because wiping it away creates such sensitivity. To correct my dark circles, I use Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish in Tan (£28, charlottetilbury.com).

I layer Tatcha The Brightening Eye Cream (£64, spacenk.com) under it and Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer (£39, johnlewis.com) over it. On days off, I use Vita Liberata Beauty Blur Face (£33, boots.com) to give my skin a pep up.

I copied Tess Daly’s tweakment

She always looks incredible and I know she uses Ultherapy (from £800 for a brow lift to £2,500 for a full face, ultherapy.com) so I did some research and had it done.

It’s non-invasive and uses ultrasound to encourage your own collagen to regenerate. Now I don’t look at myself in the mirror and think, ‘Oh god, you need a facial.’

Ranvir hosts the new series of Riddiculous, 3pm weekdays from tomorrow on ITV1