Put the gap in your experience section like any other entry, give it one honest line, and say what you did or learned during it. Unexplained date jumps raise more doubt than the gap itself.
Treat the gap as an entry in your work history with dates, a short title and a single line. That keeps the timeline continuous, which is exactly what a reviewer scanning dates is checking for.
Plain, specific and short works better than an apology or an explanation nobody asked for.
Most gap damage is self-inflicted, and comes from trying to cover it.
No. Reviewers notice unexplained date jumps and assume the worst. A single honest line removes the question entirely and costs you almost no space.
Anything under about three months usually needs nothing — using years rather than months on your dates covers it. Explain gaps of roughly six months or more.
No. You are not required to disclose medical details. 'Career break for health reasons, now fully available' is enough, and employers should not press further.
Draft your CV, run the ATS check against a real job ad, and download a PDF.