"It is what it is": Home and Away star shares secret diagnosis
Aussie actor Kyle Shilling has shared the details of a secret health battle, after fans were quick to point out his unusual appearance.
Shilling, who plays Mali Hudson on Home and Away, took to his Instagram story to address the complaints about his facial hair.
After Friday night's episode of the Channel Seven soap, social media was flooded with comments about his patchy beard, with one person writing, “I wish Mali would shave his beard line along his jaw rather than halfway up it."
“It’s all I can see whenever he’s on screen. Very distracting.”
“Thanks, that’s all I’m gonna see now too,” wrote another.
Shilling responded to the comments, revealing his recent diagnosis with alopecia.
“For all those Home and Away fans complaining about my beard line,” he wrote.
“Not too long ago I was diagnosed with alopecia on the beard region, mainly my neck. Alopecia is a hair loss disease which can be caused by stress."
“The makeup team on Home and Away do the best they can to help cover this ‘insecurity’ I now have."
“It should grow back eventually, but for now it is what it is.”
He added, “I’m not asking for sympathy, as it could be a lot worse.
“I’m simply shedding light on alopecia so people have an understanding about it. Thanks fam.”
In a follow-up message, he wrote. "Because of my recent story about alopecia, I've received an overwhelming amount of messages. Majority are from people who have gone through it with a worse experience. big love to you all, keep on keeping on."
"This is a reminder not to openly say something about someone's appearance, as you may not know what the reason behind it is. Think before you judge."
Image credits: Seven