Home and Away actor reveals his secret health battle after cruel trolls made comments on his appearance

Home and Away star Kyle Shilling has opened up about his health struggles after being trolled by viewers about his physical appearance.

The actor, who plays Mali in the show, shared a post on Instagram on Friday telling fans that he had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

He explained that he had to speak out about his health struggles after some viewers complained about his facial hair.

“For all those Home and Away fans complaining about my beard line… Not too long ago I was diagnosed with alopecia in the beard area, especially on my neck,” he wrote.

‘Alopecia is a hair loss disease that can be caused by stress. The makeup team at Home and Away are doing their best to cover up this ‘insecurity’ I have right now. It should grow back eventually, but for now it is what it is,” he continued.

“I’m not asking for sympathy because it could have been a lot worse, but I’m just shedding light on alopecia so people can understand it.”

Kyle revealed in December last year that he would join the Channel Seven soap and play the character Mali Hudson.

“It’s official ladies and gentlemen. I’m thrilled to be part of the wonderful Home and Away family/team,” he wrote at the time.

‘It has been nothing but an absolute privilege to work with everyone involved. I can’t wait for you all to see Mali Hudson’s story.”

The actor, who plays Mali in the show, shared a post to Instagram on Friday telling fans that he had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease after viewers complained about his facial hair.

Alopecia is the general medical term for hair loss. Alopecia areata – a form of hair loss – is caused by the body attacking its own healthy hair follicles.

There is currently no cure for alopecia areata and doctors cannot predict how much hair a person is likely to lose if small spots start to fall out.

But there is a 60 to 80 percent chance that the hair will grow back naturally in the small areas if it falls out.

When hair grows back, it can take months or years and usually starts as thin white hairs on bald spots, which can eventually thicken and regain their color.

‘For all those Home and Away fans complaining about my beard line. Not too long ago, I was diagnosed with alopecia in the beard area, especially in my neck,” he revealed