Alan Fletcher is well-known in Australia for his role as Dr. Karl Kennedy in the popular soap Neighbours.
Fans were understandably concerned when the 65-year-old, who has played Ramsay Street’s favourite GP since 1994, wore a shorn head in episodes earlier this year.
Alan had lost his hair owing to a relatively common yet non-life threatening condition, which spectators were unaware of.
Alan used social media in May to reassure his supporters that he was fine and to explain that he had been diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, an inflammatory illness that causes hair loss.
Alan posted a selfie of himself with a bald head before going on to discuss his hair loss in a video.
“A number of admirers have expressed concern about my health, and there have also been media inquiries,” he said.
“All I want to do is put this to rest.” I’m fine; I’m in good shape and working on Neighbours, where I’m having a terrific time.
“However, I can inform you that I do suffer from alopecia areata.”
Alan claimed that he chose to shave it all off after experiencing “patchy hair loss.”
“I began to lose hair in areas in my beard and subsequently on my scalp. So I shaved off my beard, and then my hair became so uneven on my head that I had to get rid of the majority of it as well,” he explained.
Alan, on the other hand, is unconcerned by his new appearance. He captioned an Instagram snapshot of himself with a broad grin on his bald head, “I have no problem with it.” In fact, it’s quite enjoyable.”
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss that ranges from patchiness to baldness. Hair can come back or be lost in a few locations in some cases, while others may experience more severe and permanent hair loss.
While there are various causes for alopecia, most doctors feel heredity plays the most important influence.
Hormonal changes and medical problems can also increase the chances of acquiring the illness.
