Louis Theroux shaves off eyebrows due to alopecia

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Louis Theroux in NovemberImage source, Getty Images
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Louis Theroux pictured in November with his eyebrows affected by hair loss

Louis Theroux has announced he has shaved off his eyebrows in response to facial hair loss.

The documentary maker, who suffers from alopecia, said he is considering microblading - a semi-permanent tattooing technique - to create the illusion of full eyebrows.

Posting pictures and a video of him shaving his face on Instagram, he asked his one million followers: "Can you tell what's different?"

"I've shaved off my eyebrows!"

The 53-year-old explained: "I'm also thinking about getting microblading soon.

"In the meanwhile I figure no eyebrows is better than patchy eyebrows."

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The Bafta-award winner has been sharing his journey with alopecia since January. It has also affected his beard and hair on his head, which could lead to him being bald in "two years or less".

"I'd like to know how I'm supposed to continue a career based largely on raising and lowering different eyebrows without any eyebrows," he asked in a post in November.

Alopecia is a general term for hair loss.

Typically it affects the head, but the severity of hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body, according to the NHS.

Theroux is best known for his work with the the BBC, which has ranged from documentaries involving embedding himself into fringe political groups, to long-form celebrity interviews.

A second series of Louis Theroux Interviews is currently airing on BBC Two and iPlayer in which he sits down one-on-one with big names including boxer Anthony Joshua, singer Raye and actor Ashley Walters.