Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho Denies Stress-Related Hair Loss

As a wildly successful - and controversial - football manager, Jose Mourinho is used to being the focus of media speculation, but answering questions about hair loss is a new one on The Special One.

'Adapting to the challenge'

Despite leading Chelsea to victory in the Premier League and the League Cup last season, Mourinho's team have followed this streak with their worst start to a season since 1988.

Debuting a closely cropped cut, the 52 year old manager was forced to explain his style switch during a press conference as journalists asked if the team's recent lack of form was to blame.

Suggesting his drastic new haircut - which exposed slightly thinning hair at the front of his hairline - was due to stress-related hair loss, Mourinho answered: "I promise you I am fine but I am not happy. I am not used to losing so many times but I am adapting to the challenge."

When probed further about whether his haircut reflected his mood, Mourinho jokingly referenced his 2012/13 season shaved head: "My haircut isn’t as radical as it has been… the war haircut is shorter than this one".

At the time the Daily Mail reported that haircut in a similar manner to the way journalists are looking to his current style, saying: 'Like a scene from 'Taxi Driver', it depicts Mourinho psyching-up for the mid-winter slog, the hardest part of the campaign, he says, and 'only for the brave'.

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Mourinho's explanation was a little less emotional, however: "I did it myself," he said. "I asked Fernando [Torres] to give me his machine and I did it myself in front of the mirror. It is nice and it is cheap. In a couple of months I will have hair again. Some people can't do it." 'Some people' possibly being a reference to his footballing nemesis, Pep Guardiola; Mourinho has previously attributed the Bayern Munich manager's baldness to the 'fact' that he "does not enjoy football". The Portuguese cheekily told the press, "If you enjoy what you’re doing, you don’t lose your hair. He’s got a bald head."

Stress and male pattern hair loss

Although it may not be the case for Mourinho, hair loss caused by stress is a very real issue. Called Telogen Effluvium it is triggered by high levels of on-going stress and leads to a general thinning of the hair from all over the scalp. Although it is a temporary hair loss condition which generally allows the hair to regrow naturally (or with professional treatment) within 12 months, it can spark a more permanent form of shedding.

Men who have an inherited sensitivity to DHT - the substance responsible for genetic thinning - may find male pattern baldness is started or worsened following Telogen Effluvium. The two conditions can also present at the same time, although hereditary hair loss only affects areas around the top of the head and hairline.

Male hair loss is a permanent, progressive condition which may lead to complete baldness. For those who are not comfortable with losing their hair there are options available that can help to stabilise shedding and promote regrowth. Two clinically-proven, MHRA licened and FDA approved medications - finasteride 1mg and minoxidil- are available for the treatment of male pattern hair loss, which can be used individually or in tandem - depending on medical suitability - alongside a range of complementary hair growth supporting products.

Even if male hair loss treatment is sought, however, it is still important to address the underlying reason for any undue stress and actively seek to prevent or manage this. So, for the sake of Jose Mourinho's hair at least, Chelsea had better find their form again soon - just in case!