Former Premier League referee
Mark Clattenburg has had a hair transplant, marking yet another chapter in his public gripe with
hair loss which has lasted around ten years.
Frustrated by premature baldness
Initially, his experiences with the genetic hairloss condition
Male Pattern Baldness left him feeling "
embarrassed" and somewhat exposed, particularly considering his job where his
thinning hair became highly visible. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he noted "
I'd been trying to brush it over to hide some of the bald patches. I was frustrated that I was so young and losing my hair".
However, since 2009, rumours abounded that he was beginning to wear a hairpiece to mask his hair loss, which he later confirmed in an advertisement.
Clattenburg has since decided to go one step further, opting for
surgical hair restoration. The hair transplant technique used is known as
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE); individual units of hair follicles on the back and sides of his head were harvested, then grafted into his
thinning crown area.
Following the procedure, Clattenburg remarked how he felt more positive about his looks, describing his confidence levels as "
phenomenal".
Hairpieces can be problematic
The 42-year-old is by no means in the minority;
roughly half of all British men will experience Male Pattern Baldness to some extent by the time they reach 50 years of age. This statistic helps to demonstrate why both
hair transplant surgeries and hairpieces are rising in popularity, the latter becoming remarkably more realistic in recent times.
However, those considering this option might want to think again. Frequent wearing of hairpieces, weaves and the like have been known to result in
Traction Alopecia, a hair loss condition caused by constant, excessive amounts of pressure placed upon the follicles.
If caught early enough,
Traction Alopecia treatment can be beneficial; however, this depends on the stage of hair loss caused by the condition. Furthermore, if a person who has the condition wears a hairpiece, then it is paramount they remove the source of tension to reduce the risk of further follicular damage, and the potential for permanent baldness.
Men who have worn them also remark about how wary they are of weather, particularly the prospect of windier climates.
Non-surgical hair loss treatments
A popular solution for men wanting to
prevent baldness and restore healthy hair growth without turning to surgery or hairpieces comes in the form of two clinically-proven treatments - finasteride 1mg and minoxidil.
The one-a-day tablet,
finasteride 1mg, works by blocking the hormone
DHT which is the main cause of thinning hair and/or a receding hairline in men with a genetically-predisposed sensitivity to it. Topical applications of
high-strength minoxidil increase blood circulation to localised areas where it is applied, and is used once or twice a day, as directed.
Either one of both of these well-established
male hair loss treatments can form the cornerstone of a genetic hair growth regimen. They can also be used alongside a range of additional
hair growth supporting products.
The premium
Hair Vitalics For Men food supplement contains a range of key minerals, vitamins, botanical extracts and amino acids targeted towards maintaining healthy hair. In addition to these important nutrients, it also includes an ingredient not commonly found in the every-day diet - saw palmetto.
Other products which can be used to supplement the key treatments, work by stimulating targeted hair follicles via low level laser therapy using FDA-cleared devices, including the
LaserBand and the
LaserComb models.
It must be noted that if hair loss is so advanced that there are any parts of the scalp which have a smooth and shiny appearance, then it is unlikely treatment would work effectively there. However, a consultation with a specialist may help to work through any hair loss queries, and get a diagnosis plus, where appropriate, tailored treatment recommendations.