Palace Fans Suspect Andros Townsend of Using Hair Loss Treatment

Over on Twitter, The Belgravia Centre is frequently tagged in photos of footballers, with fans suggesting certain players may benefit from paying us a visit. This weekend was no exception with contenders ranging from Perry Groves to Danny Murphy.

One which did catch our eye involved a rumour as to whether or not a certain Crystal Palace player had already been in for treatment.

And, having looked at older photos of Andros Townsend when he played for Newcastle United compared to more recent snaps with the London club, it's easy to see where the speculation about his hair loss has come from.

Noticeably thicker hair

In May 2016 Townsend had moderate signs of Male Pattern Baldness; his hair was thinning on top - particularly at the front - and he looked to be developing a receding hairline.

In July 2016, during his pre-season friendly Palace debut, the player sported a fully shaved head with short stubble. Interestingly the hairline this stubble outlined was a completely different shape to how it had appeared pre-shave. It was more rounded, with no receding - both temples filled in - and looked to be more akin to how his hairline looked when he was younger.

Now, fast forward to October 2018 and the East-ender has a full head of thicker hair than we have seen him with previously. His hairline remains strong, with no signs of the widow's peak he had been developing a couple of years ago. The 27 year old has also grown his hair longer, perhaps now more confident in his ability to do so... but why? Continues below...

Did Andros Townsend have a hair transplant?

The key question here is what caused this highly-defined hairline and thicker hair? There are a number of possibilities, including The Daily Star's suggestion that Andros Townsend had a hair transplant during the close season between him leaving Newcastle and joining Crystal Palace. If he did undergo surgical hair restoration it would have been after the Euro 2016 tournament as the midfielder still had longer hair, and a deteriorating hairline when he was on England duty.

If he did have a transplant it would take up to 12 months for the final results to be noticeable, meaning if he did go down the invasive route - his hair growth should have looked markedly different by the summer of 2017.  As he grew his hair back from closely shaved into a short crop, his hair density did seem to improve, though in some photos the outline of his hairline, particularly at the temples, looked to be less due to hair regrowth and more shaded in.

Click to View Belgravia Male Pattern Hair Loss Treatment Success Stories (Results May Vary And Are Not Guaranteed)

Another consideration is that the Leytonstone-born lad underwent something called scalp micropigmentation, also known as trichopigmentation. This is a form of medical grade tattooing where various shades of inks are dotted finely on to the scalp to mimic the appearance of stubble.

Whilst that would account for his sudden change in hairline, it would not account for his clearly thicker hair regrowth. Some men who like wearing their hair extremely short shave their head then opt for this illusory hair loss solution on its own, whilst others use it essentially as a 'backdrop', helping to fill in areas they feel may be thinner by creating darker areas on the scalp which make the hair appear denser, in addition to exploring non-surgical hair restoration methods.

In each instance - whether he sought surgical or cosmetic intervention - in order to deal with the cause of his thinning hair, it is likely a supplementary course of male hair loss treatment was recommended for on-going use. There are two clinically-proven medications - finasteride 1mg and minoxidil - which are both MHRA licensed and FDA approved for this purpose. They can be used singularly or in tandem and have complementary actions; whilst finasteride 1mg - an oral tablet taken once per day - inhibits the formation of DHT, the hormone byproduct which causes thinning hair in genetically predisposed individuals - high strength minoxidil is a topical solution applied directly to the scalp, where needed, to actively encourage hair growth.

When a man has a hair transplant, whilst the grafted hairs will be immune to the effects of DHT, because Male Pattern Baldness is a permanent condition, the hairs in the susceptible areas - from hairline to crown and temples - surrounding these grafts will remain prone to the on-going effects of DHT, including thinning and receding. This is why following this type of course on an on-going basis to preserve the surgery's results and to help with preventing baldness is often recommended by transplant surgeons and hair loss specialists.

Whatever approach Townsend took - or is taking - his hair is definitely looking great now so it's obviously working out well for him. When dealing with such a personal issue as men's hair loss it is crucial to do plenty of research into options and reputable sources for help, before making a decision as to what feels most comfortable. Anyone worried their hair is going the same way Andros Townsend's was previously, and who would like information about what types of treatments are open to them should contact a hair specialist for a consultation.