It's common to initially go into denial, however you need to wise up and act fast. It might sound harsh; but it really is the best advice I can give you. Because we have already lost 50% of our hair BEFORE we even notice we have MPB.
It can't be easy to juggle family life with top level sport and still manage to be a world style icon. So well done for pulling it all off with such effortless grace.
Yet you and I both know there is a major problem on the horizon if not here already.
You see, I know your secret. No matter how well you groom no one can hide male pattern baldness (MPB) forever.
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It's a pesky gene that's to blame. I expect you inherited it from your mothers' side. But you mustn't feel too bad. At 38 your hair has lasted far longer than many thousands of other British men - myself included.
And when one remembers all the different styles you have sported over the years you certainly made the most of your locks whilst they lasted. In fact it's very obvious that you are a man who enjoys having hair, and I'm willing to bet you aren't quite ready to accept losing it just yet especially with your knighthood and acting career looming.
So please don't ignore the problem. It's common to initially go into denial, however you need to wise up and act fast. It might sound harsh; but it really is the best advice I can give you. Because we have already lost 50% of our hair BEFORE we even notice we have MPB.
Hair loss affects many men and it's important you understand it's not about vanity. I am speaking from experience. I was in my early twenties when my hair started falling out. I felt a devastating loss of self-esteem and self confidence.
So what are your options? Well the good news is that there are options these days. Your former England team-mate Wayne Rooney had a successful hair transplant earlier this year and hundreds of other men have benefitted from surgery - including myself.
But surgery should be your absolute last option. Before you get to that point you need to stop losing any further hair - and the good news is there are treatments which can help - and possibly Gordon Ramsey has tipped you off already on these.
But be careful, the hair loss industry preys on the vulnerable and there are numerous bogus treatments out there. I spent around £40,000 on various treatments, including several hair transplants, over a 10-year period so believe me I have been there and made countless mistakes which I endeavour to help people such as yourself avoid.
Many of the treatments on the market are ineffectual and the ones to avoid are various tonics, caffeine shampoos, healthy hair tablets, laser treatments/brushes and hoods. All rubbish in my experienced opinion.
You are probably asking yourself, why me? Well, it's useful to consider what causes hair loss.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an active metabolite of the testosterone hormone that is formed in the adrenal gland, hair follicles, prostate glands and testes. DHT is a naturally occurring hormone, but in genetically predisposed people, DHT can bind to the hair follicle and cause hair loss by deteriorating the follicle. Once the follicle is damaged too much, it cannot repair itself and ultimately dies, unable to produce further hair.
Understanding the role of dihydrotestosterone in MPB is an important step to finding the right treatment for you. Products that prevent those hormones are often called DHT Blockers. Only three proven medications can effectively stop hair loss and in many cases re-grow hair. These are Minoxidil, Propecia and Nizoral Shampoo and these could really help your crown region which appears to be crying out for it!
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These are the treatments that do work and are not expensive if purchased from reputable sources however speak to your GP initially and it's advisable to get blood tests done to see if there are underlying issues, however I'm confident MPB is to blame as it is with 95% of men who experience hair loss. Not that money is an issue for you, however for only £200-£300 you can purchase a year's supply of what insiders in the hair loss industry call "The Big 3"
To give your hair a general health boost you could take Methylsulfonyl methane which helps speed up hair growth together with Biotin but will not stop the cause of MPB.
You can hide hair loss with 'concealers', devices that maximise what hair you have left. They add thickness and density through magnetic fibres that coat the hair or coloured moisturisers for the scalp, and look very natural. Possibly you are already familiar with them, as I know for a fact several of you comrades and friends are.
If you do end up following in Wayne Rooney's footsteps and decide to opt for surgery, then the average cost of a transplant is £6,000-£8,000 although of course you can spend much more, depending on location, surgeon and technique used. It's an unregulated industry so be careful and when choosing a surgeon make sure you meet actual patients in advance. The IAHRS is a good resource and starting point when choosing surgeons to consult with for hair transplant surgery.
Remember the sooner you act the better as hair loss is progressive and I can guarantee you yours will only get worse if left unprotected.
I hope you find this information helpful David. If you act now you could reverse the hair loss you have experienced and we could all look forward to further iconic David Beckham hairstyles in the future.
11 Ways To Prevent Hair Loss
(01 of12)
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(credit:Alamy)
HRT(02 of12)
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It is worth noting that HRT, which uses the same hormones, can have the same effect, but are only given to women who haven’t had a hysterectomy. This type of hair thinning can be partially reversed with the correct treatment, and taking the right type of contraceptive pill is very important to the prognosis. (credit:Glenn Lyons)
Scalp Health(03 of12)
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Ensure that the scalp is healthy. Recent research indicates that dandruff or flaky scalps increases rate of hair shedding. To counteract an unhealthy scalp use a scalp mask such as Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask (£5.25 (30ml) philipkingsley.com) once a week. Also, use a shampoo for flaky/itchy scalps every day for a week to clear the scalp, then occasionally for adequate control. (credit:Philip Kingsley)
Stress(04 of12)
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Extreme stress can cause hair loss in the form of alopecia areata. It is important to identify what it is that is causing the stress, perhaps it is a difficult relationship, money worries, or a miserable job. Once the cause is identified, it makes it much easier to treat the stress, I also highly recommend yoga. It is brilliant for lowering stress levels. Any hobby that you find interesting or that takes your mind of things that make you stressed are beneficial, walking, reading, going to the cinema are all very good stress relievers. (credit:Glenn Lyons)
Exercise(05 of12)
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Exercising regularly would tend to have a positive effect on hair: The fitter you are, the more hair should benefit. As far as sweating and more frequent shampooing is concerned, it is good, not bad, to shampoo hair frequently. (credit:Glenn Lyons)
Iron Storage(06 of12)
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One of the most important factors in preventing hair loss is adequate iron storage, which is called Ferritin. This helps to maximise hair growth, low levels will cause hair shedding. It may also be necessary to buy a vitamin B12 supplement and/or iron, but iron should be taken only if necessary after a blood test. It is surprising how many young women have low iron levels. (credit:Glenn Lyons)
Hair Styles(07 of12)
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Tight hair styles, ponytails, hard brushing, hair extensions can all lead to traction hair loss – that is hair loss due to constant pulling on the hair follicles. (credit:Philip Kingsley)
Dieting(08 of12)
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Excessive weight-loss can cause hair to thin. If a slim person loses 2 kg for example, they may find that their hair begins to thin. Your hair is not a vital tissue, like bone marrow, nor is it a vital organ, like your heart, liver or kidneys. What little nutrition you are getting through a restrictive diet will go to those parts of you first. Even though your hair is very important to you psychologically, your body is much more concerned with keeping its internal organs healthy. If your body is feeling deprived and hungry on a crash diet or restrictive diet, you can only imagine how your hair follicles are feeling! This starvation of the follicles causes your hair go into the telogen (resting/falling) phase prematurely, and many hairs at the same time. You can experience mass hair loss depending on how bad your diet was and for how long the diet went on for. (credit:Glenn Lyons)
Contraceptive Pills(09 of12)
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It is not just stress that can have a detrimental effect on our hair, we now know The Pill can thin hair too. Several widely prescribed contraceptive pills, for example Logynon, Microgynon, Ovranette and Loestrin, all contain the highest levels of two particular male hormone derivatives, or progestins, that are linked with hair thinning – caused by the hair follicles getting smaller (and each hair growing thinner) rather than hair actually falling out. This thinning only affects women sensitive to hormonal change, but that accounts for 40% of women. The Pill is made up of both female and male hormones, ‘but look out for those containing levonorgestel and norethisterone, the two male hormone progestins that are the main culprits, they’re the most prescribed, though that’s more down to ignorance on the GP’s part. If you feel that your hair is thinning, your GP should be happy to change your prescription; ask for a Pill that has a low or no ‘androgenic’ action, like drospirenone found in Yasmin, norgestimate found in Cilest and desogestral found in Marvelon. Dianette, which works as an oral contraceptive, contains cyproterone acetate, and this can be helpful in treating thinning hair, along with acne and facial hair growth. (credit:Glenn Lyons)
Supplements(10 of12)
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Supplements can help, too. Try PK4Hair, a protein supplement and also a multi vitamin and mineral supplement. (credit:Philip Kingsley)
Snacking(11 of12)
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It is important not to leave it too long between meals. By eating every 3-4 hours can help prevent hair loss. The energy to form hair cells diminishes four hours after eating a meal, so snacking between meals will help boost energy levels. The best energy boosting snacks are complex carbohydrates such as fruit. (credit:Glenn Lyons)
Protein(12 of12)
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Hair is made of 85% protein and is the second most prolific growing cell in the body; therefore, its demand for energy is high. It is important to eat proteins for hair strength as part of a moderately balanced diet. (credit:Glenn Lyons)