Wayne Rooney’s has proven that no matter how young and virile you may be, you can still be affected by premature hair loss, but he has also proven that there is help available for those who are not too ashamed to seek it.

Embarrassment and fear that nothing can be done about it are the main reasons I think more men do not tackle the issue of their male pattern baldness. Hair loss can be sensitive issue for many men, and can even become the reason for ridicule, causing some to take charge. It is likely that Rooney may not admit it, but the taunting of his teammates and others may have been more of an impetus for treatment than the prompting of loved ones, as his wife has already expressed that she had nothing to do with it.

That Rooney has had to endure ridicule (though it may have been good natured) is an open fact. He has carried the nickname Bobby Charlton (a previous Manchester United Famer with a chrome dome) for more than a few years now. Now I am not saying that friend’s ridicule is a reason for treatment, but that the anxiety and frustration that goes along with it may be, and as the 23 year old Rooney is as human as the rest of it, this may just have been the case.

As his age proves Male pattern baldness is not just targeting the older men, but can strike at any age. There are several cases of men starting to show hair loss as early as the onset of puberty, but is usually most evident in men in their mid to late 40s.

Male pattern baldness usually has pretty distinctive features, clustered hair loss and a receding hair line, as can be easily seen in previous pictures of the football superstar.

There is more than one treatment for male pattern baldness, in addition to the hair follicle transplant that Mark underwent. Another option is the use of medications or topical solutions.

One of the more popular medications for this ailment is Propecia. Propecia has been very effective in the treatment of male pattern baldness and is on of the most widely prescribed medication in the field. It is one of the only two drugs approved by the FDA in the USA for male pattern baldness, along with Minoxidil and (as would be important for a professional athlete) contain no hormonal ingredients that could complicate a career. Propecia had been banned for use by the Anti-Doping Agency up until the beginning of the year for its active ingredient Finasteride, but that ban has since been lifted (which may have contributed to the method of treatment sought by Rooney.

Had it been approved earlier, Rooney may or may not have undergone hair follicle transplant, but as you can see from the many pictures he has recently made available, his surgery was a success and he looks great. More power to him, to those who can overcome the shame and embarrassment of hair loss, and do what they can go regain that full head of hair that in today’s society, is still a sign of strength and beauty.

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