17 Year Old Male. Do I Have Early Recession?

[YoungNeurotic]

Hello all. 17 year old male here, and I'm worried that I might have very early signs of recession. I've noticed that my left corner in the pictures has moved back significantly more than my right corner. Distance from middle to highest wrinkle is about a fingers length. Simply put, time to start the big three? I have pictures of the corners, and the overall hairline. Sorry for the bad lighting. I don't own an expensive camera.

Additional Information: My Uncle is a Norwood 3 and started losing a lot of his hair in this late 20s/early 30s, currently in his early 40s. My father's a Norwood 1.5ish, currently in his mid 50s with very slow recession. My father's side is 50/50 in terms of balding. My mother's side is about 50/50. Seems like I have a decently high chance of alopecia.

 

[MorningGlory]

No way should you start the big three. Monitor it, but don’t obsess over it. You have thick hair and a good hairline. Enjoy it, young man.

 

[Joseph Lloyd]

I am with Morning Glory on this one. You are still at an age where you absolutely do not want to be messing around with pharmaceuticals that impact your hormone levels. The very most I would suggest might be to use a natural product like copper peptides and then maybe nizoral shampoo with minoxidil but please, for the love of good, do not touch finasteride, dutasteride or any type of anti-androgens.

FYI, even if you are technically receding your starting point is good (when I was a teenager my hairline started further back - not because of shedding but genetics).

 

[YoungNeurotic]

I am with Morning Glory on this one. You are still at an age where you absolutely do not want to be messing around with pharmaceuticals that impact your hormone levels. The very most I would suggest might be to use a natural product like copper peptides and then maybe nizoral shampoo with minoxidil but please, for the love of good, do not touch finasteride, dutasteride or any type of anti-androgens.

FYI, even if you are technically receding your starting point is good (when I was a teenager my hairline started further back - not because of shedding but genetics).

Thanks for both of your responses. I think I'll consider starting Nizoral and maybe minoxidil just as preventative measures in case I really do have early stage alopecia. Should I continue to see recession, what would be the minimum age that I should even consider finasteride or other androgen blockers?

 

[shookwun]

nizoral shampoo
minioxidil



finasteride can be considered in the future. monitor your situation closely, and take pictures

 

[Joseph Lloyd]

Thanks for both of your responses. I think I'll consider starting Nizoral and maybe minoxidil just as preventative measures in case I really do have early stage alopecia. Should I continue to see recession, what would be the minimum age that I should even consider finasteride or other androgen blockers?

More than glad to help buddy. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions here.

In answer to when it’s appropriate I would say that 21 years old as a minimum. With that said, if you’re really wanting something with some kind of anti-dht action then I suggest checking out saw palmetto which is a herb that will have some action that can help but less in the way of negative effects.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

You are a Norwood 1.5 ... maybe a Norwood 2. Do NOT start the big 3. Use natural DHT inhibitors like saw palmetto and Fenugreek until you are 18 then get on finasteride. I would consider minoxidil a last resort in terms of the big 3. Its a pain to apply consistently if you use topical and then there is the shed, which can be bad. You must also use it forever.

 

[MorningGlory]

You are a Norwood 1.5 ... maybe a Norwood 2. Do NOT start the big 3. Use natural DHT inhibitors like saw palmetto and Fenugreek until you are 18 then get on finasteride. I would consider minoxidil a last resort in terms of the big 3. Its a pain to apply consistently if you use topical and then there is the shed, which can be bad. You must also use it forever.

Where is Minoxidil supposed to be applied? All over the scalp or just the affected area(s)?

 

[AnxiousAndy]

Where is Minoxidil supposed to be applied? All over the scalp or just the affected area(s)?

The most sensible place to apply would be on the affected areas. I use oral minoxidil so it affecs my whole scalp.