Determining continuing hairloss

[Vanzzzz]

Guys, I would really like to seek your advice, especially those more experienced members. I have lost quite a bit of my temple hair within the last 2 years, but am uncertain as to whether the receding hairline has stopped or is continuing. Personally Im still fine with my current hair, but would be loathed to lose any more hair. Thus, Im still deciding whether or not to go on finasteride/nizoral.

Attached are my pics taken 8 months apart. Do you guys think I will be losing any more hair? If 8 months interval is not enough, how long do you guys recommend me to wait before determining if I am still losing my hair. My hairline hair are getting quite thin and I believe are miniaturizing. But how long does it normally take for this process to end?

The reason I am asking is because I am not sure whether I will continue balding or have this 'mature' hairline, especially since my maternal side uncles are bald but my dad still has a full head of hair at 60. Thus, I am not very certain whether I want to take finasteride due to the potential side effects, especially if my hairloss doesnt seem to be getting worse.

Please help a new guy out thanks a lot!!!!

 

[Vanzzzz]

No one has any advice for me? I would really appreciate hearing from you guys, whether good or bad. If these photos aren't enough there are still more photos in 'Tell you story' thread.

 

[timbo]

Look, male pattern baldness never really "stops." It might slow down, or postpone for a while, but it won't just stop. Propecia is known to slow, halt, or even reverse the balding process. I would certainly recommend it, but it's your choice. I can tell you that you don't want to take the drug if you think that you're going to get side-effects from it, because you probably will.

 

[Vanzzzz]

Thank you for your frank reply. I had the feeling I was grasping at straws as well, though Im pretty sure not all men will get to NW4-7 even if they chose to not take the medication.

However in my case, I think I will go on the medication. Heck I have never gotten any sides from any medication before, not even accutane for my acne.

 

[cuebald]

Your genetics are hit and miss, genetically you could go either way.
Judging by those pictures however, I don't see any loss in the 8 month interval pictured.
I think you've just got a mature hairline.

If the process is that slow, perhaps it's worth waiting another 6 months and comparing before jumping on finasteride? (unless you suddenly start noticing handfuls of shedding)
If I were you I'd hold off on the finasteride for now. Don't think you have male pattern baldness.

 

[timbo]

Thank you for your frank reply. I had the feeling I was grasping at straws as well, though Im pretty sure not all men will get to NW4-7 even if they chose to not take the medication.

However in my case, I think I will go on the medication. Heck I have never gotten any sides from any medication before, not even accutane for my acne.

No, but generally speaking. The earlier in life it starts, the worse it will end up. Plus, NW4-7 is not uncommon by any means. I think you're making the right choice.

 

[Boondock]

Look, male pattern baldness never really "stops." It might slow down, or postpone for a while, but it won't just stop. Propecia is known to slow, halt, or even reverse the balding process. I would certainly recommend it, but it's your choice. I can tell you that you don't want to take the drug if you think that you're going to get side-effects from it, because you probably will.

False. Everyone has an end-point to their male pattern baldness. For some, it's Norwood 7. Others stop just after Norwood 4. A few recede to an extremely mature hairline, and it stops at that.

The difference is quite important because it radically affects the likelihood of benefiting from hair transplants. If your loss stops at NW4, a hair transplant will be fairly effective. If it's NW7, not so much.

 

[captain_que]

Look, male pattern baldness never really "stops." It might slow down, or postpone for a while, but it won't just stop. Propecia is known to slow, halt, or even reverse the balding process. I would certainly recommend it, but it's your choice. I can tell you that you don't want to take the drug if you think that you're going to get side-effects from it, because you probably will.

False. Everyone has an end-point to their male pattern baldness. For some, it's Norwood 7. Others stop just after Norwood 4. A few recede to an extremely mature hairline, and it stops at that.

The difference is quite important because it radically affects the likelihood of benefiting from hair transplants. If your loss stops at NW4, a hair transplant will be fairly effective. If it's NW7, not so much.

So say you were really just maturing really bad, and you got on minoxidil or finasteride which your hair became dependent upon; you´d perhaps end up losing more than you were originally destined for? :whistle:

 

[Vanzzzz]

To be honest, I lose about less than 50 strands a day, I know cos I counted about 30+ when I shower, and I rarely see any hair on my pillow, at most about 2-4, cos my hair loss is mostly on my temple but my crown is really thick. So the shedding isn't bad. I worry the most when I see those really thin hair dropping out when I shower, cos the hair follicle may not produce any more hair after that...

 

[Boondock]

Look, male pattern baldness never really "stops." It might slow down, or postpone for a while, but it won't just stop. Propecia is known to slow, halt, or even reverse the balding process. I would certainly recommend it, but it's your choice. I can tell you that you don't want to take the drug if you think that you're going to get side-effects from it, because you probably will.

False. Everyone has an end-point to their male pattern baldness. For some, it's Norwood 7. Others stop just after Norwood 4. A few recede to an extremely mature hairline, and it stops at that.

The difference is quite important because it radically affects the likelihood of benefiting from hair transplants. If your loss stops at NW4, a hair transplant will be fairly effective. If it's NW7, not so much.

So say you were really just maturing really bad, and you got on minoxidil or finasteride which your hair became dependent upon; you´d perhaps end up losing more than you were originally destined for? :whistle:

Also false. If particular hairs are unaffected by DHT, it won't matter what finasteride you take.

 

[timbo]

False. Everyone has an end-point to their male pattern baldness. For some, it's Norwood 7. Others stop just after Norwood 4. A few recede to an extremely mature hairline, and it stops at that.

No, but generally speaking. The earlier in life it starts, the worse it will end up.

Age of onset is a potent intimation of how severe the case is. I think this "end-point" you are describing is really just a postponement or a brisk slowing down of the process. I doubt that male pattern baldness would take a 20 year old down to a NW3 and let him enjoy it all the way through his 60's and 70's.

Either way, it's not a sound argument for not taking Propecia, because it can always start up again at any point in time.

 

[Boondock]

False. Everyone has an end-point to their male pattern baldness. For some, it's Norwood 7. Others stop just after Norwood 4. A few recede to an extremely mature hairline, and it stops at that.

No, but generally speaking. The earlier in life it starts, the worse it will end up.

I doubt that male pattern baldness would take a 20 year old down to a NW3 and let him enjoy it all the way through his 60's and 70's.

Well it happens. More commonly, it'll take a 20-year-old down to a NW4+, but bear in mind there's a significant difference between a NW4 and a NW7 - at least in terms of what hair transplants can do for you.

Early onset is usually an indicator high severity, but not always. There are no rules, only guidelines. Some people balding at 20 will stop at NW4; some people who start at 40 will progress to NW7 by 50.

I agree it's not a reason for not taking finasteride if someone wants to.

 

[Vanzzzz]

I can't decide which Norwood scale am I on... It looks like a Norwood 2.5 or a Norwood 3. Can someone give me an idea?

Damn it looks pretty bad... Especially the left side. Getting on finasteride today

 

[s.a.f]

Its no way near a 3.

 

[Nene]

Barely a 2 in my opinion. Doesn't look bad, I would consider starting a low dose of finasteride after talking to my doctor.

 

[Axl_Rose]

In between a NW1.5/2 imo.

 

[cuebald]

I would consider that a 2.5 easily

 

[Vanzzzz]

Yea. The way I see it, the difference between type 2 and 3 seems to be the frontal hair loss, which I do not really have.

However, my temple hair loss is pretty bad. Thus I am not sure whether I am a Norwood 2 or 3, since my frontal hair doesn't fit the 3 scale but my temple seem to have receded quite a lot.

If you were to look at the profile picture in conjunction with the 1st page top frontal view, it would appear that I am about a 2 I think. Its just that at some angles it looks really bad....

Added in some new pics so that you guys can see better. I am getting obsessed with my hair loss... Even though it was quite bad 8 months ago but I didn't seem to notice much... My temple hair seem to be miniaturizing quite badly, but then, it had been the same 8 months ago. Does miniaturization take that long or is it just normal temple hair being thin? I will go check with a dermatologist soon to determine my hairloss once I have the time.