Have a bad feeling that I'll be bald before I'm 30 (pics)

[HopeImNotBalding]

Hey guys, I've been obsessing about my hair for about a year and a half now. I'm 20 years old now. First I noticed my hairline was receded at the corners a bit, but just chalked that up to a mature hairline. My hairline hasn't changed much since then but still looks a little too deep to me to be just a mature hairline.
In the past 4 months or so I've switched my obsessive focus to my crown/vertex area. I can't really tell if it's thinning out or if it has always looked the way it has and I just never noticed before.
Anyway, take a look at the pics and tell me what you think. Do you think I've just thinned/ receded a little and will be fine or that my worries about going bald are valid? Thanks in advance guys.

 

[jasinfla]

I'm not too experienced in this as others but I would honestly say that you're good and from what others have told me, the vertex/crown is a result from the whorl where the hair spirals out and causes some scalp to be seen. You see this on pretty much everyone. I was at a theme park today and yes this is pretty lame but was looking once in a while at crowns and honestly, from kids to adults, it kind of looked like the majority had different versions. Some kids you could see more scalp than adults. But again, I think your hair looks great & being 20, definitely enjoy your life, and I guess check your hair once in a while and take a look but never try to obsess over it and don't let the BDD/OCD beast get ya because believe me, nothing positive can come out that.

All the best!

 

[HopeImNotBalding]

Alright thanks a lot man, I appreciate it. I think it's too late though because I already obsess about it haha. It's pathetic but it got me all depressed tonight to the point where I just sat in my room doing nothing. But you're right, I'm 20 and in college. Should be enjoying life.

I'd still like to get some other opinions so feel free to give them even if they aren't as optimistic.

 

[HopeImNotBalding]

Also, I know what you mean about looking at people's crowns/vertices, I've been sneaking looks lately whenever I can, comparing myself to see if mine's still normal.

 

[HopeImNotBalding]

Thanks for the reply...
I plan on seeing a dermatologist in May. What do you think looks worse - the crown or hairline? Or are they equally indicative of male pattern baldness?

 

[LooseItAll]

That looks severe. Im giving you 3 years.

 

[HopeImNotBalding]

Okay, thanks FinFighter.

@LooseItAll
I doubt I'll be completely bald in 3 years. I still have a lot of hair left. Plus no male on either side of my family in the last two generations has gone completely bald so there is a chance that I'll probably lose a significant amount but maybe not all of it.

 

[HopeImNotBalding]

Hey Guys, here are some pictures from today with better lighting (Also my hair is greasy and unwashed). Don't know if it looks better or worse.

 

[Ende]

Your crown appears to be thinning. What about your father? Does your mother have a brother? In case, how does his hair look? If not, how does/did your grandfather- and great grandfather's hair, on mother's side, look?

 

[HopeImNotBalding]

My dad's hair has thinned around the crown and his hairline has receded a good amount (I'll post a picture of his hair). Granted he's 54; I'd be fine with the amount of hair he has at his age.
My mom's brother is also in his mid 50s and has a pretty full head of hair save for a mature hairline.
My dad has three brothers. One in in his late 50s and has more hair than my dad. The youngest one is in his late 40s and has a full head of hair from what i can remember. The middle brother is about as thin or a little thinner than my dad.
My dad's dad is in his mid or late 80s and still has hair on the top of his head though it's receded a substantial amount.
Mom's Dad died in his mid 60s and I don't really know how much hair he had. From the grainy pictures I've seen he had lost a lot of hair but still had some hair in his mid scalp and probably some on his crown.
Also, I think I've seen one picture of my maternal great grandfather and he had a NW2 in his 40s.
My hair resembles my Dad's side of the family more than my mom's so that gives me a little bit of hope.

 

[Ende]

Mom's Dad died in his mid 60s and I don't really know how much hair he had. From the grainy pictures I've seen he had lost a lot of hair but still had some hair in his mid scalp and probably some on his crown.

You should take a look at the worst case to prepare yourself. When did your father begin to lose hair on the crown?

My mom's brother is also in his mid 50s and has a pretty full head of hair save for a mature hairline.

That's good news. You'll most likely follow the same pattern as your father.

 

[FSHGLD]

I think you might have slight thinning at the crown but I'd hardly call that a mature hairline, it's probably lower than average. Give it another few months and if it gets slightly worse start finasteride, but there's no way anyone who isn't a norwood spotter would think you're balding, so don't worry about it too much

 

[HopeImNotBalding]

Do you guys recommend getting finasteride through a Propecia prescription or are there reliable ways to get it online?
Just curious. I don't think I'll ever end up taking it. If my hair gets worse I'll probably just suck it up and let nature take its course.

 

[Ende]

Get a Propecia (not Proscar) prescription from your GP or a dermatologist. DO NOT order finasteride online the first time. The drug may cause serious damage to your body, and you're screwed if you didn't obtain Propecia through your doctor.

Do a blood test before treatment as well; make sure LH, FSH, testosterone, estrogen, prolactin and SHBG are tested. It's wise to map androstenedione and thyroid hormones as well.

 

[HopeImNotBalding]

Alright thanks for the info. What did you mean by this though? Typo?
"Get a Propecia (not prescription) prescription"

Also, I've been using Nizoral 1% shampoo (I know 2% is what most people use but I didn't feel like getting a prescription and I figured it couldn't hurt) for about a month or more now - could this cause shedding like other topical treatments cause? I'm wondering because I never noticed my crown appearing thin before this week, but that could just be that I've never looked.

Sorry for the million questions guys, but I'm new to this and it's really making me depressed so I constantly think about it.

 

[Ende]

I thought I wrote Proscar