I Need Opinions Before I Go See A Derm.

[jacopoperi]

To start off, I try avoiding this forum because I have OCD that can ramp up at times. One of my obsessions is losing my hair and flipping through the Norwood stages in google images, and although there aren't a significant number of people who suffer from male pattern baldness in my family (most if not all of them are distant cousins) the hairline recession has begun to light a fire under the *** of my anxiety, as I am and have always been very self conscious. I used to get my hair cut very short and lined up but more recently I've been growing it longer to suit my new style. I've got a large forehead and my hairline used to be pretty straight, but over the past year or two I noticed that the widows peak has become a bit more prominent. My friends picked on me a couple of times because we've got another buddy who's on his last legs at our age. His father is bald (mine isn't, he just shaves his head because he likes it that way) and I'm not quite sure what pattern my hairline is following. My grandfather has a bald spot, but he claims that he didn't start losing his hair until his 40s (and it seems to be true, because I've seen videos from when he was in his 30s and he seemed to still have his hair) and that he did because he was addicted to meth at the time, and my dads hairline, although slightly receded, has remained stagnant throughout his adulthood. He's 40 now and he pretty much looks the same. I have low density hair, although I never paid much attention because I always kept it so short, but as far as I know, the top isn't weaker than the sides, nor is there thinning on my crown as of yet. I'm thinking I might be a Norwood 2 going into a 3 and it's terrifying. I've had numerous conflicting opinions, some people telling me that I'm not going bald and that my hairline is completely normal, including my grandma and my dad, some people saying it's just a widow's peak etc. etc. I'm not really fond of possibly being the first guy to go bald in the family involuntarily, and although I've been using Nizoral for a couple weeks, I've been thinking of visiting a derm, getting assessed and possibly getting on finasteride. I just wanted to know your thoughts. I've inserted two images from when I was 18 vs now at 22 years old (of course, then, I didn't have to pull my hair back.) I'm scared to death of losing my hair and I would appreciate feedback.

 

[Mushu]

It's pretty evident you have thinning an miniaturization, aka male pattern baldness.

 

[jacopoperi]

It's pretty evident you have thinning an miniaturization, aka male pattern baldness.

If so, then why is there no apparent family history?

 

[Mushu]

If so, then why is there no apparent family history?

Family history just gives you a rough guesstimate of your chances of balding, no one is immune. For your age, it's even more apparent. Your before pictures aren't clear, but if your hairline was straight and you've receded that far in 4 years, it's mildly aggressive. Do you have a clearer picture of your before pictures of the hairline pulled back or slicked back?

 

[jacopoperi]

Family history just gives you a rough guesstimate of your chances of balding, no one is immune. For your age, it's even more apparent. Your before pictures aren't clear, but if your hairline was straight and you've receded that far in 4 years, it's mildly aggressive. Do you have a clearer picture of your before pictures of the hairline pulled back or slicked back?

First and foremost that's a picture of my ID. ID pics tend to flatten out your head. My head is pretty wide but I doubt it's as flat as cardboard. I've deleted most of my pictures from before this year.

 

[Mushu]

First and foremost that's a picture of my ID. ID pics tend to flatten out your head. My head is pretty wide but I doubt it's as flat as cardboard. I've deleted most of my pictures from before this year.

Most people aren't as flat as a cardboard. Although your after pictures aren't clear either, your corners appears receded and the forelock appears thinner. You've assessed yourself already as a NW2 going on 3, which I would agree with. The only question is how aggressive compared to your juvenile hairline(some people are born with high hairline).

 

[jacopoperi]

Most people aren't as flat as a cardboard. Although your after pictures aren't clear either, your corners appears receded and the forelock appears thinner. You've assessed yourself already as a NW2 going on 3, which I would agree with. The only question is how aggressive compared to your juvenile hairline(some people are born with high hairline).

And I mentioned previously that I was born with a high hairline. It's apparent in my ID pic. Highest forehead wrinkle is right below my widow's peak, fingers width. Yes the corners are receded but so are my dads and his dad's. I think what I'm wondering at the moment is whether or not it's going to stay like this or go further. If possible, I would like for it to stay like this. If the derm says that ain't gonna happen, I'm either jumping on propecia, or getting a buzzcut.

 

[Xyz23]

no one can predict how far your baldness will go.

Its kinda naive to think the derm can just say hey buddy it will stay like this just dont mind about that.

No.one. can predict it. please internalize

and given by the picture you're balding imo. How does your back lock?

 

[Mushu]

And I mentioned previously that I was born with a high hairline. It's apparent in my ID pic. Highest forehead wrinkle is right below my widow's peak, fingers width. Yes the corners are receded but so are my dads and his dad's. I think what I'm wondering at the moment is whether or not it's going to stay like this or go further. If possible, I would like for it to stay like this. If the derm says that ain't gonna happen, I'm either jumping on propecia, or getting a buzzcut.

I was more referring to your temples and how high they were. Your id pics doesn't really show your temples well, so only you know how much you've receded. No one, not even the derm will be able to tell you with 100% certainty if it will proceed further or not and how aggressive. You have a good chance of staying put if your dad is norwood 2.5 to 3, but it's not guarantee. You're probably not going to go full blown NW6/7. Ask yourself, as you know your hair best, has it receded within the past year and how much? I'm not gonna tell you to just take finasteride, because risk/reward and contentment with your hair is up to each individual. Some take it as a preventative measure, some take it to try to gain and thicken their hair.

 

[DoctorHouse]

I would see a doctor that actually specializes in hair loss. You seem to be progressing into a NW3 pattern.

 

[abcdefg]

Pretty cut and dry male pattern baldness my friend. Big 3 or bust. Unlike some people I think acceptance is a valid option although I understand most people dont come to a hair loss forum to just accept male pattern baldness.
Although big 3? More like the big one - propecia there really arent alternatives. RU/CB/Seti are not real treatments they are completely random experimental chemicals from god knows where and made god knows how.

 

[hopeforhappiness]

OP in hopes of saving what you've got and possibly regrowing some of what you may have lost most recently, I would go straight to your nearest pharmacy or walmart and get on rogaine or minoxidil. You without a doubt have male pattern baldness anyone who knows what this is can see your recession and miniaturization. You need to shift your concerns from "am I balding" to "how am I going to stop my balding" and minoxidil is the most accessible and one of the most effective treatments. I would order some ketoconazole shampoo if you can't buy any at the store and take the next two - three weeks (while using minoxidil) to decide what route you are going to go with an anti androgen. Don't scare yourself away from treatment and don't go into denial. Your'e getting close to NW3 and for most NW4 is point of no return without multiple transplants.

 

[thetdog666]

sound like your in denial. hop on finasteride

 

[jacopoperi]

I do have a family history of hyperthyroidism but no symptoms to accompany such a diagnosis. I do have a family history of hairline recession, but no family history of baldness which is why I'm skeptical. This forum seems biased. These people like to march around telling people that they're balding, seemingly because they're insecure about their own afflictions, but I'm concerned that I might be a cold case. I had mental side effects from antidepressants, what I believe might have been paranoia or hypomania, which makes me concerned about taking any kind of pill. That's why I'm on here. There's not sufficient evidence to suggest that I'll go bald. I'm asking people with generations of bald family members if I'm going to go bald, and these armchair dermatologists believe that they can create a concise symptomatic analysis by shouting "miniaturization" and "thinning" (which I don't believe I am by the way, I've had "thin" hair my whole life, and as far as I know, I wasn't balding when I was 5 years old). It's kind of absurd but I will take some of their advice. I'm already using Nizoral, but I will consider using Rogaine. Not quite sure about finasteride, but I will visit a derm before I go that route. I don't want to grow a vagina after all.

 

[Ollie]

Like you dude i've got OCD. The thought of balding popped into my head a handful of times a couple of years ago but i 'rationalised' it away convinced that because the androgen receptor is on the X chromosome, and that men get that obviously from their mothers, then like my mother's father i would be okay.. i was wrong. There are so many elements to the process of balding to androgen sensitivity, inflammation response etc.. that it really doesn't matter what its like in your family. Your mother could give you sensitive androgen receptors, and you could inherit huge inflammation response from your father which creates a poor mix - your father however may not have lost his hair because although he will have high inflammation response (PGD2 etc..) he has low androgen receptor sensitivity. The combinations are pretty endless.

If you want us to give you really good judgement, take a photo with wet hair and slicked back - but judging by your photos you are receding/thinning, especially at 22.

Your options are get on current treatments at the cost of their potential side effects, or accept it. If you take the road of living in denial then you'll leave it too late to even have that choice.

 

[doyle11]

I do have a family history of hyperthyroidism but no symptoms to accompany such a diagnosis. I do have a family history of hairline recession, but no family history of baldness which is why I'm skeptical. This forum seems biased. These people like to march around telling people that they're balding, seemingly because they're insecure about their own afflictions, but I'm concerned that I might be a cold case. I had mental side effects from antidepressants, what I believe might have been paranoia or hypomania, which makes me concerned about taking any kind of pill. That's why I'm on here. There's not sufficient evidence to suggest that I'll go bald. I'm asking people with generations of bald family members if I'm going to go bald, and these armchair dermatologists believe that they can create a concise symptomatic analysis by shouting "miniaturization" and "thinning" (which I don't believe I am by the way, I've had "thin" hair my whole life, and as far as I know, I wasn't balding when I was 5 years old). It's kind of absurd but I will take some of their advice. I'm already using Nizoral, but I will consider using Rogaine. Not quite sure about finasteride, but I will visit a derm before I go that route. I don't want to grow a vagina after all.

You ask for advice and then dismiss people's opinions as that of 'armchair dermatologists'. What more do you expect when you only upload 2 shitty quality photos? There are a lot of experienced members here who have seen similar cases thousands of times before, I'd often trust their input more than the average derm.

The chances of you having 'just thin hair' or 'always a high hairline' reeks of denial.

 

[hopeforhappiness]

I do have a family history of hyperthyroidism but no symptoms to accompany such a diagnosis. I do have a family history of hairline recession, but no family history of baldness which is why I'm skeptical. This forum seems biased. These people like to march around telling people that they're balding, seemingly because they're insecure about their own afflictions, but I'm concerned that I might be a cold case. I had mental side effects from antidepressants, what I believe might have been paranoia or hypomania, which makes me concerned about taking any kind of pill. That's why I'm on here. There's not sufficient evidence to suggest that I'll go bald. I'm asking people with generations of bald family members if I'm going to go bald, and these armchair dermatologists believe that they can create a concise symptomatic analysis by shouting "miniaturization" and "thinning" (which I don't believe I am by the way, I've had "thin" hair my whole life, and as far as I know, I wasn't balding when I was 5 years old). It's kind of absurd but I will take some of their advice. I'm already using Nizoral, but I will consider using Rogaine. Not quite sure about finasteride, but I will visit a derm before I go that route. I don't want to grow a vagina after all.

There's no sufficient evidence you will go bald, correct. But judging by the pictures you supplied for 'feed back' your'e already bald up to the first half of your frontal third. I'm guessing a better photo would only further prove this theory. I am less bald than you are at the moment. But if I caught my hair loss sooner I wouldn't be bald at all. This is why I suggested for you to take it seriously and act fast. So that maybe you can have some success in case you are going to continue to lose hair. Your'e fairly young and If you've already gone this far at an early age, you will likely get worse to some degree. Also the majority of derms do not specialize in male pattern baldness and there's a good handful of people on this forum better equipped to help you than they are in terms of advice, research, and treatment options. Doesn't matter if you've had thin hair your whole life one of your temples is evidently thinner than the other. This is a dead give away sign of further recession. No one is telling you you're balding to feel better. They are trying to help. There's plenty of time to be upset over it, but if you go into denial your situation is only going to get worse.