No one wants another "am I balding", but... Am I balding?

[jazzman23]

Hey guys,

Just joined. Recently got "the scare". I'm 24, baldness in family (my older brother was well on his way, if not all the way bald at my age). Dad is 60, starting to bald but maintained a full head for most of his life. Not sure about grandparents, they died when I was younger... but I think I remember my grandpa on my mom's side with a combover. lol. So the gene is there.

I've also been OCDing over the amount of hair I'm shedding. On some days I'll lose like 40 just in the shower with vigorous washing/massaging. Some days it will be about 10. Also seems like every time I pull at my hair, a couple come out as well. Happens more on top, but also at the sides and back too. So I don't know.

My front hairline seems to be okay, I don't think it's receding much if at all. What I'm worried about is my scalp (vertex? I'm kind of new at this). I've always had a prominent double-crown, and have often had people commenting on my bald spot. It never bothered me, because I never figured I was balding. Now that I have "the scare", I'm actually paying attention to it. I think the last few weeks have been the first time I've really look at it under scrutiny. It's disturbing.

So keep all this in mind as you're looking at these photos. Taken without flash, a couple in natural light, a couple with my head right under a lamp:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i38 ... 1947-1.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i38 ... 1947-2.jpg

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i38 ... 1948-1.jpg

Looks bad, I know... BUT --- Here's another pic from 3 or 4 years ago. It's me rocking out with my band; I'm on the left. You can clearly see that double crown on top. Thought it might add some insight:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i38 ... 5102_n.jpg

Again, I've never payed attention to my scalp, so I don't know whether this pretty decent bald spot has always been so prominent. I've always had pretty thin hair as well (blond, straight, fine).

Anyway, I would not be surprised at all if I'm going bald. Frankly it's not a HUGE deal to me, even though I love my hair. I mean, it's a bummer, but bald guys can still be attractive to women... uh, right? haha. There's much worse things in life. Just gotta be a man about it.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read, and for any input.

 

[Rawtashk]

add

after them. That will embed the picture(s) and we won't have to click off to another site to see them.

 

[jazzman23]

I figure it's easier this way.. pages load pretty fast and if the pictures don't open in a new window, just press CTRL+ Click to do so.

I think it's better than having a huge long post with a bunch of higher quality pictures to load all at once.

Regardless, what do you think of them?

 

[Tom1985]

Impossible to tell if you're balding from those pics, mate. A lot fo people have a crown like that and never go bald.

You'll just have to see how it progesses!

 

[the_dude]

I don't think you're balding yet. My brother also has a double crown so i know how it can give the effect where it seems you're balding.

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

I'm not sure if you are or not. How's the hairline?

I have a double crown too, and it can look a bit thinner at the vertex...but of course I have some diffuse thinning so it isn't helping, but I've managed to keep it under control with finasteride + minoxidil.