Not Typical Pattern Hair Loss, Just Above Ears

[Editor Ed]

The temples and crown are not seeing much loss, however there's diffuse loss behind and above the ears. Does this unusual pattern indicate anything about the cause -- is this suggestive alopecia areata rather than typical male hair loss?

I'm on finesteride for many years, while applying minoxidil more to the temples and crown area. There has been some changes in dosage of finesteride due to a false prostate concern last year, prompting higher, Proscar level dosage for a time, but I've been very slowly titrating down and will be back down to 1mg in a couple months. I've been trying to smear minoxidil into the affected area around the back of and behind the ears, and adding oral biotin and saw palmetto. Uncomfortable undergoing these changes and looking for comments/suggestions.

 

[TDE97]

The temples and crown are not seeing much loss, however there's diffuse loss behind and above the ears. Does this unusual pattern indicate anything about the cause -- is this suggestive alopecia areata rather than typical male hair loss?

I'm on finesteride for many years, while applying minoxidil more to the temples and crown area. There has been some changes in dosage of finesteride due to a false prostate concern last year, prompting higher, Proscar level dosage for a time, but I've been very slowly titrating down and will be back down to 1mg in a couple months. I've been trying to smear minoxidil into the affected area around the back of and behind the ears, and adding oral biotin and saw palmetto. Uncomfortable undergoing these changes and looking for comments/suggestions.

View attachment 139543

Possibly retrograde alopecia

 

[Editor Ed]

Possibly retrograde alopecia

I just came across that term yesterday for the first time -- basically it's nothing more than alopecia around the back and close to the ears. Unless it's traction alopecia, then all the standard treatments are basically the same as hair loss elsewhere...i.e. use minoxidil and finesteride. Or what might I be missing here? Thanks.

 

[Hairs45]

I just came across that term yesterday for the first time -- basically it's nothing more than alopecia around the back and close to the ears. Unless it's traction alopecia, then all the standard treatments are basically the same as hair loss elsewhere...i.e. use minoxidil and finesteride. Or what might I be missing here? Thanks.

finasteride wont regrow the thinning by the ears. I have thinning around the ears and side burn area too, its a sign of maturing hair

minoxidil might work. i dont use like that but it might work just like people who use it on their face for beards

 

[Editor Ed]

finasteride wont regrow the thinning by the ears. I have thinning around the ears and side burn area too, its a sign of maturing hair

minoxidil might work. i dont use like that but it might work just like people who use it on their face for beards

Is that indeed so? Is that based upon the only clinical testing that was done with finesteride for balding at the crown (yet we know that others have moved beyond those parameters of the clinical tests and successfully regrown with finesteride elsewhere)? Is this a commonly accepted notion that finesteride is generally not, or never, effective around and behind the ears? I was unaware of any beard application.