Time to see a derm? (pics)

[juleswinnfield]

I have long hair which used to be very smooth and consistently long at the hairline. About a year ago I noticed more short hairs in the front that refused to be slicked back while styling.

For awhile I thought it was just breakage due to excessive tension or something. However, there were also a few short straggler hairs below the hairline growing on their own.

Every now and then some straggler or another disappeared. I took this to mean that it fell out. In addition, sometimes I'd also notice new straggler hairs below the hairline. These would still be short, but long enough that they couldn't have been new hair growth (I think). So I guess the hairline around these stragglers receded and left them isolated.

I was never sure about any of this though, so did not do anything for some time. Then a few months ago I noticed the vertical part of my left hairline seemed to also have much more smaller hairs. Since then I'm pretty sure the upper part of the left hairline has receded a little too. There are also a lot more stragglers in this area. I part my hair on the left.

Front center of the hairline is pretty ugly - most of the hair is very short and sticking in odd directions. Was never like this before, and I can't seem to comb them back.

On the right side, things are somewhat better. I did notice some stragglers falling out, but in general hair seems much smoother and in line.

When I stand under bright lights, I think the whole front is much thinner than before. But I have nothing to compare to. Some scalp is supposed to be showing under bright lights anyway, right?

The vertex/crown seems to be ok. But the length of my hair makes it hard to tell.

From the pics, I think my hairline isn't all that different from what it used to be - maybe back a cm or so. The main issue is that density in some areas is much lower than before, and there are substantially more baby or short hairs.

My father is only started to lose his hair recently in his 50s. No baldness at all on mother's side.

Met with a friend's derm the other day - some hot-shot guy specializing in obscure skin problems (so not a hair specialist).Charged $250 for a 10 minute consultation. Basically told me to start Rogaine if I'm worried. Said top might seem thin, but he couldn't be sure. Did not suggest blood work or trichogram or anything (I should have asked). Should have found someone that specializes in hair.

So I'm wondering what people think. Thanks in advance.

Pics (w/ gel):
http://julesother.tripod.com/jules/
http://julesother.tripod.com/left-small.jpg
http://julesother.tripod.com/front-small.jpg
http://julesother.tripod.com/right-small.jpg
http://julesother.tripod.com/top-small.jpg

Questions:
1) Is this male pattern baldness? Or just me pulling hair too hard? Both?
2) Am I NW2? NW3? In between?
3) What kind of derm should I be looking for? Searching "hair specialist" on google returns a million "hair restoration" guys. Seems like they would probably have a vested interest in transplants. Just need someone who can investigate whether this is male pattern baldness
4) Any derm recommendations? (NY area)
5) What should I ask the derm to do? Trichogram? Blood tests? (Total T, Free T, Estradiol, DHT, others?)
5) I'm considering getting very close buzz cut. May make it easier to judge density without all that hair in the way. Thoughts? (Then again, if I was ok with having hair that short for the rest of my life, I wouldn't be worrying about hair loss in the first place.)

 

[Wezz]

your hair density is great, shorter might help it, i certainly cant tell if its a male pattern baldness or not... but i would defo get on propecia to keep your hair like it is, i wish i had a hair like yours.

 

[juleswinnfield]

What about the front? Click 'full-size image'.

Around where the hair is parted there are a few spots where the hairline is higher and a few short lone hairs can be seen just below it.

I'm almost sure there used to be hair filling in those gaps. And in any case, all those hairs used to be long and now I can't seem to grow them out. Hair diameter seems thinner than before as well.

When I shower I usually look at the hair that falls out. The number of hairs that falls out doesn't really worry me, but some of them are thicker in diameter at the ends and progressive thinner towards the root.

Anyone else in a similar situation? Could this be just a normal shift to a 'mature' hairline instead of male pattern baldness? Feels like I'm the only one who has noticed.

GF took forever to convince that the hairline is different (she agrees now but thinks I'm overreacting). My hair stylist has noticed but thinks it's just due to excessive pulling of hair. But my mother noticed on her own (I only see her once every few months).

Pic from a year ago:
http://julesother.tripod.com/jules/before-small.jpg

(if link is broken either cut and paste it or go to http://julesother.tripod.com/jules)

 

[Wezz]

you are not thinning all over thats very good sign, its very hard to tell that its male pattern baldness or not since you have a great density and healthy hair.. if you see some other people's thin all over i think you would feel super, i dont suggest getting on finasteride or minoxidil yet but you may consider nizoral for healthier scalp and see whats going on.

 

[johnpaul]

yes its male pattern baldness

ok, you are at the beginning stages of male pattern baldness with a receding hairline. norwood 1... therefore you need to start on finasteride asap... you have great density however. i would cut your hair shorter; however not a buzz cut.. then comb your hair forward so that you dont expose the hairline. i would further use dermamatch to fill in the receding temple.. good luck

 

[biff]

I can't tell if you have the early stages of male pattern baldness, but your hair looks great and there is no need to start on Propecia/finasteride just yet. Just keep tabs on it with regular pictures and make sure you are definitely losing it before starting on finasteride.

 

[juleswinnfield]

Thanks for the responses. I guess the conclusion is that my hairline is definitely different from before, but it is not clear whether this is male pattern baldness. Unless if someone posts a drastically different response, here's the plan:

Nizoral when I feel too much gunk in my hair. (I started using styling clay instead of gel around the time the 'problems' started. Clay is much less greasy, but more sticky and harder to wash out. Coincidence?)

Pictures, I bought a cheap tripod and figured out how to connect my camera to the computer for semi-automated pictures. Just need to figure out a way to line pictures up in exactly the same way everytime. Will share details later for all the potential hypochondriacs out there like me.

Identify a good derm in advance and the necessary tests to do. In case I have to get professional advice in a jiffy. Any thoughts on whether blood tests are helpful? What about a trichogram or anything else?

Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'm against concealers in principle (don't want to do it for the rest of my life). Guess we'll see if I'm still that stubborn when male pattern baldness becomes really apparent...

 

[KipWinger]

ok! my case is identical. i used to have always long hair and so strong hair.... i started to fell always less density of hair, but becouse i had so much hair i dint care a lot.... the years was passing by... and.... i started to se my line where the hair is parted, going much wider.... and the hair line like yours... beginning to receed. you are for sure with male pattern baldness. i started finasteride in that time, and i am now in one year mark. what can i say? is it getting good? NO! the hair is going away slolly but very noteble way fo me. we are fucked! i think there is not a solution, finasteride in my case, in the start(first 6 mounths) i liked becouse my hair was getting good, no hairloss and noticeble good results, but since 6 months mark i went to a shed and now i think my hair is worse than before treatment. i dont know what to do... if continue or stop. BUt i sorry friend but your are with male pattern baldness like me... i hope you have more luck.

 

[JayB]

Re: yes its male pattern baldness

ok, you are at the beginning stages of male pattern baldness with a receding hairline. norwood 1... therefore you need to start on finasteride asap... you have great density however. i would cut your hair shorter; however not a buzz cut.. then comb your hair forward so that you dont expose the hairline. i would further use dermamatch to fill in the receding temple.. good luck

what the f*** is wrong with some of you people..a NW1 is not in the beginning stages, hes just not a woman. Friggin brad pitt and tom cruise are nw1's...
Why are you telling him with such conviction to get on propecia..when noone can even tell if hes balding or not..
You sound like youre the type that hopes he gets on propecia and sheds or something.

Dont go on anything..see a specialist if your concerned. Why mess with hormones if your not losing your hair.

 

[KipWinger]

ok, you might be right, but what the f*****g doctor (derm) can do to sure you that you are loosing hair becouse you have male pattern baldness? when i decided do something i first went to a derm, and told him the story, the f*****g derm the only think he did is pull my hair and see it like 2 second and passed me the propecia. Is this the reason that he need to go to a dorctor? to see his scalp in 2 seconds and then give him propecia? they dont do any exams to see the reason why you are loosing hair! i dont know if in other countries they does but here in portugal is the all that they do. i think we need to me examinated maybe collect some sample of hair or something like that to know the reason that we are loosing hair, it can be bad nutricion or something, and you are taking propecia and you dont need that. can anyone tell me if you made some exams (tests) in the doctor?