Am I balding? - 15 years old

[Justarandomname]

Hi.

I'm a 15 year old male and I think I may be balding. This was pointed out by my mother who told me I had a receding hairline. It didn't bother me at all at first because I thought that if my dad wasn't bald then I wouldn't be either, but after some research I learned that the balding gene comes from your mother's father most of the time so I asked my mother when her dad went bald and she said that he started shaving his head at 19. I saw a picture of him in 2012 and he was a NW5A so I'm guessing the balding just stopped there?

No one on my dad's side had a receding hairline before 40. My father is now balding at age 44 (NW3), his brother is also balding (NW3) and my grandpa had fantastic hair until he hit 70, then he started balding. Saw a picture of him at age 58 and he still had a full head of hair, but unfortunately both of my grandpas on my mothers side were bald young, so I'm guessing that means I'm pretty much screwed, right?

Anyway, I've put some pictures up so you can take a look. Sorry for the crappy quality, just took them with my tablet. My hairline appears a lot worse when I look at it in the mirror and appears not so bad in these pictures. I've also had a pretty itchy scalp lately if that means anything at all... I can also post more pictures if needed.

Thanks!

http://imgur.com/nSAfRFZ (Left temple)
http://imgur.com/yWCJKRc (Right temple)
http://imgur.com/0TBpu7j (Left temple)

 

[Travalanche]

There is some recession for sure but your young so there isn't much you can do about it as I'm 99% sure a doctor would turn you away from meds as your body is still developing at 15.

If I can give you any condolences it's extremely doubtful you'll get much worse before the age of 18 and then you might be able to get on Finasteride.

I had the same hairline as you at 16 and it stayed the same until I hit 20 in which my NW1 developed into a NW2 and a couple of years later I got on meds which didn't stop the loss but slowed it by a lot.

 

[SayifDoit]

Lets hope you're not a cue ball by 18, maybe there is something you can do.

 

[Vlatch]

I think you'll be receding in the future. As the others said, at 15 any doctor will turn you down, you can always order some stuff on the internet but I wouldn't advise taking finasteride/dutasteride because puberty is most likely not over for you and you don't want to mess with hormones during this period.
Topicals you could get : nizoral shampoo and minoxidil, though I'm unconfortable advising a teenager to take any of this, I guess nizoral would be a good start.

Even if you have high temples, I can't see any miniaturization (small hairs) on your hairline, maybe you could wait until you're 18.

 

[Justarandomname]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I really appreciate it. I tried asking my mother today if she can take me to a dermatologist to get it checked out, but as usual she's just trying to deny that I may be a cueball like her father and saying "You're not going bald!". I'll definitely be getting on finasteride once I'm 18, if I still have a decent amount of hair that is. I also forgot to add that I'm starting to feel bits of hair dropping onto my arm sometimes and I also see a few hairs on my book after class as well. Is that all normal?

 

[blazinshotguns]

Shave your head and show your parents your losing hair or at least buy some rogaine now . You have major hairloss at age 15. Get your t levels checked

 

[Justarandomname]

Shave your head and show your parents your losing hair or at least buy some rogaine now . You have major hairloss at age 15. Get your t levels checked

They both know I'm losing hair, also I don't look good at all with short hair so I prefer to keep it long. My mother is in denial about my hairloss and my father couldn't give 2 ****s about it. He just rambles on about how he's known a guy that's been balding since around 30. The doctors are just up the road from me, perhaps I could go book an appointment on my own? Also, I'll add some better quality pictures tomorrow. Looking at them now and they look pretty crap.

 

[Justarandomname]

Alright, so I visited my doctor today about my hairline today and he said my hairline is definitely receding and also pointed out I have psoriasis on my scalp. I have stopped washing my hair with shampoo lately as I've been told it's actually bad for your hair so maybe that's causing it. Also, in response to Vlatch, I do have a fair few small hairs along my hairline. They just aren't visible in the pictures as my hair is blonde and the low picture quality.

 

[Travalanche]

They both know I'm losing hair, also I don't look good at all with short hair so I prefer to keep it long. My mother is in denial about my hairloss and my father couldn't give 2 ****s about it. He just rambles on about how he's known a guy that's been balding since around 30. The doctors are just up the road from me, perhaps I could go book an appointment on my own? Also, I'll add some better quality pictures tomorrow. Looking at them now and they look pretty crap.

My parents said the EXACT same to me at your age, I noticed a sharp increase in my hair loss specifically at 19-20 years of age where I had considerable miniaturization. Medicine of course got it in check but the damage was done. Thankfully my hairline is still sort of okay although not great but what's really bad is how thin it looks when it's wet as you can see scalp through the hair itself. It's not just thin on the top but even on the sides although it's certainly worse on the top.

Due to this long hair is impossible for me these days unless it's during the colder months when I can wear a beanie. I noticed that when I buzzed my hair it looked good but once it started regrowing 1-2 weeks later it looked like crap again. I'm wanting to grow it out again to see if Finasteride has made much improvement as prior to buzzing I had long hair for most of my life and kept it in a ponytail.

So yeah, buzzing is an all or nothing thing, if you decide to do it your forced to buzz it weekly for the rest of your life.

The worst part about balding is that it limits your life, you can no longer style your hair the way you want and using hair products like gel just makes balding more noticeable. At least with my long hair I was able to hide it when it wasn't windy out but when it's buzzed you can definitely see the thinning if you have darker hair like me.

Nizoral does help with dandruff/irritation for sure and I suggest using it weekly.

 

[Justarandomname]

My parents said the EXACT same to me at your age, I noticed a sharp increase in my hair loss specifically at 19-20 years of age where I had considerable miniaturization. Medicine of course got it in check but the damage was done. Thankfully my hairline is still sort of okay although not great but what's really bad is how thin it looks when it's wet View attachment 26850 as you can see scalp through the hair itself. It's not just thin on the top but even on the sides although it's certainly worse on the top.

Due to this long hair is impossible for me these days unless it's during the colder months when I can wear a beanie. I noticed that when I buzzed my hair it looked good but once it started regrowing 1-2 weeks later it looked like crap again. I'm wanting to grow it out again to see if Finasteride has made much improvement as prior to buzzing I had long hair for most of my life and kept it in a ponytail.

So yeah, buzzing is an all or nothing thing, if you decide to do it your forced to buzz it weekly for the rest of your life.

The worst part about balding is that it limits your life, you can no longer style your hair the way you want and using hair products like gel just makes balding more noticeable. At least with my long hair I was able to hide it when it wasn't windy out but when it's buzzed you can definitely see the thinning if you have darker hair like me.

Nizoral does help with dandruff/irritation for sure and I suggest using it weekly.

It's good to see you got on finasteride in time, Travalanche. And it's good to see I'm not the only one that started receding this early. I certainly won't be buzzing it. It's either long hair or no hair.
I might ask my mother is she can pick up some nizoral shampoo tomorrow, although I do already have a shampoo that helps with the dandruff and stops the itch of psoriasis so it probably wouldn't be necessary.
You have pretty awesome hair by the way.

 

[shreyas24]

After watching your images it indicates that your are in balding stage so its better to consult the best dermatologist in your city, where you can get complete solutions.

 

[Justarandomname]

After watching your images it indicates that your are in balding stage so its better to consult the best dermatologist in your city, where you can get complete solutions.

I will do that once I start to notice my crown thinning, then my mother will finally believe me and have to take me to a dermatologist (hopefully). I also forgot to mention that my hairline has risen around 1.5 - 2cm since grade 8. I've noticed this as I used to go in the sun a lot then and have a few freckles along where my hairline used to be.

 

[Abercrombie]

Yes, you are going bald and at 15 it's pretty aggressive recession. Take the usual steps, get on finasteride and min.

 

[blazinshotguns]

No point to see a Doctor .

your not old enough for finasteride and we know your balding

I suggest getting on rogaine now and get on finasteride when you turn 18.

Your testosterone and dht levels will start kicking in hard around 17 when your facial and body hair start coming in . Just hope your not completely bald by than .

 

[Justarandomname]

So I guess all I should do now is just accept it and let nature take its course? Rogaine doesn't seem to do much from what I've read, so there's no point in spending heaps of money on it.

 

[eenrak]

Your hair looks okay. Don't worry too much. If you get finasteride when you are old enough, most likely you will still have a full head hair. Minoxidil can buy you a year or two without finasteride. It does have preventive effects, just not at all as much as finasteride.
You can buy Kirkland minoxidil which is heaps cheaper than Rogaine. Just apply in the thinning area once every night.
You will feel better for doing something, and it will buy you time until you can take finasteride.

 

[rhysmorgan]

Don't worry too much OP.If you're concerned go on Rogaine as it won't have systemic side effects and won't affect your development. Don't go on finasteride at your age. Also try not to worry, by the time you're in your mid twenties there will be some decent treatments out. Enjoy your teens.

 

[blazinshotguns]

Don't let these guys fool you . Everyday your testosterone is rising a little bit . Facial hair is filling in a little bit. I'm 19 . Your gonna get hit hard soon . Get on finasteride the day you turn 18 . Don't think girls 18-22 like bald dudes .

 

[Justarandomname]

Don't let these guys fool you . Everyday your testosterone is rising a little bit . Facial hair is filling in a little bit. I'm 19 . Your gonna get hit hard soon . Get on finasteride the day you turn 18 . Don't think girls 18-22 like bald dudes .

Is that from your experience with male pattern baldness?

 

[blazinshotguns]

Yes sir . The thicker my facial hair got the thinner my hair on my head got .