Is this an early signs of balding or maturing hairline?

[TheWitcher]

Hello everyone. I am worried that I might be starting to show early signs of balding. I know that it may not look like it, but I can feel that my hair is not as dense as it used to be. Both my grandfathers are bald and both had great hair while young. My father unfortunately passed away at 31 so I can't tell whether he was actually balding, but from pictures a slight recession was visible and my mother also mentions that his hair was thinning. Interestingly enough I have a great grandfather who had decent hair until he entered his 70s (currently bald at 94) and another one who passed at 89 but had most of his hair. Both of them are on my mother's side. Some of the pictures are under heavy downlighting which may play a role, but I can't be objective. My hairline seems ok, no visible change from last year although I believe a slight recession as well as diffuse thinning is creeping in. I've included some pics from a while back. Shedding is normal. No hairs on my pillow and no crazy amount in the shower. I'm wondering whether to start with finasteride and minoxidil right away or wait a bit and get a hair transplant. I don't want to depend on minoxidil for the rest of my life and I'm scared of the sides from finasteride. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

PS. I went heavy with the photos dating from me at 17 to the present day. I started monitoring just recently, but at least a comparison could be made.

 

[Ourkes]

Hello everyone. I am worried that I might be starting to show early signs of balding. I know that it may not look like it, but I can feel that my hair is not as dense as it used to be. Both my grandfathers are bald and both had great hair while young. My father unfortunately passed away at 31 so I can't tell whether he was actually balding, but from pictures a slight recession was visible and my mother also mentions that his hair was thinning. Interestingly enough I have a great grandfather who had decent hair until he entered his 70s (currently bald at 94) and another one who passed at 89 but had most of his hair. Both of them are on my mother's side. Some of the pictures are under heavy downlighting which may play a role, but I can't be objective. My hairline seems ok, no visible change from last year although I believe a slight recession as well as diffuse thinning is creeping in. I've included some pics from a while back. Shedding is normal. No hairs on my pillow and no crazy amount in the shower. I'm wondering whether to start with finasteride and minoxidil right away or wait a bit and get a hair transplant. I don't want to depend on minoxidil for the rest of my life and I'm scared of the sides from finasteride. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

PS. I went heavy with the photos dating from me at 17 to the present day. I started monitoring just recently, but at least a comparison could be made.

I see very dense hair and a cowlick, which is normal. Strong light, plus camera exposure, plus light scalp will display skin, even more so where the hair changes direction and especially when hair is wet or gelled.

I noticed this in my late 20s, at 41 my hair is the same.

So you might not be diffuse thinning and the loss of density could be because you are touching your hair more and analysing it. Something you probably haven’t done before. Also, your hair will never be quite as thick as it was in your teens and we lose approx 10% of our hair density every decade in adulthood - which is why a lot of non balding men in their 50s, 60s, 70s look a little diffuse.

If you are balding, you’re beyond the age generally for aggressive male pattern baldness which would be evident by your mid 20s in most cases.

If you still think you’re balding visit a dermatologist specialising in hair loss for their view. Worst case, there are many treatments available.

Personally, I do not see thinning.

 

[Alberto1988]

Androgenetic Alopecia

 

[Ourkes]

Androgenetic Alopecia

Out of interest, what are you seeing that suggests this? The guy has a dense thick head of hair.

 

[ANONJJ]

Okay so I am worried about the same thing with me but this website will not allow me to post. Your hair looks like it has a maturing hair line and possible thinning spots but no balding or something that would lead to bald patches.

 

[Ourkes]

Okay so I am worried about the same thing with me but this website will not allow me to post. Your hair looks like it has a maturing hair line and possible thinning spots but no balding or something that would lead to bald patches.

Those ‘thinning’ spots are often cowlicks and hair whorls where the hair changes direction. You will see it in kids and women with short hair also, take a look online or when you are next out and about ( but don’t get caught! )

Male pattern baldness causes thinning in a ‘pattern’ i.e. across an area like the crown, the midscalp, the forelock, the temples or all of these.

It does not present as a ‘thinning spot’, with the surrounding hair remaining thick and dense.

Google cowlicks, hair whorls, double crowns and you will see normal examples of scalp showing where the hair goes in different directions displaying scalp in non balding people. Compare this to you own situation and you might be able to work out if you are fine or losing hair.

 

[Alberto1988]

the Witcher... I've a trained eye, u need to check a doctor because its probably an early stage of Androgenetic Alopecia, don't waste your time in a forum e get a contact with a doctor in order to start a cure and maintaining

bye

 

[Will Be an Egg in 5 years]

Some pictures show diffuse thinning, but your hair is wet in those.

 

[TheWitcher]

Thanks, everyone for your quick and honest responses! Unfortunately because of the "situation" right now in my country doctors can only see you online unless is super urgent. I'll have to wait till lockdown is over and check it next year. With two bald grandfathers and a receding father, I can't be too careful, but the full head of hair of my great grandfather at 80 gives me hope lol. Perhaps is worth mentioning that if I switch my part to the other side you can no longer see the scalp and it's much easier styling it. I've just always wore it to my natural side (right for me) and up rather than flat, which probably highlights the scalp a bit more.

I also forgot to mention that I've started using Kerastase densifique homme shampoo + gel activator last couple of months. Supposedly increases density, but I can't really tell. The active ingredient is Stemoxidine and I haven't seen many reviews on it anywhere. For now, I'm doing the little things and will be definitely monitoring the progression. I want to keep as much of it for as long as possible before I go for a transplant or chemicals.

 

[Alberto1988]

From photos it is impossible to make a diagnosis, unless you can take photos under a microscope (on amazon they sell skin microscopes for only $ 30 if you care). However, there are some signs that make it clear when to be seen by a doctor: retraction of the hairline + loss of density in the vertex. Other cumulative signs are: short hair loss (under 4 cm), loss of color (if it seems to you that the hair is going from a bright black to a dark gray), because depigmentation is a typical feature of the hair that miniaturizes.
You know your hair more than anyone else; if it seems to you that they have changed in a short time is already a sufficient criterion