16 Years old. Hairline Receding. (Pics)

[VinnyVedici]

I'm 16 and a half years old and just recently I noticed my hairline and that it had receded a bit. I looked at last years school photo (15 years old) and there was some receding as well. Now I'm wondering, is this male pattern baldness or just a maturing hairline? Also, what classification on the Norwood scale? Any suggestions on what I should do now?

Just some background information. I started growing facial hair at around 15 years old. I used to have very long hair (afro/down to shoulders) and I just recently chopped it all off since my hair looked dead. My hair has always been thin so it's hard for me to tell if it is thinning out.

Front

Left

Left 2

Right

Normal

Back

Back 2

Thanks!

 

[newguy23]

looks fine i wouldnt worry about it at all

 

[30_going_on_60]

Holey SHeep Sh!T!!!! You look like my twin!!! I swear. Well..the face part anyways. I freaked out when my hairline receeded when I was 16. It hasnt really moved back since, although the hair on top has thinned. Almost everyone gets a hairline reduction like that. Look around and even the guys with full thick heads of hair will have one. The rest of your hair looks super thick. It's impossible to tell since you;re so young, but I wouldnt worry about it at all for the time being. When, and IF it happens you'll know and THEN you can start to do something about it. For the time being...get the hell away from here (before someone tells you to take propecia.)

 

[s.a.f]

I agree you're to young to tell, certainly it looks great when you're not holding it back. The crown is awesome. Try looking at your older male relatives to give you some idea of what your likely to expect in the future. And remember not to worry too much because there are treatments available these days that the previous generations never had.

 

[RaginDemon]

no problem, you have nothing to worry about kid

 

[VinnyVedici]

Thanks guys I was getting just a tad concerned and wanted to get help before anything got worse. Been researching and was reading about a maturing hairline, which seems likely to be my case; though the start of male pattern baldness is always a possibility.

What would this be classified on the Norwood scale? To me it looks like a 1.5-2.

 

[hair today gone tomorrow]

Thanks guys I was getting just a tad concerned and wanted to get help before anything got worse. Been researching and was reading about a maturing hairline, which seems likely to be my case; though the start of male pattern baldness is always a possibility.

What would this be classified on the Norwood scale? To me it looks like a 1.5-2.

youre def. not a 2 yet.

 

[person]

I personally think this is the start of male pattern baldness, I think taking your age is to consideration the temples should not be that far back. However the advice remians the same from me, wait a while before you decide to do anything. Though I should jump on Nizoral shampoo as you have nothing to lose.

 

[VinnyVedici]

I personally think this is the start of male pattern baldness, I think taking your age is to consideration the temples should not be that far back. However the advice remians the same from me, wait a while before you decide to do anything. Though I should jump on Nizoral shampoo as you have nothing to lose.

I have used Nizoral shampoo before for dandruff. Will it do any help in the case of male pattern baldness?

 

[Hans Gruber]

I personally think this is the start of male pattern baldness, I think taking your age is to consideration the temples should not be that far back. However the advice remians the same from me, wait a while before you decide to do anything. Though I should jump on Nizoral shampoo as you have nothing to lose.

I have used Nizoral shampoo before for dandruff. Will it do any help in the case of male pattern baldness?

yup it has anti dht properties and i think will help with inflammation............keep an eye on your hair and once you hit 18 if it seems to be getting worse jump on propecia

 

[VinnyVedici]

I personally think this is the start of male pattern baldness, I think taking your age is to consideration the temples should not be that far back. However the advice remians the same from me, wait a while before you decide to do anything. Though I should jump on Nizoral shampoo as you have nothing to lose.

I have used Nizoral shampoo before for dandruff. Will it do any help in the case of male pattern baldness?

yup it has anti dht properties and i think will help with inflammation............keep an eye on your hair and once you hit 18 if it seems to be getting worse jump on propecia

So I'll start using that shampoo again. I hope I haven't started my long and depressing journey of male pattern baldness. Family and friends say that it looks exactly the same, but you can't trust them.

My hair is healthy right now, especially after I chopped it all off. I do wonder sometimes if it is just my mind playing tricks on me when I look in the mirror at my hairline.

 

[Finish line]

it's definitely receding, thinning. Anyone who can't see that is blind. It's just very early.

I'd start with nothing but finasteride for now and ride it out over the next several years as more potent solutions become available + Hair Multiplication.

Finasteride should be all you'll need. You may go through a shed but your hair is thick enough that you can suffer through it with a baseball cap.

With as much hair as you have and as young as you are, I wouldn't use anything else for the time being.

Take heart, you'll be fine. You caught it in time.


*btw nothing pisses me off more than these posts where someone is obviously beginning to lose their hair and everyone's like "you look great"

ok, most of these guys saying "looks great!" forgot what hair on top of their heads actually looks like. Your temples are definitely thinning and pulling back. Don't listen to them, you'll be sorry for starting later.

 

[VinnyVedici]

it's definitely receding, thinning. Anyone who can't see that is blind. It's just very early.

I'd start with nothing but finasteride for now and ride it out over the next several years as more potent solutions become available + Hair Multiplication.

Finasteride should be all you'll need. You may go through a shed but your hair is thick enough that you can suffer through it with a baseball cap.

With as much hair as you have and as young as you are, I wouldn't use anything else for the time being.

Take heart, you'll be fine. You caught it in time.


*btw nothing pisses me off more than these posts where someone is obviously beginning to lose their hair and everyone's like "you look great"

ok, most of these guys saying "looks great!" forgot what hair on top of their heads actually looks like. Your temples are definitely thinning and pulling back. Don't listen to them, you'll be sorry for starting later.

So it's really thinning that much? Would I have to get a prescription for Proscar? Should I visit a doctor who could tell me what's wrong?

Oh and should I use both Nizoral and Proscar?

 

[Finish line]

No, you don't need a prescription, you can order Proscar online. It's cheap too. Order it online, the 5mg pills, then get a pill cutter and a small case to hold your current pill.

Cut it into 1/6 pieces, each pill will last 6 days. Yes, the dose will look TINY but it works.

Remember to take it EVERY day, don't forget, and make sure to take it at or near the same time.

I always do it before I go to sleep. Just pick a time.

But yes, your hair is miniaturizing and the scalp is very much receding. However, you can save it.

I'm not entirely sold on Nizoral. It probably offers more placebo effect than anything. However, they've proven that placebo effect can boost your response to the medication. I guess that means just stay positive and believe that your regimen is working.

The good news is the finasteride works. And you're making it easier to work by already having a lot of hair.

Buy the pills, take them, and forget you even had a problem. By the time it begins to look like you're fading again, there will be real options for you.

Good luck.

 

[NeedHelp]

Hey your hair is perfectly OK! It is normal to transition into an adult hair line for your age group. I promise you that your not the only one at your age that this is happening to. If you are so worried I would not touch Propecia as of yet, but I would start Saw Palmetto (you can get it anywhere). Also stop thinking about it or else stress can makes things worse and not to mention you will become paranoid cause your mind will start playing tricks on you. SO DON'T WORRY YOU ARE PERFECTLY OK.

 

[abovedagame]

No, you don't need a prescription, you can order Proscar online. It's cheap too. Order it online, the 5mg pills, then get a pill cutter and a small case to hold your current pill.

Cut it into 1/6 pieces, each pill will last 6 days. Yes, the dose will look TINY but it works.

Remember to take it EVERY day, don't forget, and make sure to take it at or near the same time.

I always do it before I go to sleep. Just pick a time.

But yes, your hair is miniaturizing and the scalp is very much receding. However, you can save it.

I'm not entirely sold on Nizoral. It probably offers more placebo effect than anything. However, they've proven that placebo effect can boost your response to the medication. I guess that means just stay positive and believe that your regimen is working.

The good news is the finasteride works. And you're making it easier to work by already having a lot of hair.

Buy the pills, take them, and forget you even had a problem. By the time it begins to look like you're fading again, there will be real options for you.

Good luck.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I really don't think this is sound advice to give to a 16 year old.... you are telling him to buy a controlled medication online at such a young age. There MUST be reasons as to why finasteride is prescribed to people who are 18 or older. To the original poster: please do not listen to this guy. If you are concerned about your hair, visit a derm and get some advice. If you still feel uncomftorble visit a few others and gather as much information as you can. Research and use the resource library available on this site. For now if you want, begin using nizoral every 3 days when you shampoo. If it is determined that you DO actually have male pattern baldness, you can begin a topical approach to attack your hairloss (for example by using spironolactone and revivogen, just to name a couple). When you are at the age that you and your doctor both feel you can safely begin using finasteride, then you should use it (again, if it is determined that you have male pattern baldness). This is only my advice though....

Stay calm, balding doesnt happen overnight, pace yourself and do what you feel is right. Good luck man

 

[VinnyVedici]

Thanks for the replies guys. I wasn't ready to start getting prescriptions right about now. Everyone around me says it's nothing and that the hairline is perfectly normal. Some of you guys said it here too. It may be a maturing hairline, as stated, or it could be the start of male pattern baldness, so I don't want to jump the gun and start buying different products.

Will there be problems if I get a dermatologist appointment in about 2-3 weeks? Will anything get worse?

Unfortunately, I think I've entered that stage where the mind slowly, but surely, starts playing tricks. I'm constantly looking in the mirror, talking to other about balding, always wanting to sleep (it's like I'm depressed!). And then I'll calm myself down by stating: 1) There are things to help my hair grow back. 2) I could always take it all off in the future and hopefully look good with little or no hair. 3) It could be a Maturing Hairline which shouldn't make me go crazy!

Luckily I found this site. You guys are a great help and pretty much saved me from becoming a mad man!

 

[jh]

Will there be problems if I get a dermatologist appointment in about 2-3 weeks? Will anything get worse?

No and no.

male pattern baldness - assuming you have male pattern baldness - is a slow process and develops over years. I was 22 when my hairline started receding and it took almost 5 years until others noticed.

In my opinion, abovedagame gave good sound advice; you're on the right track going to a dermatologist.

Good luck.

 

[VinnyVedici]

Will there be problems if I get a dermatologist appointment in about 2-3 weeks? Will anything get worse?

No and no.

male pattern baldness - assuming you have male pattern baldness - is a slow process and develops over years. I was 22 when my hairline started receding and it took almost 5 years until others noticed.

In my opinion, abovedagame gave good sound advice; you're on the right track going to a dermatologist.

Good luck.

Thanks for the answers! My appointment won't be in the next couple of weeks since my dermatologist is on vacation right now and when he gets back, it'll take a few weeks.

I'd also like to add that before I cut my hair this short, I had very long hair (afro) that was held back by a headband. So perhaps the tension created by the headband played a part in the receding. I've also been stressed out with exams and work at certain points.

 

[person]

You are too young for propecia. The only thing you can do at the moment is use nizoral. This is your only option.