[20m] Am I Balding Or Is It My Cowlick? Pics

[amibalding99]

Hey everyone! Going through a slight hair crisis and am trying not to get so fixated on my hair but it’s very hard. So, I am receding and have somewhat come to terms with it. I use Chi Power Plus shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatment which is just supposed to thicken the hair but i’m not so sure i’ve noticed too much of a difference. Anyways, a few days ago i felt as if my hair near the crown/cowlick area was a bit thin so i took some pictures and, to my horror, discovered I might just be going bald. Now all i’ve been doing for the past 2 days is taking pictures and trying to convince myself I am not balding. My girlfriend is a barber/hair stylist and she says I’m not balding and that it’s just my cowlick. While I value her opinion and would love to trust her, I just can’t shake this feeling that it’s worse than what she says. I talked to my friend who is also receding and sent him the pictures, he said “Maybe a little bit” and recommended I get on some supplements and/or minoxidil. I bought minoxidil last night out of sheer panic but have not used it yet as i’m scared it may burn my hair off or something. Weirdly enough, though, after I discovered the potential balding, that area began feeling sensitive and a slight burning feeling. Even as I type this I can sort of feel it pulsing.

Attached are some photos of my hair when wet and dry, I moved my hair around so you can see it because normally I kind of brush it back and it hides that area. I don’t brush it back to do that, it’s just how my hairstyle is and has been for a little while. I used to have long hair, like, well past my shoulders long and I parted it down the middle so I think my hair still wants to do that and that may play a part in why I can see my scalp so visibly

 

[amibalding99]

Looks like the early stages of DPA. Given the fact that you're receding along with it I think it's time to get on finasteride and minoxidil.

What is DPA? Thanks for the feedback.

 

[CrownBalding]

I think it’s extremely early stage of balding. Lucky you caught it now, but I’d immediately get on finasteride. It can get very ugly very quickly and you’ll 100% be kicking yourself in the *** if you don’t get on now.

If you get on finasteride you’ll most likely have this same hair for many years

 

[Gregor59]

Dpa? Balding? What are you talking about guys? Hes not even balding. Nw0 with great density

 

[amibalding99]

Diffused patterned alopecia. You need finasteride to keep it from getting worse. Everyone tells you you're not balding until you've lost half your hair. At that point it's often too late to get it back.

So i’m assuming DPA leads to balding eventually? Are there any alternatives to finasteride with kinder side effects?

 

[Ritchie]

Were you using flash in the pics?

 

[amibalding99]

Were you using flash in the pics?

Yes, in most of them (if not all) I believe I did

 

[amibalding99]

I think it’s extremely early stage of balding. Lucky you caught it now, but I’d immediately get on finasteride. It can get very ugly very quickly and you’ll 100% be kicking yourself in the *** if you don’t get on now.

If you get on finasteride you’ll most likely have this same hair for many years

Have you had any bad side effects with Finasteride? I’m a bit scared to use it. I still need to see a dermatologist which I hope to do sometime soon. Really depressed about this whole situation honestly

 

[CrownBalding]

Have you had any bad side effects with Finasteride? I’m a bit scared to use it. I still need to see a dermatologist which I hope to do sometime soon. Really depressed about this whole situation honestly

I was in your shoes, you can check my post history lol. But no, almost 2 years on finasteride and 0 side effects. Still very high sex drive. I think a lot of the side effects are from anxiety. When you’re nervous, it’s a lot harder to get it up

 

[hollow11]

Looks good to me. Definitely don't go on finasteride yet. These guys telling you to do it are clowns

 

[amibalding99]

Weird, random little update. Was looking for pics/videos of the back of my head to see if I could see that potential bald spot that I have. I had long hair for a while (from about late 2017 to late 2019) so it probably covered it, making it unnoticeable, but I found a video from December 2015 when I was 16 where you can see it. Weird pic, I know. Any updated thoughts? I still think theres something going on back there but this gave me some peace of mind.