[21 Yo Male] Does This Look Like male pattern baldness Or Just A Mature Hairline?

[GhostKoi]

Hey guys so over the past two months I have started to notice that my hairline looks like it’s receded. My family on both sides have good heads of hair and there is limited MBP in the family (my dads brother has it but that’s it). I looked at pictures from a year ago and my hairline looks more or less the same. However, it feels a bit thinner now and I notice my hairline is much less even and consistent up close - further when I brush through my hair I can see individual strands. I am 21 years old and very worried about that. If anyone has any thoughts I would really appreciate it!

The pic where I am in a gray shirt is from last year.

 

[alekgn]

Could you provide an aerial view of your hairline? It looks like a classic NW2, maybe NW3

 

[Retinoid]

Nobody can tell you at this time if it is maturing or something worse. Your outlines in red are also not a 'reasonable' hair line for a white male.

 

[GhostKoi]

Thanks for the responses. From what I can tell it’s been this way for at least a year and hasn’t really changed. Maybe I’m noticing it now because I got a shorter haircut? I also have OCD and can be super obsessive about these things (literally loosing my hair has been my greatest fear in life from a young age)

 

[alekgn]

Thanks for the responses. From what I can tell it’s been this way for at least a year and hasn’t really changed. Maybe I’m noticing it now because I got a shorter haircut? I also have OCD and can be super obsessive about these things (literally loosing my hair has been my greatest fear in life from a young age)

You have a NW2; recession of overall hairline with more recession at the temples. In terms of male pattern baldness, NW2 is a bit of a grey area. Sometimes a NW2 ends up being a "mature" hairline and doesn't change for years, sometimes decades. Other times it will become male pattern baldness. Do you have a picture from 6-12 months before that picture, or earlier? That will help determine whether it's classic male pattern baldness or it's a mature hairline that will never or only start to go in your late 40s and early 50s.

 

[GhostKoi]

So both of these are from roughly 6 months ago. This is the best I could find.

 

[GhostKoi]

These

 

[GhostKoi]

This is from 8 months ago when my hair was a similar length.

 

[GhostKoi]

Finally - here is one from roughly a year ago. It doesn’t seem to have changed since then but I guess these things take time? I don’t have any photos of me past a year so it’s hard to say.

 

[alekgn]

I don't see any noticeable differences between your current and 6 month and 8 month pictures. My suggestion would be to get some finasteride, but don't start it just yet. Periodically monitor your hairline (check it about every 1-2 weeks at least) and if you see any noticeable changes, get on it then. If you are interested in trying to recover your temple points at all, then you may want to look into minoxidil. Keep in mind that while you can recover some hair while on minoxidil, don't expect to suddenly achieve a NW0-NW1.

 

[GhostKoi]

Do you think this is MBP and it will get rapidly worse? I’m working at an internship right now but have an appointment scheduled with my dermatologist for August 3rd... will it be too late by then?

I’m really freaking out about this right now.

 

[alekgn]

Do you think this is MBP and it will get rapidly worse? I’m working at an internship right now but have an appointment scheduled with my dermatologist for August 3rd... will it be too late by then?

I’m really freaking out about this right now.

No, you're not gonna be slick bald by August 3. Considering your hairline hasn't changed in the past year, it's highly unlikely that it will become rapid all of a sudden for the next two months. If this is going to psychologically worry you all the time, then I would get Saw Palmetto or a Saw Palmetto based product (There are several on the market; just Google it) and began using that if you think your hairline is starting to suddenly change. I'm currently using a Saw Palmetto-based shampoo, and have been for a while. It's not as good as finasteride, but it is still a 5AR inhibitor that doesn't require a prescription.

I've had a hairline kind of like yours for at least nearly the past year. It hasn't changed at all (I'll post some pics).

^ This is my hairline 9 months ago.

^This is my hairline today.

The camera angles aren't exactly the same, but you can tell that the hairline doesn't look any different.

You're still in a good place. You will have a lot more time to deal with balding and will be more satisfied with treatments related to it, since you caught it very early. I am also a younger guy like you (18) and am dealing with this. You're not alone, and there are plenty of other people on these forums who have years of experience with this. They can all certainly help out too.

 

[GhostKoi]

Yeah - I’m hoping my derm with prescribe meds that will halt it. When my hair is the right length it’s totally unnoticeable. I think what triggered my ancxiety is just that everyone I work with is balding early so you begin to notice little things. Life really sucks

 

[alekgn]

Yeah - I’m hoping my derm with prescribe meds that will halt it. When my hair is the right length it’s totally unnoticeable. I think what triggered my ancxiety is just that everyone I work with is balding early so you begin to notice little things. Life really sucks

Agreed. I am glad though that I live in a time where there are legitimately proven treatments that actually halt and sometimes recover from baldness (finasteride and minoxidil). In the olden days, if you were going bald, you were screwed.

 

[GhostKoi]

Agreed. I am glad though that I live in a time where there are legitimately proven treatments that actually halt and sometimes recover from baldness (finasteride and minoxidil). In the olden days, if you were going bald, you were screwed.

Yeah honestly I’m wondering that now. If I get on meds aggressively and do the treatments I’m prescribed will it simple halt it forever? I will stay at my current level and it will never change? If this is true then why do I still see balding people in public? I feel like this is a panacea that’s too good to be true...

 

[abcdefg]

Yeah honestly I’m wondering that now. If I get on meds aggressively and do the treatments I’m prescribed will it simple halt it forever? I will stay at my current level and it will never change? If this is true then why do I still see balding people in public? I feel like this is a panacea that’s too good to be true...

There is no guarantee on anything. You might keep going bald slowly, it could stop for 5 years, it could stop for 20. There are lots of bald men because not everyone thinks taking a hormone changing pill everyday for the rest of your life is healthy or something they want.
Not to mention once your bald that is it. Nothing can regrow any major amount of hair. Treatments only work if you do it early on. Lots of men dont do that. Also treatments are expensive over the years its thousands of dollars. Also some people dont respond to treatments they are SOL.

 

[Robertlovespokemon44]

I’m no expert but why do you guys think he’s balding. He looks like a nw1.5 and he’s showing no thinning at all. I wouldn’t worry to much if I was him just keep an eye on it and see if it changes.

 

[hollow11]

Don't give hair loss advice if you know jack sh*t about it. The dude isn't even NW2 yet, stop scaring him

 

[GhostKoi]

Here are a few more pics taken this morning... the first couple or before showering and then the rest are after I was sitting in the sun sweating a little bit. These are the last I'll post but I think they show my concern pretty clearly I guess.

 

[recedingornot87]

You have no thinning. I wouldn't be worried if I were you. Are you losing lots of hairs in showers and throughout the day?