Hi Jay.
There's mixed news. Firstly, well done on keeping a good head of hair for so long, much luckier than the likes of me who started losing hair at 19! Talking about options:
Propecia (Finasteride)- You can obtain access in various ways but your best bet is to talk to a dermatologist. The efficacy of this varies but assuming you comprise the fortunate majority, this will likely halt the progress of your hair loss for some time (I'd say as an average anywhere between about 5-7 years). At this point, you may notice that your hair is showing visible recession again. Increasing your dose might stave it off further, however, again studies indicate that for a large portion of men, no further recession occurs even 10 years down the line with the same or very similar dosage (if you'd like a link to this study just ask).
However. It's important to stress this going in, you will most likely not see any of that hairline around your temples re-emerge. This is because it is much easier to keep hair than it is to regrow it when lost completely. This, therefore stimulates the need to get on this medication as soon as possible to avoid further hair loss, especially considering your family patterns indicate a worsening of loss around this time. Propecia is generally the most effective thing you can take.
You may also consider supplementing your medication with tropical lotions. The business is full of remedies that promise a lot and deliver little. Minoxidl is an FDA approved option which should help with maintaining the hair you have. In terms of how you might get the hair back that you have lost, I'll cover your only 2 options. (After that i'll talk about the future a little which i hope will add further comfort to your current predicament)
1.) Hair transplant. It's costly, and can't be done for everyone, but it is permanent, and will fill areas of baldness (at least to some extent). While it will not restore your juvenile hairline, you and the specialist can discuss a hairline that would suit your face, working within the bounds of actual possibility. If you combine this with effective and consistent use of medication, you might find that age 50 you have a thicker head of hair than you had at 30! Recent developments in technology (FUE) largely render many concerns about the treatment obsolete (especially with regard to scarring symptomatic of the FUT strip technique). Again i reiterate, it isn't cheap.
2.) Approach this one with caution- laser hair therapy. There's still controversy surrounding this one, and from a practical standpoint, it doesn't lend itself to appeal much either. Research this and reach your own conclusions, i've spoken to people who swear by this therapy, and would say that investing in a home machine for a few hundred is worth every penny. Equally there's those who say they reap no benefit. I'd be inclined to say that it can help some individuals, but maybe should be considered as a later possibility if you don't respond to other treatments so well.
THE FUTURE (is bright and shiny, meaning your hairline won't be!)
-Even a few days ago, Samused announced success of phase two trials for SMO4554- sparing you the nitty gritty sciencey details- this tropical lotion is unique in that it seems effective in regrowing late stage baldness (norwood 4s and beyond). Early stages of investigation so warrant caution, but promising nonetheless.
More hopeful still is Replicel and Shiseido's stem cell research. They are currently in phase 3 trials for a treatment that might actually allow for regrowth of hair. This will rectify the current issue of hair transplants which is that hair is redistributed. If this is successful (and we'll find out soon), one could once again have a juvenile hairline. The new stem cell research laws passed in Japan make this all the more exciting. In 5 years it is entirely possible that you could save up, and get all your hair back to how it was 30 years prior. Very exciting.
Either way, if you hop on a good treatment combo now (consult a dermatologist!), by the time you think you are seeing further recession (if you do) there will likely be many more alternatives (or even a cure) for you. It truly is an exciting and bubbling time for hair loss sufferers.
Hope this helped.
Any more questions just ask,
Chris.
