Am I receding? (23)

[stump]

Hey guys! So I'm 23 and I've never been concerned with hair loss before as it doesn't really run in my family, except for one cousin but his mom has the thinnest hair ever (not related). Since about a year ago I have been experiencing dandruff and scalp PAIN, which I never had either of beforehand. My doctor just says it's inflamed and doesn't say why. If I don't wash my hair for a day my scalp is sometimes literally painful to the touch. Incredibly sensitive.

I went to a dermatologist and he prescribed nizoral 2% for dandruff, not hair loss. My dandruff is basically gone but I still use the shampoo every three days. I still had scalp pain though so the doctor prescribed topicort, which is a topical corticosteroid, which I used for 2 weeks twice a day. I only went off this spray a few days ago but haven't experienced much pain since. Probably too early to tell though.

Until I was 22 I had really long hair that always covered my temples. I recently cut it shorter and if I lift up my hair I can see my temples. I'm not sure if this is recession because I've been monitoring it for the last 6 months or so and it's stayed the same. I'm not sure if it's always been like this since I've never looked at my temple hair from what I can remember since it was always covered. Could this be a mature hairline that I got after during puberty but never noticed? I've also always always always had a natural widow's peak since birth.

Attached are pictures I've taken today. My left side doesn't look as bad as the right; not sure what that means. I'll usually part my hair on the right, could it be worse due to physically parting it for the past 1 1/2 years? My crown and the rest of my hair is incredibly thick. What norwood scale am I? Could the pain be due to DHT? Could it be diet? Stress?

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.

 

[Trex55545]

It could be just your normal adult hairline, everyone has some sort of recession once they reach adulthood, for some its more noticeable, while for others its not. Many people going to tell you to jump of find, minoxidil, etc. I would not advise you to do that, go see a dermatologist, it is your best bet. Only he could tell you if its male pattern baldness or just a normal hairline. I think that your hair looks good, it could be that you didnt pay attention to it before, thats why your are surprised.

 

[wilson2]

Well first off you're in a great position. You have a nearly full head of hair. It does look to me that the right Temple has receded. It basically has receded just enough for me to say that it is infact receded. Often times younger guys temple loss is uneven at first. My left temple receded and like a year and half later my right temple receded. Your temples will eventually catch up with each other (meaning you're do to recede on your left side). If I were you I would switch to Regenepure NT and Regenepure DR. These are less harsh on your scalp and you can alternate them everyday.

Basically you're big choice is whether or not to take Propecia. I wouldn't recommend it because you're hair loss is so minor and since your 23 with this good of hair I bet your not programmed to bald very severely at all. If I were you I would do the following treatments in this order : ketoconozole shampoo (switch to Regenepure) , Rogaine (you would probably be a good candidate for 5% once a day), topical spironolactone (this is topical AA devoid of sexual side effects). And Even then I would only recommend you bothering with topical spironolactone if you noticed further thinning or recession. You should take pictures of it every few months and evaluate accordingly.

I don't think you should jump on Propecia when in my opinion you can have great hair following the above and not having to risk any ridiculous side effects.

 

[stump]

Thanks guys!

I'll probably just monitor it as I have been doing and see what happens.

Any other opinions guys? Norwood level? What about the pain and inflammation thing? Also I had scalp pain again in one small area on the right side but well beyond the temple region. I took a shower just now and it went away.. what gives?