Receding Hairline Or Stress?

[Ben Maxfield]

Hi, I've noticed changed in my hairline in the past few months and the very corners of my hairline looks as if it's receding.
However, I think this is unlikely because I'm only 18, the changes seemed to have happened rather quickly and all the males in my family have had lush thick hair even going into their 70's. Also the hair when it looks as if it's receding doesn't feel any thinner and/or weaker than any other hair on my head. And I have been going through large amounts of stress lately with things like coursework and university entry anxieties.

So my questions is, does male hair recede during times of stress? Is this a normal pattern of hair loss when experiencing stress or anxiety? Is their anything I can do to keep my hair healthier while I wait for this to time to pass?

Thanks for your time, and your help

I should probably also include some of my hair and care details:
My hair is very long (below chest)
I haven't had my hair cut or trimmed in a very long time (4 years)
I started doing the 'no poo' thing when I noticed these changes so my hair hasn't had any contact with any shampoo, conditioner, oils or any kind of hair products in about 4-5 months.

 

[Admin]

Stress hair loss isn't typically in the standard "Male pattern baldness" shape. Its usually diffuse thinning. Secondly, we can often think we see hair loss when its not really there. Photographs from the past really can help keep the perspective when you think you've lost ground. Might take some today both dry and wet, well lit, well focused, just for the future. I've relied on mine countless times over the last 15 years. Im sure others will chime in with some good advice. Welcome to the forums.

 

[Ben Maxfield]

Stress hair loss isn't typically in the standard "Male pattern baldness" shape. Its usually diffuse thinning. Secondly, we can often think we see hair loss when its not really there. Photographs from the past really can help keep the perspective when you think you've lost ground. Might take some today both dry and wet, well lit, well focused, just for the future. I've relied on mine countless times over the last 15 years. Im sure others will chime in with some good advice. Welcome to the forums.

Thanks for the reply , I took my first pictures about 2 weeks ago, I'm going to start taking them monthly. And I get when you mean about seeing what's not there, I've lost lots of hair before in the past and when I went to my GP about it she said there was no sign of any kind of alopecia or scalp problems. But this is just the first time it's ever been lost from the corners of my hair like this

 

[Admin]

Some guys are just super paranoid about it, and will spend the next several years thinking they see it. Here is a general rule you can bank on: If you start losing your hair you will *know* it without ANY doubt. And at the same time, almost nobody in the room is going to agree with you. Nobody will notice except you. But you wont have any doubts if it actually starts happening. So hopefully that gives you some peace of mind.

 

[Funkymonk1]

Stress can cause hair loss but if stress is the only cause it's unlikely to be permanent and it should grow back. male pattern baldness is the main cause of permanent hair loss but yeah stress wouldn't help. Like the admin guy above said if you have male pattern baldness you will know for sure.