What is causing me to lose hair on the side of my head?

[NorwoodSadness]

In the past few months I’ve lost a lot of density on the right side of my head. I cant seem to find a real explanation for what is causing this. I could have dupa or retrograde alopecia, but I am not thinning noticeably on the left side or the back of my head. It could be a thyroid issue or some sort of deficiency, but once again why would the the thinning being in such a localized location? Generally hair loss of this variety is more indiscriminate. Ive thought maybe standard alopecia, but im not really losing it in a circular pattern… its just diffusely thinning on the right side of my head.
I have no clue want is causing this and it is driving me mad. I was honestly content with losing the battle to hair loss and going the hair system route, but now that is seemingly going to be taken away from me. Any thoughts?

 

[Diffused_confidence]

Retrograde alopecia

 

[NorwoodSadness]

Retrograde alopecia

If this is the case, how thin will it get? Will it go slick bald or even just significantly thinner than this? I just turned 22 for reference. I was really committed to trying the hair system thing lol, this sh*t sucks… hair loss is always so complicated

 

[Diffused_confidence]

Retrograde alopecia is usually just thinning not hair loss. It's not necessarily on all the sides it could just be near temple points. But it is referred to Retrograde alopecia which impacts donor quality.

 

[NorwoodSadness]

Retrograde alopecia is usually just thinning not hair loss. It's not necessarily on all the sides it could just be near temple points. But it is referred to Retrograde alopecia which impacts donor quality.

Hmm hopefully it’s just that. Sometimes it looks really weird though

 

[Jpw1999]

Hmm hopefully it’s just that. Sometimes it looks really weird though

I've got the same kind of thinning on the back and sides and it's not progressed in 3 years, I've only been on finasteride for 5 months, it could also be the natural density of your hair

 

[JaneyElizabeth]

It appears to be androgenic alopecia resulting in the hair being lost in front of the ears which is extremely common in cases of male pattern baldness. It's doubtful that it is caused by anything except androgens. I am not sure why people give this the name DUPA but it adds greatly to transplantation woes in general.

 

[NorwoodSadness]

I've got the same kind of thinning on the back and sides and it's not progressed in 3 years, I've only been on finasteride for 5 months, it could also be the natural density of your hair

Hmm. Its definitely not the natural density, I had no thinning on my sides just a few months ago. Hopefully this is just a phase and things stabilize because if I go super bald on the sides it’s over.

 

[NorwoodSadness]

def thinks it's gotten worse. probably gonna go on finasteride again. Wasn't a great responder last time from what I could tell, but hopefully I'll maintain. Sucks that whatever this is will probably keep me from getting a transplant or even a hair system. Feel pretty hopeless at this point of the journey.

 

[NorwoodSadness]

Is this even male pattern baldness? I mean I definitely have MPD, I have like a Norwood 3 hairline. But wtf is going on?

 

[NorwoodSadness]

It's weird because my hair generally looks full and thick on the sides. But if you pull/sweep it back it reveals itself as extremely thin. Really really frustrating.

 

[losingbattle88]

Its not just androgenetic dont listen to these morons i tried dutasteride oral and topical and oral minoxidill i Still have super slow hair growth and losing thickness mainly on both sides of my head.

 

[NorwoodSadness]

Its not just androgenetic dont listen to these morons i tried dutasteride oral and topical and oral minoxidill i Still have super slow hair growth and losing thickness mainly on both sides of my head.

I think it could be. I likely have turbo-balding genes because I just turned 22 and I'm Norwood 3 with thinning on the sides. My dad NW7+ and has been at least NW6 or so since he was like 29, maybe even earlier. Look at Steve ballmer and Danny DeVito here. Turbo-balders. Went bald young. Their sides are destroyed. Steve barely has any left, only a little thin rounded strip around his ear area. Danny's is massively thin and recessed. Like you, I probably won't respond to meds. You're older than me though, so idk what the culprit is for you.
f*****g sucks. just want hair man lol. so hopeless.

 

[losingbattle88]

I think it could be. I likely have turbo-balding genes because I just turned 22 and I'm Norwood 3 with thinning on the sides. My dad NW7+ and has been at least NW6 or so since he was like 29, maybe even earlier. Look at Steve ballmer and Danny DeVito here. Turbo-balders. Went bald young. Their sides are destroyed. Steve barely has any left, only a little thin rounded strip around his ear area. Danny's is massively thin and recessed. Like you, I probably won't respond to meds. You're older than me though, so idk what the culprit is for you.
f*****g sucks. just want hair man lol. so hopeless.

Its not just dht. Well I have thinning more on my sides but upper sides and sides also grow very slow. I have max nw3 in my family

 

[Steve lopez 11]

,my condition is more worse than you

 

[Steve lopez 11]

 

[Steve lopez 11]

I think i have retrograde /dupa.. My dr says it's normal in male pattern baldness.. Now iam taking 1 mg finasteride / day realy afraid about this pattern

 

[NorwoodSadness]

I think i have retrograde /dupa.. My dr says it's normal in male pattern baldness.. Now iam taking 1 mg finasteride / day realy afraid about this pattern

Yeah definitely looks like you're thinning out on the sides too. I'm starting to suspect I have DUPA as well. When you pull up the hair on the back of my head it appears to me like it's miniaturizing/balding too. It's just weird because when I'm not touching my hair it looks like I have a clown wig on because my sides and back looks super thick. Idk what's causing this illusion.

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

in short, shitty genes

 

[NorwoodSadness]

in short, shitty genes

That's for f*****g sure. Super frustrating lol. Like in my opinion hair transplants and hair systems are both really good options, and I'm basically screwed out of either option.