Worried About My Hair, 26 Years Old

[TML1991]

A barber brought up how my hairline looked receded a few days ago. It's been on my mind constantly since then. Part of me thinks this is nothing to be too worried about, as I have had this hairline for almost seven years, and it hasn't changed much at all and is still thick, while another part of me is in panic mode and obsessing over it.



Here is my progression since 2010, part of me is terrified that's it male pattern baldness, while the more rational, calm part of me think it's just a mature hairline, as it hasn't changed very much. I am 26, by the way.




What do you guys think about this? My hair still remains thick and I have no diffusion or bald spots. My sides have receded some however, but very slowly

 

[DHTpolice]

Upload them.

 

[TML1991]

Updated with photos.

 

[johndoe89]

The idea is that you want to catch hair loss early to slow down the progression rather than wait until it's really noticeable which leads to treatments like finasteride and minoxidil not being as effective. I have had a widows peak most of my life so I never thought anything of it then realized I was receeding and with the initiation of finasteride and minoxidil have restored some (not all) but at least I have a good amount of hair on my head. So my advice is if your hair is important to you, you'd like to keep it as long as possible and you have noticed it receding then it's worth looking into treatment options.

 

[TML1991]

The idea is that you want to catch hair loss early to slow down the progression rather than wait until it's really noticeable which leads to treatments like finasteride and minoxidil not being as effective. I have had a widows peak most of my life so I never thought anything of it then realized I was receeding and with the initiation of finasteride and minoxidil have restored some (not all) but at least I have a good amount of hair on my head. So my advice is if your hair is important to you, you'd like to keep it as long as possible and you have noticed it receding then it's worth looking into treatment options.

Don't some of those meds have bad side effects, though?

 

[centurie]

A mature hairline is male pattern baldness... People who have mature hairlines are just those whose hair-loss either stopped or drastically slowed down after losing a few more DHT prone front follicles. From your first photo your hairline looks slightly receded and looking at subsequent photos it looks like it is continuing to recede. Either way i am sorry to say, yes you are suffering from male pattern baldness. Your hairloss may halt and not change for 20 years or it may continue at the rate its currently going, you never know.

My suggestion is to start some sort of a regime, you may experience substantial regrowth! But it is a commitment and there is the potential of sides, so if you are happy with your hair now and you believe its relatively stable then you can do nothing apart from monitor it every couple of months with some photos.

Goodluck!

 

[TML1991]

A mature hairline is male pattern baldness... People who have mature hairlines are just those whose hair-loss either stopped or drastically slowed down after losing a few more DHT prone front follicles. From your first photo your hairline looks slightly receded and looking at subsequent photos it looks like it is continuing to recede. Either way i am sorry to say, yes you are suffering from male pattern baldness. Your hairloss may halt and not change for 20 years or it may continue at the rate its currently going, you never know.

My suggestion is to start some sort of a regime, you may experience substantial regrowth! But it is a commitment and there is the potential of sides, so if you are happy with your hair now and you believe its relatively stable then you can do nothing apart from monitor it every couple of months with some photos.

Goodluck!

I notice it hasn't went back any since around 2014, is that normal, for it to halt entirely for a few years or more? I know some people have that hairline for years, while some lose it quickly. The uncertainty definitely adds to the anxiety about it

 

[Unlucky93]

I notice it hasn't went back any since around 2014, is that normal, for it to halt entirely for a few years or more? I know some people have that hairline for years, while some lose it quickly. The uncertainty definitely adds to the anxiety about it

You could keep your current hairline for the rest of your life or you could be completely bald in 7years. No one knows.

Completely up to you whether you want to try treatments which apparently can have side effects.

 

[johndoe89]

Don't some of those meds have bad side effects, though?

Yes any medication can have side effects and there are a full list that you can read online for each. Having said that I've had absolutely none from finasteride 1 mg which is prescribed to me by my dermatologist. I also use minoxidil which I initially did experience mild light-headedness for the first several days when I used it but that went away.

You have to weigh the risks and benefits not to mention you may not even have side effects.