Marty1990

Hello, made this thread a year ago (ish) and did the same a year before. Just want opinions on my hair - specifically a parting coming from my crown. It has always bothered me, my barber says it’s just the way my hair falls naturally but under harsh lighting it doesn’t look great - people in work have made comments about it but I’m 90% sure it’s unchanged and therefore just something I have to deal with. 

https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/topic/69205-hair-comparison-a-year-on-no-treatment-as-not-sure-there’s-mbp/

For reference (they’re probably already in the above thread) but here is a couple of old pics. First set from around 2011, next image 2017. Last set are from the past couple weeks.

This is the past month

I’m 34 in a couple of months for reference. 

Thanks

Hello, hope everyone is well. A year ago I posted the following and asked whether there was any thinning around my crown area. I had mixed replies; posted older pics too and some people said there was no change, others said to jump on finasteride. I haven’t done the latter, and just wanted to post some more pics for clarity.
 

Here is the original thread;

Anyway I’ve been motioning my crown area mostly, occasionally my hairline for the past year (I have posted a couple of threads in between my last June 2022 thread) and just want to see if there was any change or is it just an obvious crown / parting and me having a red scalp and light hair. 

These are yesterday (first pic fresh from shower, second I’ve brushed my hair into the parting thing)

Then these are a range from 2011 - 2023 with comparisons

The “seems thinner here?” picture is from when I was 20. The one next to it on the left is 2010.

A lot of pictures I know, but I wanted to give a comprehensive update from my 2022 thread, wanting to see if there’s been any change in a year or whether this is just how my hair grows. 

I don’t feel as though there’s any thinning at my crown, but it’s the parting thing or whatever it is that has always bothered me. 

For reference I’m 33.

Thanks 

3 hours ago, Mike10 said:

Again, I sm not sure you even have any hair loss..But if you want to be sure, book an appointment with a reputable HT surgeon who will see if there is any miniturization in that area. Under no circumstances, would I start to self medicate with Finansteride now.  

Found my old account on here, pretty much asked the same question 12 years ago as I have done now

Pictures have expired and I don’t have them anymore but pretty much the same scenario - someone commented on my crown and I jumped on here. 
 

Anyway, I’ve sent pics off to a hair place, whether they look I don’t know but I’ll hold off any treatment for the time being and wait and see. Going to go the GP first about my scalp issues (I was talking about them in the posts from 12 years ago and it’s still not resolved). 
 

I have bought rosemary oil, not for anything other than my scalp, as I read it can help with seborrheic dermatitis. 
 

I still have no idea if my hair has thinned a little, or whether it’s the same as when I first posted on the old account - but that fact people commented on it then, makes me wonder whether it’s just my crown. I just don’t know. 
 

Also ignore the way I wrote back then, I was young…..

10 minutes ago, Curious25 said:

I’m shocked your friends have made comment to be honest - I wouldn’t be surprised if you went for a trichoscopic examination and they found no miniaturisation in your crown at all, it could very well be just the way your hair naturally parts.

Your scalp looks inflamed, which might be worth checking out - potentially something as easy as Nizoral 2% twice weekly could sort that out, but a hair specialist would be in a much better position to advise you with that. 
 

Do you have any signs of hair loss at the front, or any hereditary hair loss in males in your family? 
 

If not, you may not even need to start on medication at this stage. 
 

Try book in for a trichoscopic exam with a reputable hair surgeon, it will answer all your questions and put your mind at rest. 

I’ve always had a parting coming from my crown, pics from over a decade ago show it but I assumed it was able to covered up by brushing. My scalp is inflamed yes and I’ve been prescribed Nizoral. I’m hoping that it’s just my scalp being inflamed and sitting under a light in work is the reason why the comments were made.

Dad receded in his 40/50s, he’s lost a lot of it now but still has fair bit left aged 71. My hairline hasn’t changed. No thinning, ever so slight V shape. Literally it’s always been my crown I’ve been bothered about due to its shape and size.

I’m trying to get referred to a dermatologist re my scalp issues, and then if that can be resolved then a trichologist, but right now I’m in limbo because I’m paranoid about people making comments, whether I have MBP or not - though my only hope is that it’s not changed much if at all in 10+ years, and whether to try meds “just in case”.

2 hours ago, Mike10 said:

Hi, based on the photos submitted I am not even sure you have hair loss. Looks like a normal cowlick to me. Was Fin prescribed by a Dr or are you just self medicating?

I ordered it myself online when a comment was made about my crown back in August. I’ve not taken anything as of yet, was going to start last night after the comments yesterday but have taken more pics today without product in my hair and utterly confused now as it looks okay.

Apologies for all the pics, was comparing to older pics I’ve taken looking for changes. These were all today (as you can tell the comments yesterday have messed with me a little)
 

1 hour ago, Gatsby said:

@Marty1990 your hair is what an excellent hair transplant can never achieve. Easy to say but you need to focus on something else while taking Finasteride. Remember you can also microdose or take topical Finasteride also as options. All the best. 👍

Thanks. So if I were to take Finasteride every other day and use Toppik, is it likely my hair will look mostly the same? Worried about the shed (and sides) and whether my hair will suddenly look way worse in a couple of months or if it will just look mostly the same and then better as the months go on - or just stay as is. 

3 hours ago, TorontoMan said:

You have a slightly thin spot near your swirl which is common and very minor thinning I would say closer to your mid scalp. That being said, you don't have a reason to be as worried as you are, your friends did you a favor pointing this out to you with a lot of time ahead of you. 

Being afraid of a shed is nonesense, that's short term thinking. If you can't endure a little bit of a shed now to benefit afterwards, then imagine how you'll feel as it progressively gets worse without any intervention. 

Do yourself a favor and stop reading every comment online from often times neurotic people who don't know how to measure the trade-offs for themselves. 

Thanks - they’re the areas I’ve been worried about, more so the mid scalp than the crown but the reason I’ve held off starting treatment for so long is because of the following from around 7 years ago - but if people have commented perhaps it has changed, so will start finasteride. 

For reference this is 3 years ago 

And this a couple of days ago under natural light

2 hours ago, HappyMan2021 said:

your crown has definitely had some loss, but its so minor/insignificant that I don't think you qualify for a HT at this very moment. 

To me it sounds like your colleagues were previously aware of your crown insecurities and are using this for some friendly (or not) banter and are jokingly and sarcastically making a mountain out of this very small molehill. 

But yes, from a serious POV, you haven't yet crossed the line into hair transplant territory.

Well that’s the thing I’m unsure if it’s just me sitting under a light which is making it appear worse - above is a picture from years ago and it’s similar but the fact 4 people have now commented on it makes me think I’m kidding myself and it has changed.

Was thinking more along the lines of fin and starting that, not a HT. If I have very early MBP hoping fin will keep it as is / thicken it up for the next 15 years or so. 
 

I’ve not mentioned to them about my crown insecurities so this was off their own back. Whether it was a joke or not I don’t know. 

1 hour ago, Rafael Manelli said:

It looks good, just hop on fin for now and consider getting some concealer. Toppik powder would be a cheap, effective and risk free solution for now.

Most of us would love to have hair like yours, so be grateful for what you have and relax. The odds are in your favor.

Just ordered some Toppik now, will see if that makes a difference tomorrow and then will decide tomorrow whether I take the plunge and start fin, though right now after the comments I want to start asap. 

Apologies as I’ve posted before but a comment from a family member, whom I work with has stressed me out to the point I’m starting fin tonight. 
 

Have been monitoring my hair for years and it - to me - seemed unchanged. Have a parting coming from my crown, also have seborrheic dermatitis. Last year, August, colleague told me I have a bald spot. Posted pics here and was told I didn’t and it was just my crown. Christmas, a different colleague said it also. Just now, my cousin whom I work with comes behind me as I’m at my desk. Really loud, “you’re going a bin thin up top there, you need to go to Turkey for a transplant.” Then another colleague said “yes I’ve noticed for a while you are!”

Has freaked me out. Don’t know if it’s a joke or what, but I have unused finasteride at home and I’m going to start tonight.

If I shed will it make me look bald? Have read side effects but really nervous but also if people are saying this I want to tackle it.

For reference I’m 32, 33 this year.

Pictures below, all are from today or the past week. 

the following, top pic is from 2016, last two 2010

2 hours ago, Ryan Daniel said:

Your crown looks better than someone who had a crown hair transplant.  Wait another year or two, and then decide.  You are totally fine

Thanks much appreciated. I’ll hold off taking meds. Always had a weird hair whorl and it’s always bothered me & the comments didn’t help. Thanks for your reply.

1 hour ago, Ryan Daniel said:

Your colleagues are assholes

Was actually two women who said it as well & it triggered me. Thanks though. Still umming and aahing about whether to give fin ago but reluctant if there’s not much change, if any, in 12 years.

48 minutes ago, asterix0 said:

Have you tried hitting the gym and getting some tattoos to intimidate your colleague back 😉

Haha no I haven’t. Thing is whether it’s just a passing joke comment or something, it’s bothered me. Even asked on Reddit & got “no it’s a cowlick” to “yes you’ve been balding for 12 years”.

 Maybe I’ll join a gym & take fin.

3 hours ago, davidn said:

Your colleagues are assholes, that is straight up body shaming. F*ck their opinion. Youcan use Finasteride or Minoxidil and your crown will probably thicken. Your hair looks awesome.

 

3 hours ago, mister_25 said:

Don’t listen to your colleagues, to be honest it just shows how shallow they are considering your hair loss is minimal. 

Thanks both. So you’d say there was minimal loss & it’s not just my crown? I assumed it was the latter since it’s mostly the same from 13 years ago but if there is change I’ll jump on fin. 

Re colleagues comments, I’ll ignore. 

Made a post a few months ago but a couple of comments from colleagues have made me bothered (again), about my crown. For reference, started checking my hair when I was 19 after a comment about the crown & having a “bald spot”. I’m 32 now. Haven’t taken any medication, hair seems the same - however two colleagues recently have commented on my crown or, as they like to call it, my bald spot.

First 8 pics are from either the past week or the end of last year.

9th & 10th & 11th pic from 2011 or so. Last one 2016. I was told on a hair forum years ago I had a centre parting coming from my crown & that’s the part that’s bothering me. I don’t know if there’s a change or if it’s just the fact the camera is now better on my phone so picks things up more. 

First pic is taken in natural outdoor light & seems fine, the rest indoor artificial light. 

To me the parting seems to not want to have hair brushed over as easy now, but I don’t know if it’s the way I style my hair or something.

Any advice would be great. I bought fin last year as a precaution but never took it. Can you see a change or should I ignore the comments?

I’ve posted before, I have a parting / double whorl near my crown area which has bothered me for years. I’m talking 12+ years. I’m 32 with a full head of year, but every so often I check it, and for the past couple of months this area has bothered me. I can’t tell whether it’s changed, but sometimes on pictures it looks bad, other times you can’t see it - it all depends on the light or which camera I use.

Mirror you can’t see this area that bothers me, iPhone camera you can in artificial or indoor light sometimes, natural light you can’t. Looks different again with a different camera. 

Literally have no idea which one to believe. Also looks worse if I’m indoors with my head tilted towards a window - but in natural light outside you can’t see this area. 

Doesn’t help my scalp is very inflamed but I don’t know what to believe. Family say they don’t know what I’m talking about, but a colleague a month ago said she could see a “bald spot” which triggered me. 

Which do I believe? 

I have fin just in case but haven’t taken it - primarily based on the fact my family say they can’t see anything wrong with my hair - but I’m finding fault.

Funnily enough I have noticed the odd thin wispy, curly hair on my hand in the shower. Not a lot, but I noticed one today. I didn’t realise that indicated miniaturisation?

Yeah so I’m leaning towards starting it. Family think I’m stupid and can’t see anything wrong with my hair, but this part of whatever it is, I feel like it’s more noticeable. 
 

2020 I took a pic of my “parting”. 

Tried the same again and it looks mostly the same 

However, I’m finding it more difficult to cover up the parting. 

Figured out now the barber leaves my crown hair longer so it falls over - I stupidly decided to cut it today and now it’s really difficult to hide this area;

For reference this is 2 years ago 

So either that area is becoming more apparent, it’s it’s just a case of my scalp being red and the way my hair is being cut it making this part more noticeable.

Apologies for the further pictures, I guess I’m just gearing myself up to take the damn pill. Never thought I’d need it, and I’m still not 100% I do but for whatever reason this parting - at least to me - is noticeable. 
 

Thanks for your reply pkipling. Yes that’s exactly it. I’ve been bothered about my hair since I was 20, after a comment about my crown, so I’ve documented my hair and have lots of comparison pictures. The reason I’m hesitant about fin - although I  have had some delivered - is that I don’t know if there’s is MPB or if it’s just my scalp / hair contrast & a hair whorl. I don’t want to take it if I don’t have to, but IF I had to I’d rather do a low dose. 

For reference I’ve attached a handful of pics from a decade plus ago, trying to work out my scalp - I have psoriasis - is making my scalp inflamed thus making scalp more visible, or whether there is a touch of MPB. My hairline is fine - there are pics in the open hair loss forum. 
 

I don’t know if I’m being overly critical or whether there has been a slight change in my hair whorl, hence why I’m back and forth as to whether I start medication.

I’ve been to my GP who wanted to send me to a dermatologist for my scalp, but since COVID it’s still difficult to get an appointment, they only do online only. I was able to purchase fin from a reputable online pharmacy, which is how I’ve got some.  

This is what I’m thinking but still not sure if I have minor thinning or it’s just my crown / whorl, but I’m still curious about .5mg to see. 

Made a topic in open hair loss a couple months so, but a comment from a colleague has made me investigate and ultimately order finasteride. 

My crown hasn’t really changed in like 10 years, I’m 32 now, but there is a parting coming from my crown which is bothering me - and a colleague called it a “bald spot”.

I’m debating 0.5 it a pill every other day of fin to see if it does anything - but I’m hesitant in case I’m being overly critical and there’s no reason for me to do so. 

2022

2022

2022

2020

2017

2015

The top pic highlights the part I’m concerned about most - I don’t know if I’m imagining it, I’ve always had the parting there, but it doesn’t seem to be able to be hidden as easier as it used to be. I rarely had to brush my hair over to cover up that area, but now I have to otherwise it looks like pic #1. Also looks worse under direct light and doesn’t help my scalp is red.

Thoughts on half a fin tablet a day, or is it unlikely it’ll do anything if that’s just my crown?
 

Hi all,

Sorry for not replying to everyone on here but I’ve not been thinking / worrying about hair loss since my last post. However, a comment in work has triggered me. A lady in work walked past me whilst I was sitting down, and said oh I can see your bald spot - I said what? - then she called over another colleague and said look there’s his bald spot starting. 

Obviously that was enough for me to go and take pics.

First pic is not long after hair comment. 

Second pic is from like 5 years ago and the last one was when I’d brushed my hair normally. 

I know I’ve got a large whorl but this is the first time someone has made a comment like this before. 

Thanks @Ryan Daniel. I’m still deciding whether I should jump on fin (side effects concern me a little for starting a family in the future), and because my hair seems mostly the same after nearly 15 years, it gives me hope it’ll stay like that, but at the same time I agree a preventive measure is the best way to go. 

I’ve noticed Sons do a topical finasteride and minoxidil serum, is that any good? Or is oral the best way to go?

9 hours ago, John1991 said:

If your hairline is good, I see nothing to be concerned with.  At most, you have very minor thinning in the cowlick region.  And I think even that is stretching it.  Try Nizoral 2% 2-3 times a week and see if that thickens you up.  You should try to get away with as little intervention as possible.  If you notice loss after that, then perhaps consider fin (but try it every other day to see how your body tolerates it).  There may be some on here that try to advise you to immediately jump on 1 mg of fin a day - please do not do this.  You very well may have no negative side effects, but it's not worth the risk given how good your hair is.  To answer the fundamental question of whether fin would thicken your hair, yes, it almost certainly would, but I'd imagine you could get away with Niz alone.

Thanks. I’ve actually just been prescribed Niz for psoriasis, have had what I thought was eczema on my scalp for a long time. Only used it once, used it a while back and didn’t seem to control my inflammation on my scalp but doc has advised to try again. 

5 hours ago, HappyMan2021 said:

why are worried about something that hasn't happened yet? what does your family hairloss look like?

When I was 19 someone commented on my crown, and since my hair is very light and straight and scalp can been seen in certain lights, it was enough for me to worry. Dad had receded a little mid 30s, he’s 71 nearly and it’s receded a fair bit but his crown area is okay. Younger brother is receding, he’s 25 and been on fin and min for 2 years.

2 hours ago, hope everything is nova said:

You have genetic DHT-caused diffuse thinning from Androgenic Alopecia. 

Yes what you have is Male Pattern Baldness at its very early stages. 

Consult a good doctor and start Finasteride immediately please. 

That will save you tens of thousands of dollars of hair transplants down the road...

Time is off the essence when it comes to fighting the evolutionnary curse in permanent Male Pattern Baldness. 

You think diffuse thinning? Have attached a couple of pics from 2010 I think, can see scalp and a “thin” area. I would have assumed diffuse would have been a lot more noticeable by now?

41 minutes ago, Ryan Daniel said:

I wish we could see the hairline

Either way, you should feel blessed being 32 and still a full head of hair. 

Regarding the minor thinning that you are seeing under direct lighting, it can be addressed with a safe dosage. Speak to a doctor to give you clearance and get you on Finasteride, maybe 0.5, 1mg every other day or 3 times a week would be a good start. You'll be thankful that you'll save thousands worrying about treatments and hair transplants along the next couple of years

Have attached some pics of my hairline. Have labelled years as there’s a couple from 2011 and 2016 to see a comparison today. I can get fin quite easily here in the UK, so wouldn’t be a problem. Online consultation and delivered to me. Just some reservations about using it (affecting sperm count etc.), but from what I gather it’s safe. 

26 minutes ago, Gatsby said:

You have a good solid head of hair. Your hair maybe slightly thin but as @Ryan Daniel stated for 32 your hair looks great! Speak to your doctor about Finasteride and you could even look at minoxidil as well. All the best!

Thanks. This is why I’ve come here because I don’t know if I just have naturally thin and light hair or if there is some slight thinning. I mean 13 years of documenting my hair and no dramatic change is a good sign I hope. 

I’ve been worried about losing my hair since I was 19. I’m 32 now, I still have a full head of hair, but I don’t know whether it’s because camera quality has improved in that time or I’m just finding fault with my hair, things that have always been there, I don’t know. 
 

I’ve crudely labelled the pictures attached. From the pics, direct light, you’ve been able to see through my hair to not scalp since at least aged 19. Same now. Same when it’s wet. Have always had a weird crown, maybe a part or cow lick, but not sure if now it looks thinner. Either way it’s bothering me enough to come on here and ask. 

A lot of pics, but I’ve got a lot from over the years. Not in order but have noted down the years.

Anyway - will finasteride benefit me or not?