Am I Balding? Thinning? Could it just be my crown or cowlick?

[James98]

Noticed my scalp showing on the surveillance screen at the self-checkout. I’m convinced I’m balding. I asked around people I know and got mixed answers. What do you guys think? Hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Thanks in advance!

[hairman22]

thinning for sure

[Melvin- Admin]

It looks like it is thinning.

[Balding Bad]

It looks like you're just starting to thin out. Good thing you noticed early on because now you can do something about it! 😎

[James98]

1 minute ago, Balding Bad said:

It looks like you're just starting to thin out. Good thing you noticed early on because now you can do something about it! 😎

Thanks for responding! What treatment do you recommend I use?

[Balding Bad]

1 hour ago, James98 said:

Thanks for responding! What treatment do you recommend I use?

I would recommend going with the tried and true of Minoxidil and Finasteride. Obviously do your homework and weigh the pros and cons before you start on this journey because if you take well to either one or both then just know it's essentially a life-long commitment.  Once you stop, any and all benefits you received from them will go bye-bye!

Also for the rest of the forum's benefit, what's your current age (I'm gonna take a guess and say you're 23) and is there any Male Pattern Baldness that runs in your family? How's your grandfather, father, and/or brothers holding up?

This will give us a good baseline to make a more informed, and possibly more accurate, projection with any potential future hair loss.

Edited October 28, 2021 by Balding Bad

[aaron1234]

Definitely thinning.  Get on fin to keep what you have and perhaps regenerate the crown a bit.  

[James98]

9 hours ago, Balding Bad said:

I would recommend going with the tried and true of Minoxidil and Finasteride. Obviously do your homework and weigh the pros and cons before you start on this journey because if you take well to either one or both then just know it's essentially a life-long commitment.  Once you stop, any and all benefits you received from them will go bye-bye!

Also for the rest of the forum's benefit, what's your current age (I'm gonna take a guess and say you're 23) and is there any Male Pattern Baldness that runs in your family? How's your grandfather, father, and/or brothers holding up?

This will give us a good baseline to make a more informed, and possibly more accurate, projection with any potential future hair loss.

Yes I’m 23. My dad is 56 with a full, thick head of hair. His dad died in his 30s or 40s with a full head of hair. My half brother on my dads side is 33 and bald. I never met my maternal grandfather but I was told he went bald as well. 

[Balding Bad]

13 hours ago, James98 said:

Yes I’m 23. My dad is 56 with a full, thick head of hair. His dad died in his 30s or 40s with a full head of hair. My half brother on my dads side is 33 and bald. I never met my maternal grandfather but I was told he went bald as well. 

Hmm, interesting. The fact that your pop has a full head of hair at his age seems promising, but your half brother seems to have gotten the balding gene from the mother then?

Either way you may want to consider Minoxidil and Finasteride...although ultimately you should book an appointment with a dermatologist to see what they think.

[Gatsby]

One thing to add if you do decide to take the medication route (which I strongly advise though I am not a doctor) is that meds seem to work strongest in the crown which is heavily in your favour. Discuss meds with your doctor and stick with it religiously for at least 6 months at a bare minimum before casting judgement on the results. Wishing you all the best.