Hi everyone, I need some advise

[GeorgeT]

I'm 21 and recently my mum asked me what I'm gonna do if I go bald, and pointed out she thought my hairline was receding.

This got me a bit paranoid and it's been on my mind for about a month now. My Grandfather on my Dad's side was bald at 19, tough my Dad isn't at 55. My Mam's father still has a full head of hair at 82.

Anyway, I need to get an educated opinion and I'm hoping there's some guys here that can help me out if I'm to be proactive with it or if I'm just getting worried about nothing. I'm guessing a place called 'Bald Truth Talk' is probably the best place to ask.

(Large images)

http://i62.tinypic.com/27xhst2.jpg

http://i62.tinypic.com/nehroj.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/33pa9i1.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/2rfa2w3.jpg

http://i61.tinypic.com/2dt5dlt.jpg

http://i60.tinypic.com/2v34hgm.jpg

[35YrsAfter]

I'm 21 and recently my mum asked me what I'm gonna do if I go bald, and pointed out she thought my hairline was receding.

With a few rare exceptions, men's hairlines recede. When I was 14 I noticed my hairline receded a little. I focused on that when the real problem down the road was hair miniaturization. Your genetics seem reasonably hopeful. Recession is normal. Keep an eye out for thinning. You could go to a local hair transplant doctor and get a HairCheck. The hair mass numbers are kept on file and can be used for comparison a few years down the road. I wouldn't worry.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[Artista]

Hi GeorgeT and welcome to our forum!
I agree with Chuck's response to you.
It could very well be that you are experiencing a maturing of your hairline and thats IT. You might not have substantial hair loss later on in life.
Do NOT panic George,,there is no reason to panic at all. You have a great head of hair.
Being that you are ONLY 21 years old,that IF you do experience any hair loss later on, guys your age will definitely have MUCH BETTER treatments available.
There are major companies/scientist/doctors around the world out there striving to find the 'cure' for hair loss.
My point again is,,DO NOT PANIC.
Why? Because STRESS has been proven to be a major factor in male hair loss.
I have had that EXPERIENCE in my life.
Cheers bro!! Stay STRONG.

[GeorgeT]

Hey guys, thanks for the kind welcome!

I focused on that when the real problem down the road was hair miniaturization. Your genetics seem reasonably hopeful. Recession is normal. Keep an eye out for thinning.

What do you mean hair miniaturization? This is a term I'm unfamiliar with.

Here are two newer pictures.
http://i58.tinypic.com/sztopf.jpg - I can never be certain that my hairline is normal as it kinda bends up like a U shape and I'm scared that's nearing a phase 2 y'know?.

http://i57.tinypic.com/w99qg1.jpg - I had a haircut recently and I'm concerned that you can see through my hair on my sides. Even when it was longer (http://i60.tinypic.com/2v34hgm.jpg) you can still see the hair isn't as dense as the rest of my hair.)

Please let me know if I'm just being paranoid as my girlfriend and my mum seem to think I am, but I'm not so sure. It's just a really big thing for me - I guess I've always just assumed that I'd be fine what with my Dad not being bald and I'd just inherit his hair, but now I'm questioning it all.

[Notcoolanymore]

I agree with your mom and your girlfriend. And if your girlfriend is bringing it up, it matters to her.

[35YrsAfter]

[QUOTE=GeorgeT;172460]
What do you mean hair miniaturization? This is a term I'm unfamiliar with./QUOTE]

Male pattern baldness can appear in quite a few different ways. Sometimes a man can severely recede leaving a silver dollar sized area of hair in the front. Sometimes men with MPB go bald in the front and not in the back at all. I have seen the reverse of that. I remember seeing a man with a huge bald spot in the back while having the appearance of a full head of hair in the front. Sometimes the hair thins pretty evenly all over to a slick Norwood 6 or 7. Sevens are more rare. In MPB, when the hair doesn't flat out leave the temples, top, or back to reveal nothing but skin, it often gradually miniaturizes, sometimes over many years. In other words, the hair shaft diameter decreases while the anagen (growing) phase is shortened leaving more hair in telogen. With a decreased anagen phase, you will notice more shorter hairs if you were to let your hair grow on top without cutting it.

Below, I included a photo of miniaturization (thinning) where there was virtually no recession.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[thinkingaboutit]

I am no expert, but you seem to have a full head of hair, based on the pictures that I see. Slight receding of hair line is normal. It does not mean that you are definitely balding. However, if you do notice thinning, then yes definitely seek expert advice. Try and not to worry about it. It is easier said then done.

You could always seek advice like some of the others have said. However, be careful that they are not just after your money. See if you can get unbiased or independent advice.

Good luck.

[Jasari]

I don't have a single balding person in my very large family. I was a norwood 3a by 19 but only progressed to a 4a by 27 [Now].

Your hair is fine ATM & I wouldn't worry about it. The best thing to do is just stay smart and keep a few photo's of your hairline. If somewhere down the line you notice even the slightest progression jump on some of the available treatments and that potentially will hold your hairline.

At a young age sometimes it's hard to notice hairloss because it's never something that crosses your mind. It took me a year to realise what was happening because I never actually considered that hair loss could even be possible at my age, especially with no family history.

[GeorgeT]

Hey guys, long time no post.

Just wanted to check-in and see if I'm still being paranoid or if I should start worrying about this U-shape?

http://oi57.tinypic.com/2r22hop.jpg

I've got my chin against my chest so my head's pointing forward a little bit, but still...