Don't know, is it Rogaine time?

This seriously has driving me insane. I'm so sorry about the quality of this photo, since it was taking with a photo but I'm just at the point that I'm not sure anymore. Does this look like indeed a bald spot, thinning going on or what I'm looking at is a natural part? My wife and friends say the natural part but I don't think a person has that huge of a part...also I have that wonderful cowlick on the right side. It's really that lighter brown area that is directly to the left and bottom of the possible part that's calling my attention. Also, question about SLS in shampoo...does it make your hair dry or damage it? I've been using the L'Oreal Thickening Shampoo recently. BTW, I'm 38 and just kind of scared that I have a huge spot developing in the back. Thank you again.

You need to take a better quality shot. This picture is blurry, at a terrible angle, and not close enough. We can't tell if it's a cowlick or baldness based on this.