How much worse will it get?

[mattj]

I think the first photo makes it look worse than it is because your hair is very short and straight. When viewed from above the hairs on the top are at a different angle to the hairs at the sides and back. You're getting a lot of reflection off your scalp. You noted those things yourself.

I have the same thing going on myself. My hair on top isn't really much lower in density than the back and sides, but when it's buzzed (as below) the hair angle causes a bit of a horseshoe look.




I think this photo shows how thick my hair is at the crown when my hair is longer. I'm not going to be a NW6 any time soon.



This is not to say that you don't have thinning, I just don't think it's as severe as some people are making out.

[awesomeguy]

Mattj, that's exactly where my thinking is at.

Before I buzzed my hair it would've looked very similar to the bottom picture. As far as I can tell there's zero thinning on the crown, but that's not to say it won't happen. Which is why I want to get an idea of how far my MPB will progress. Just because my temples are thinning does that mean my crown will eventually thin as well? And to what extent will my temples recede? Will I eventually just have an island patch in the front? When will this happen? Should I do something extreme about it now? Will natural hairless remedies suffice for gradual thinning? Should I save for a hair transplant? Does any of this even matter?!?! A lot of questions, but like most of you said, that's not entirely possible to know. Except for that last question, it truly doesn't matter for what's actually important in life. I know that, and you should remind yourself as well. Yet, it matters for the ego. And that's why we're all here, right?

I've decided to see a specialist and get a professional opinion, which is something I should've done in the first place but was too embarrassed. Depending on what he says, I'll consider finasteride but I'm pretty certain that I'd just opt for being bald instead. Shaving my head really helped me psychologically deal with hair loss and I'm actually very happy with the sheared look. Completely surprised myself. Seriously, you should try it. (I know what you're thinking - "fcuk that I'm keeping my hair at all costs" - but listen to science: http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early...49490.abstract)

But I can't let my hair go just yet, not when I've still got enough to play with. So I'm going to try the nizoral shampoo and stick with natural remedies, as well as eating healthy and exercising. Oh, and if you've never tried, hot yoga is a great way to deal with hair loss. Not only are you improving your circulation thereby allowing more blood to reach the hair follicles, you're letting go of all the negative thoughts you have surrounding MPB, leaving you feeling wonderful about yourself. Give it a try, you won't regret it. Anyways, something to think about. (PS - if you do go, try following the class with this: http://www.lush.ca/Roots/03741,en_CA,pd.html - it's heaven)

Thanks for your replies! I think I've figured it out now. No more worrying.

[drybone]

I am a big believer of having short hair, but not shaved down to the nub.I think dominance has something do with attitude, confidence, muscular build and height. Not hair or shaving ones head.

I think the study shows that if someone shaves their head they look more like a 'beast' thus more 'dominant' . Thats my opinion anyways.

[baldozer]

Hey guys,

So I'm a 24 year old guy and I've always had a high hairline throughout adolescence, but now I think it's getting a lot worse. I've always been very conscious about my hairline and styled my hair regularly to make it look good. Lately I've been worried about hairloss and I was getting sick of styling my hair so last week I decided to shave my head to see if that look would suit me. To my horror, I discovered the true extent of my baldness. As you can see from the picture, it looks as though I'm developing an island patch in the front. Lame.

What do you think? I am wondering if anyone has a similar pattern of hairloss and how it progressed? How much time do you think I have until I'm completely bald? I have a rather bumpy head and fine hair so the reflection off my scalp makes it look a lot worse.

I've heard too many awful things about propecia that I don't think I would consider taking it. Eventually I'd like to get a hair transplant but I'm not sure if I should do it now? What other options are there?

Your head looks like Wesley Sneijder's before he got the transplant!

[Conpecia]

I stopped right after you make this comment.

Nobody hired you to be some advocate of finasteride side effects. We told him to consult his doctor , who is a professional and will know.

If you have a personal story regarding finasteride, share it. Let the doctors advise him . He can do all the research in the world but he wont know how it affects him until he sees his doctor and tries the medication.

To the OP, 4% of those who try it end up with severe side effects. Discuss these with your doctor.

Sorry, but most doctors are busy treating much bigger problems. They aren't as informed about MPB treatments as you're making it seem. He needs to see someone who specializes in hair loss per se. Analogy: I'm an attorney, but you shouldn't suggest that someone come to me trying to settle a land use dispute just because I'm a lawyer, since I specialize in personal injury law and have minimal experience with land use issues. My personal story? I went to my doctor and said I think I'm losing my hair, and he said okay, here's a prescription to Propecia, good luck. 5 years later I have sexual sides and gynecomastia (manboobs) from estrogen increases directly resulting from Propecia's lowering my DHT.

The point is I wasn't informed; my doctor had no clue those sides even existed and certainly wouldn't have thought they'd come out of nowhere after years of taking it without sides. So again, do your own research before making the leap to finasteride. It worked for me for many years. But eventually I got pretty serious sides and now I can't take finasteride anymore. Just be informed, that's all Clandestine and the others are saying.

[drybone]

Sorry, but most doctors are busy treating much bigger problems. They aren't as informed about MPB treatments as you're making it seem. He needs to see someone who specializes in hair loss per se. Analogy: I'm an attorney, but you shouldn't suggest that someone come to me trying to settle a land use dispute just because I'm a lawyer, since I specialize in personal injury law and have minimal experience with land use issues. My personal story? I went to my doctor and said I think I'm losing my hair, and he said okay, here's a prescription to Propecia, good luck. 5 years later I have sexual sides and gynecomastia (manboobs) from estrogen increases directly resulting from Propecia's lowering my DHT.

The point is I wasn't informed; my doctor had no clue those sides even existed and certainly wouldn't have thought they'd come out of nowhere after years of taking it without sides. So again, do your own research before making the leap to finasteride. It worked for me for many years. But eventually I got pretty serious sides and now I can't take finasteride anymore. Just be informed, that's all Clandestine and the others are saying.

I am also a lawyer so we both know you just wrote two paragraphs of hyperbole and didnt address the main concern.

Do not speak for groups of people as a whole. Let them state their own experience.

[StayThick]

Sorry, but most doctors are busy treating much bigger problems. They aren't as informed about MPB treatments as you're making it seem. He needs to see someone who specializes in hair loss per se. Analogy: I'm an attorney, but you shouldn't suggest that someone come to me trying to settle a land use dispute just because I'm a lawyer, since I specialize in personal injury law and have minimal experience with land use issues. My personal story? I went to my doctor and said I think I'm losing my hair, and he said okay, here's a prescription to Propecia, good luck. 5 years later I have sexual sides and gynecomastia (manboobs) from estrogen increases directly resulting from Propecia's lowering my DHT.

The point is I wasn't informed; my doctor had no clue those sides even existed and certainly wouldn't have thought they'd come out of nowhere after years of taking it without sides. So again, do your own research before making the leap to finasteride. It worked for me for many years. But eventually I got pretty serious sides and now I can't take finasteride anymore. Just be informed, that's all Clandestine and the others are saying.

Conpecia you nailed it in the head. I agree 100% with you. This is exactly to the T what happened to me and how it went when I first had discussions about Propecia with my doctor.

The first doctor I visited in college about this was a young woman who had no clue about baldness. She also had no clue about side effects and had no problem prescribing it considering I had a full head of hair and just wanted to learn more.

My second doctor which I had when I moved upon graduation was the same way. He stated it will halt my balding and when I mentioned sides he stated he had a few complain of ED. Bottom line: I knew way more about Propecia than both doctors combined. People need to conduct their own research and make an informed decision prior to taking this drug.

[Dan26]

He can simply ask his doctor, who can tell him .

Researching doesnt help the doctor decide whether to give him the meds or not. Combing the internet does nothing to guess whether you will have side effects or not.

Asprin has side effects. Multi Vitamins have side effects. I am certain his doctor is in a better position to help the guy out than you are.

Get your mind right kid.

[Proper]

You should always do your own research before taking the meds. I thought this was common sense? Who actually goes and consults a doctor and then listens to the doctor 100% and runs head first blindly just because the doctor "said" so.

Doctors are no more special than any other person with the internet available nowadays. Yes, they have more knowledge and yes, they have treated people, but they basically run through a checklist of what symptoms might relate to what and then address the problem which may be a hit or miss. The only thing that differs doctors from doctors is experience and honestly, even experience who always be completely accurately because people differ from people.

So **** what the docs say, they just have the power to prescribe you the drugs. And with all drugs, come risks. So if you do your research and aware of the side effects and still take it, then don't bitch about it. And listening to a doctor without research and knowing the sides effects? Don't bitch about that either, it was your own fault you didn't take the time and google the shit up.

FOR **** SAKES!

Anyways, to the OP, personally, I think you look solid with that look. And because your hairline is receding doesn't mean your vertex will thin. But you never know. For me, my hair thinned a little but I think that was from doing drugs early on. Then I notice my hairline recede and didn't do anything about it. My hair basically stayed the same for about two years and then it started to thin slowly which aws when I took propecia and now it look likes I have a full head of hair again, minus the hairline, which is still v shaped. Hoping minox will lower it a little which I started a couple weeks ago. Your crown doesn't look anywhere near thinning though because I buzzed my head too and when it was thinning, it was noticeable that the top would be a lighter shade than the sides if you were looking at it in a normal lit setting, without lights on it. It'd be noticeable, very noticeable.