Hair loss progression question

[whitedawgnw2]

Hey guys, new to the page, 22 here suffering for what I think is the earlier stages of MPB. Just wanted to talk to some fellow MPBers and get your guys insight of how far along I am. My family history is mothers grandfather did not start losing hair until he was in his forty's. My mothers brothers are a bit different, two were balding heavily in their late twenties, while the other brother had a decent bit of hair until his late thirties to early forties. My father is sixty and has a juvenile hairline. Wanted to ask you guys where you think I am on the Norwood scale and how my diffused thinning looks like. Would really appreciate the insight, as I just realized I was losing my hair about eight months ago and losing at such a young age has made me self conscious.

[whitedawgnw2]

Hey guys, would really appreciate the advice.

[John P. Cole, MD]

Look like you are in really good shape. I don't think your crown is going. I can't really enlarge the photos well, so it's not easy to say for sure. I'd say you are somewhere between a NW 2 and below. This loss is not clear, however. If it is thinning in the front in the areas beside the mid-line, the loss is early. You can probably rescue your loss with topical finasteride mixed with minoxidil. When you cut your hair short, you will always see some scalp in the crown. That does not mean you are losing your hair in the crown though.

[whitedawgnw2]

Thanks for the insight and advice. I am worried about the finasteride for the sides. Does the topical have less side effects? And is it necessary to hold use the side to use the products to hold on to my hair until I am in my thirties? I was on minoxidil for a little, can the use of that speed up hair loss when it is up because I understand that minox can speed the thinning process. When you say NW2 you mean possibly between a NW1 and NW2.

[whitedawgnw2]

Look like you are in really good shape. I don't think your crown is going. I can't really enlarge the photos well, so it's not easy to say for sure. I'd say you are somewhere between a NW 2 and below. This loss is not clear, however. If it is thinning in the front in the areas beside the mid-line, the loss is early. You can probably rescue your loss with topical finasteride mixed with minoxidil. When you cut your hair short, you will always see some scalp in the crown. That does not mean you are losing your hair in the crown though.

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