Is my crown thinning?

[bfg565]

Hoping to get your opinion on the pics below. A few weeks back, I noticed that my crown appeared to be looking thin in really harsh light when my hair is around 2 inches long (flash photography, super bright direct sunlight, yellow garish bathroom lighting). Since then, I've become paranoid that I'm thinning (as my dad also experienced thinning of the crown). I've already preemptively hopped on Fin + Rogaine lol. Some pics attached for your reference. The strange thing is I have experienced no recession of the hairline.

Hoping you guys can help answer these questions as well!

-Does this appear to be MPB or could this be natural growth pattern/flow of my hair since it's on the shorter side, thick, curly, and coarse?

-Can bad lighting create the illusion of MPB in someone who isn't actually experiencing hairloss?

-Do some people have naturally thinner hair/less hair follicles on the crown region of the head?

Thanks Folks!

[Ht2]

Hi

Going through your post:

Your hair looks good. The crown does look like there may be some miniaturisation. If you didn’t see a hairloss specialist in person to get the prescription for finasteride, I’d suggest seeing one for a proper diagnosis.

However, taking pictures under harsh lighting, wet with flash is always going to make your hair look worse than it is dry and under normal lighting - the conditions that most people see you in. It’s akin to going to an important event without having showered and wearing casual clothing.

I’ll also add that finesteride and rogain have hair shedding phases right at the start so you may actually be looking worse in those pics than you will do in a year after staying the course with both treatments.

To answer your other questions:

1. Yes - bad lighting can really against you as good lighting can hide many flaws! Just look at Instagram.

2. Yes. Anything is possible.