You look at pictures of yourself dating back a few years and you notice something’s a bit off – it seems like your hairline was slightly lower. You rush to the mirror and yes, it’s confirmed: Your hairline is now a bit higher up, but you don’t feel like you’ve lost any hair anywhere else.
So, what’s happening? Are you going bald?
It can be difficult to distinguish the beginning of a male pattern baldness from a maturing hairline, but there are differences that can help you determine if your hairline is just going through a natural maturing phase, or it is, indeed, receding.
Here’s how to tell which is which:
Signs of a Mature Hairline
A maturing hairline is a normal process that any man between the ages of 17 to 27 experiences. Just as the rest of your body is changing, so is your hairline.
The result of the process of a maturing hairline is a recession that occurs by approximately 1 to 1.5 cm above your original hairline. The rounded juvenile edges of your hair become less defined and higher up than before.
The maturing process can start as early as 17 and its pace of progression is different for everyone. This process comes to a halt in your late 20s and by then you’ll have a mature hairline.
Almost all men go through a hairline maturation process, which is not influenced by any genetic predisposition.
To sum up, a maturing hairline:
- Begins from the age 17 onwards;
- It stabilizes in your late 20s;
- It’s no more than a 1.5 cm receding of your hairline;
- Is not accompanied by hair shedding in other areas;
- It’s not influenced by a genetic predisposition.
Signs of Pattern Baldness
Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia affects up to 70% of men and 40% of women. It occurs as a result of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone hormones shortening the growth cycle of hair, which leads to hair becoming thinner and hair follicles shrinking – it becomes a receding hairline.
In the case of male pattern baldness, the hairline will recede further than the 1.5 cm mark, and it’s accompanied by shedding around the temples and the crown.
Pattern baldness can start as early as 20, but it’s more typical to ages between 25 and 35.
Signs of pattern baldness:
- Hairline recedes more than 1.5 cm;
- Can begin as early as 20, but more common between ages 25-35;
- It’s accompanied by a thinning top and shedding in the temple area;
- It is influenced by a genetic predisposition.
Is There a Treatment for Pattern Baldness?
If you notice the signs of pattern baldness, it’s time to take better care of your hair and health. Quit any unhealthy activities and introduce lots of fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, and fish into your diet.
You can also try to curb the effects of excessive hair shedding with shampoos, topical creams recommended by your general practitioner or trichologist. These may curb the effects of balding, but they won’t be a permanent solution.
A more long-lasting solution is offered by hair transplants, which help repopulate balding areas of the scalp with hair follicles harvested from areas with more dense hair.
Hair clinics in Budapest offer affordable hair transplants carried out in state-of-the-art medical facilities by highly trained and specialized hair surgeons.