Did a Bad Sunburn Cause MPB?

Dear Sir,
i go to a military school and during the boot camp they shaved our heads to the skin. Within the next two days i was exposed to the sun and got a really bad sunburn to where my face swelled. As my hair started to grow back i noticed like a u shape which is not growing back as long and my hair is very thin on top. Will this heal? im only 19 and had no problem with balding previous to this. Thanks

It sounds like the start of your hair loss is coincidental to your sunburn. It’s possible you had the loss starting and didn’t notice it until your head was shaved. A sunburn won’t cause you to lose hair, and the pattern of thinning you describe is more like genetic hair loss than anything else. I am sure the sunburn will heal, but will your hair regrow? If it is early male pattern baldness (MPB), it won’t regrow on its own.

I would see a dermatologist or a general physician so they can examine your scalp and determine if you’ve got early signs of MPB or if there’s something else at play.