Hair Loss on Nape of Neck, Behind the Ears

I am losing my hair from the edges upward especially on left side. The pattern of baldness is unlike any seen in family. Hair on the crown of head is full and thick albeit brittle but nape of neck, behind ears and temples are severely thinning. Scalp is sometimes irritated and occasionally painful medium-sized bumps appear. I am at a loss, does this sound like a medical condition or hereditary baldness, and if so, what should be my next move since most products are tailored for thinning on top of head.

Hairs on the lower part of the back of the scalp (high neck area) are not generally considered permanent or a part of scalp hair. Some men are genetically predisposed to lose hair in a pattern that you describe. If you are concerned about this, see a doctor to have your scalp hair mapped for miniaturization and find out the pattern for this thinning. There may be other underlying medical conditions associated with your problem. It is impossible for me to give you a diagnosis without examining you in person. Furthermore, there is no clear scientific evidence that medications such as Propecia or Rogaine would help –- but again, this is something you should explore with your doctor.