I am Norwood 2 But I Noticed Thinning On My Crown Area

I started receding when I was about 18 but it stabilized and never went past what I now understand to be a “Norwood 2.”

However, now that I’m in my early 40s, and particularly over the last year, I’ve noticed a substantial thinning on top (still no bald batch in the back). I can clearly see scalp.

Could this be a medical issue (hormone changes with age) or is there something I should be tested for to correct the situation?

My grandfather (mother’s side) was bald; my father had his hair, as did his father. My uncle (on mother’s side) lost most of his hair in his 40s-50s. I have two older brothers and both are receding but nothing dramatic.

This is called getting old. Maybe you always had some thinning but as you get old it is showing more. Maybe you were genetically programmed to be a Norwood 2V/ 3V. I do not know.

The best test to find out if you are balding, is to get a hair Bulk Analysis or a Miniaturization Test in a doctor’s office. We do these routinely. Just yesterday, a 27 year old male came in with hair loss in the frontal hairline, but when I did the hair bulk analyses, I found that he was losing hair in the top and crown where he could not see it. There really is no blood test other than establishing a diagnosis by a competent doctor in the office setting. I realize there are genetic blood test for androgenic alopecia but the results will not give you a clear cut yes or no with regard to whether you are balding or not. Even if the answer to the genetic test is that you do or do ot have genetic balding genes, you still have the hair loss issue that is something that only a doctor can tell you once he examines you for hair bulk around your entire scalp.

In the end if you want to do something about it, you are left with (1) drugs (Propecia or Rogaine) (2) hair transplant surgery if you can see the hair loss (3) scalp micropgimentation (4) different hair style. Finally it is rare for men to have other medical issues that would cause a “pattern” balding. The “pattern” you are describing may be Male “Pattern” Balding. See a doctor if you want to do something about it.