Is this retrograde alopecia and is something like minoxidil an effective treatment? (Photo)

you may need transplant to build your hairline along with PRP/acell injections.
I suggest a formal consultation as there are a combination of treatments that can be done to improve har loss.  Oral finesteride has very little to no side effects in the majority of people; PRP/platelet-rich plasma + stem cells like A Cell help regrow hair and slow down the thinning process; rogaine and restorsea spray should be used daily; oral viviscal helps keep nutrients high in the follices as well.  Transplantation is a last resort but works early in the aging process as well.  A formal consultation and combination treatment is needed.  Best, Dr. Emer. 

The year is 2022 not 1980. New medical technologies enable us to see what is causing symptoms in our bodies. It is no longer necessary to try multiple treatments one after the other in the hope of treating a symptom.

Did you know that back when fuzzy hair growth was a side effect of oral minoxidil treatment during a clinical trial, someone "assumed" that it worked because of its vasodilation properties of increasing blood flow. Now with "science" we know that is not true and that minoxidil is in fact a very mild hair follicle agonist (stimulant). It unfortunately also has many problems including its requirement to be mixed with alcohol to activate it and the fact that hair follicles become dependent on it so that if you stop using it, any hair grown falls out.

Today we have the technology via precision medicine and xrays that can see individual molecules within our blood to accurately diagnose the underlying causes of symptoms such as hair fall or lack of hair growth.

Why then would we want to guess what is happening rather than find the true real cause and treat that?

My recommendation: find a doctor who can perform a biochemical report card lab tests panel. The BRC will provide a very comprehensive view of your overall health and well being as well as all the biomarkers which lead to hair loss. Once you know what is causing the problem an effective plan can be created to treat and reverse it.

Male pattern hair loss can sometimes present in this manner. Minoxidil is a good starting place but sometimes people may get irritation or transient shedding initially. I would also recommend PRP injections, low level light therapy (ie Revian cap), and a nutraceutical supplement such as Nutrafol. Make sure you see a board-certified dermatologist. Good luck!