Dear jbalfour44, A 22-year-old with a very mild amount of shedding can be quite common. However, progressive shedding, thinning and receding hairlines or gradual exposed crowns are usually a result of underlying Androgenic Alopecia also known as male pattern hair loss. This is a genetic condition within sufficient quality and quantity of an enzyme in the follicles of the hairs in the central oval. They cannot break down testosterone to useable components and a build up of intermediary called dihydratestosterone builds up which leads to death of a hair follicle and inability to make new hair. This can result in thinning, receding hairlines and exposed crowns, central scalp hair loss and ultimately balding. There are different types of balding patterns and often one has a genetic history on maternal or paternal side. I would visit your dermatologist again and the diagnosis of male pattern hair loss can be made by exclusion. Other causes of hair loss in young men are very unusual and usually blood tests, scalp biopsies and other investigations can rule out pathological and treatable conditions. To delay male pattern hair loss there are many treatment choices including androgenic blockade with Propecia or Finasteride, low-level light therapy, topical nutrient shampoos and creams as well as the injection of stem cells such as plasma rich protein. Ultimately if thinning is extensive or progressive follicular unit hair transplantation may be required. Strip graft and FUE hair transplantation techniques are the two most common and you would seek out very experienced centres in your city. At SpaMedica we’ve been performing exclusively FUE hair transplantation using NeoGraft and ARTAS robotic and automated systems for 7 years. We can harvest from a donor site in the occipital region without a linear scar and very natural hairline restorations and densifications can be the result. I hope this information has been of some assistance and best of luck. For more information, please review the link below. Also review the FUE hair transplantation sections and the non-surgical treatments for hair loss. R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D. Certified Plastic Surgeon Yorkville, Toronto