I’m worried that this could be early thinning or miniaturization starting at the front. - Is this balding? (Photos)

Thank you for sharing your concerns and providing photos—this really helps in giving a more thoughtful perspective. From what you describe, it’s understandable to feel anxious when you notice your scalp showing more, especially in the frontal region.

First, it’s important to know that slight visibility of the scalp can be influenced by many factors that are not necessarily balding: lighting, hair parting, hair texture, hair color contrast with the scalp, or even changes in hair oiliness or dryness. These can make hair appear thinner even if density hasn’t changed much.

True early thinning or miniaturization usually comes with other signs, such as:

Gradual widening of the part over months to years

Noticeable decrease in hair volume

Smaller, finer hairs replacing thicker ones (miniaturized hairs)

Recession at the temples or a lowering hairline

From your description, your hairline hasn’t changed and overall density seems consistent. That’s reassuring. Many people notice more scalp visibility when they change hairstyles, use different lighting, or simply when hair naturally separates in certain ways.

What you can monitor:

Take consistent photos every 3–6 months in natural light and similar parting

Track any changes in hair thickness or hairline position

Note shedding patterns (more than 100 hairs/day consistently could warrant evaluation)

For now, what you’re seeing may very well be within the range of normal, but keeping an eye on changes over time is the best approach. If you start noticing clear thinning, miniaturized hairs, or recession, that’s when an in-person evaluation with dermoscopy or other tools can give a definitive answer.

It’s completely normal to feel stressed about these changes—awareness is a positive step, and careful monitoring without panic is key.

Hello! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Aesthetic Skin - Winnetka & Chicago. This is a great question. If you’re noticing early thinning or miniaturization at the front, I recommend exosome injections. Exosome treatments are promoted for their potential regenerative effects, with early research suggesting they help improve skin or scalp quality by supporting cell signaling involved in healing, collagen production, and inflammation control. Exosomes are also used as a regenerative therapy that help to improve scalp health and hair density. I highly recommend!