What is patchy beard? and how to treat it? Know more now!

Patchy beard - A man worrying about his patchy beard

What is patchy beard?

We as men, like to grow beards to their extent, and although we don’t admit it, the growing beard does feel heroic. But again, we know that growing a beard isn’t an easy thing. Our beard growth is affected by a lot many factors, such as genetics, age, lifestyle, medication, and more.

A patchy beard is something we all hate. A patchy beard can be seen when you lose a certain area of hair in the beard. The medical term for this condition is called Alopecia barbae. It occurs when there is a disorder in the body’s immune system, wherein the body’s inflammation attacks hair follicles.

It is difficult to predict how a patchy beard will develop. Hair loss can occur suddenly. Bald patches can be visible in small circular patches about the size of a quarter. These circles can sometimes overlap with each other when more hair is lost. Hair around the edges of beard patches may also become white.

What causes patchy beard?

The exact reason for the patchy beard is still unknown but it can be linked to psychological and physical stress.

Apart from alopecia, some other reasons might be the cause of a patchy beard. Keep reading to know more.

1. Genetic factors:

Sometimes, genetics may also play a role. Certain viruses, infections, and medications can trigger alopecia barbae, and having a family history of type 1 diabetes, lupus, and psoriasis can also put you at a higher risk of developing alopecia barbae. Some hair follicles can remain dormant for a long time but there’s always a possibility that they can activate anytime soon given the time or the right stimulus.

2. Hormonal imbalances:

Hormones keep changing throughout our life and this can harm beard growth. The most important hormone for facial hair growth in men is testosterone. If you are wondering how to boost testosterone levels, check out our blog Foods that boost testosterone.

3. Imbalance diet/Lack of physical activity:

Diet and exercise are critical factors that enhance the overall health and wellness of our body. It also helps in keeping our head, facial and body hair healthy. Feed your beard with the right nutrients like proteins, vitamins A, C, and E. Omega-3 fatty acids found in nuts and fishes are also essential nutrients for the beard. Proper exercise is important because it helps balance hormones and enhances general well-being. It also helps to reduce stress and anxiety.

4. High stress:

Some level of stress is necessary to boost performance but high stress can have a physical impact on health, including skin, muscles, and facial hair as well. Too much stress can restrict blood flow in capillaries, which are the fuel lines that feed our hair follicles.

Why my beard is not growing?

Many factors can involve in your beard growth, here are a few reasons listed below:

Genetics
Age
Ethnicity
Alopecia Areata
Low testosterone levels
Smoking and alcohol consumption
Unhealthy lifestyle
Certain Medication

Is patchy beard permanent?

The answer is both yes and no, a patchy beard can be treated in a few cases, in a few individuals it goes away with age, and in some cases, it can’t be treated forever. Patchy beards due to ethnicity and genes can not be treated. While patchy beards due to age, alopecia, and low testosterone levels can be treated in many cases. But in most cases, the patchy beard isn’t permanent, and you can get a full recovery with certain medications and cosmetic treatments.

Although a patchy beard gets treated with medication and time, there are still possibilities that it can be started again in the future. To stop that, all you have to do is, consult your doctor, every once in a while, complete the whole medication, have a proper lifestyle and avoid alcohol and smoking.

How to get rid of patchy beard?

Sadly, there is no permanent cure for alopecia barbae but you can manage your symptoms to reduce the effects of this condition. With proper treatment, hair might grow back partially in a different color or text but there’s a possibility that it could fall out again. There is no single treatment for everyone with a patchy beard because of individual differences and other environmental factors.

You can use minoxidil for your patchy beard, it has shown effective results in most people using it. Minoxidil is a topical solution used to treat pattern baldness. It can be applied to the affected area as a liquid or a foam twice a day and the results are visible after 3 months. You can use MARS minoxidil solution to treat your patchy beard.

Take Away

There may be several reasons why a lot of remedies are not working for you but worry not. we have got you covered and I bet this will do wonders for you! Check out our Derma roller for a beard which is an excellent choice for helping you solve the problem of a patchy beard. It does not just help in coping with the patchy beard but also promotes beard growth, nourishes the beard from t he roots, improves beard strength, and increases blood circulation.

FAQs

Will a patchy beard grow out?

The answer is both yes and no, patchy can grow out when you follow the beard care tips and use the proper medication with consistency, and sometime it will grow out along with age, and for the rest, it won’t show any results.

Does a patchy beard mean low testosterone?

Yes, low testosterone can be a reason for the patchy beard. But it is not the only reason for the patchy beard. Usually, when testosterone is low, the DHT is more.

At what age does a beard grow fully?

The average age at which beard growth starts is 18 years and the time it takes to grow a full beard is around the age of 30 years.

References

How to fix a patchy beard: All you need to know. By India today, Oct 30. 2020.

Tips to fix a patchy beard. By Braun.

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