Beard hair loss is something we rarely think about, but you’d be surprised at how many men are stressed by the thinning of their beard hair. Maybe that’s because having a beard is associated with manhood and vigour, and who wants to lose that? Not everyone is lucky enough to have beard hair so those who are, want to keep it!
Sometimes, that can be difficult. It’s not uncommon for facial hair to start shrinking and falling. Lack of proper nutrients in your diet, poor beard care habits and illness are just some of the possible causes. Today we’re exploring some of these factors alongside some of the methods to deal with beard hair loss.
What Are the Main Causes of Beard Hair Loss?
Four main factors could cause you to lose that bushy beard: medical conditions, stress, an improper diet and a harsh beard care routine. Some of these are more easily treatable than others, but let’s explore them all in more detail.
Medical Conditions
We’ve seen in previous articles how autoimmune diseases can cause hair loss conditions like alopecia areata. A similar disease, known as alopecia barbae, can cause your beard to shrink and fall. When this condition strikes, cells attack your beard hair follicles, leading to beard loss.
Hair falls from the beard in small patches on the neck, upper lip, cheeks or jawline. The loss often takes those affected by surprise, but its roots may lie in family history. The chances of you losing beard hair from alopecia barbae are higher if there is a history of autoimmune disease in the family.
Increased Stress
Stress is a factor in many health problems, including hair loss. Its effects can also cause your beard hair to shrink and fall. This happens due to hormonal changes that occur when our body is stressed by psychologically or physically challenging situations.
Stressful events stimulate our body to start producing a hormone known as cortisol. When the body is producing high levels of cortisol, cell signalling becomes dysregulated and hair production is affected. The good news is that regulating your stress levels will allow you to regrow your beard.
Poor Diet
Our health and our diet are strongly linked, and our beard health is no exception. A poor diet that doesn’t provide enough vitamins and minerals will not sustain a healthy beard. For a healthy, nourishing diet that will provide your beard hair with the right nutrients, you should eat foods such as nuts and vegetables. If you think you are lacking in essential vitamins and minerals, you could take supplements, but seek medical advice before doing so.
Improper Beard Care
If you groom your beard in a rush using a sharp boar bristle, you could scrape it and damage the beard hair. Comb your beard carefully and avoid overdoing it.
Another mistake you could be making is if you’re using hair shampoo instead of beard shampoo. Choose a beard shampoo that contains a mixture of natural ingredients and natural oils. Apply it to your beard at least two or three times a week. Avoid washing it daily because it dries the skin beneath the beard.
How To Treat Beard Hair Loss
Treatments differ depending upon the extent of your beard hair loss. If it’s hardly noticeable, regulating your beard care routine and diet may be enough to restore normal growth. Otherwise, you may have to consider other types of treatments.
Taking Medications
As mentioned, beard hair loss is caused by a type of alopecia. This autoimmune disease is treated with the use of medications that manage the symptoms.
Typical medications include corticosteroids or minoxidil, but you should consult with hair experts to choose the right medication. They will determine the cause of your beard hair loss accurately before suggesting any kind of treatment.
Having a Beard Transplantation
If the treatments we’ve covered prove ineffective, there’s always the option of having a beard transplant. Similar to hair transplants, beard transplants are a permanent solution to restore your facial hair. Vinci FUE Beard Transplant has helped our clients have fuller beards regardless of the extent of their beard hair loss. It’s an affordable solution that deals with beard loss effectively and permanently.
Final Thoughts
Our beard is much more than a patch of facial hair. It’s a sign of masculinity that adds to our character and boosts our self-confidence. Beard hair loss can be worrying, but you can treat it. Reducing your stress levels, adopting a healthier diet and regulating your beard care routine should all help you to grow a fuller beard.
When all of these don’t bring results, consider speaking to a certified hair specialist. Vinci Hair Clinic offers a free consultation with one of our experts, and you can book your appointment by getting in touch with us today!
