What causes beard hair loss?

What causes beard hair loss? 

When most people think of hair loss, they automatically focus on the scalp. However, some men experience the loss of facial hair and are led to question why, particularly when their scalp seems unaffected. There are several reasons why you might be suffering from hair loss on your beard, and we explain them in detail below. 

Alopecia barbae 

Alopecia barbae is an autoimmune condition that can lead to the loss of hair on your face. It can also cause bald patches to appear in your beard and moustache, which leaves your facial hair looking patchy. Unlike male pattern hair loss, which typically leads to a receding hairline or bald spots around your crown, alopecia barbae typically leads to hair loss in small patches that appear on your face. 

The patches are often no bigger than a coin and seemingly appear for no apparent reason. You might be affected by alopecia barbae if you suffer from an autoimmune disease like type 1 diabetes, or it may even be passed down through genetics. While scientific evidence is still limited, some researchers believe that alopecia barbae could even be a result of stress and other environmental factors. 

Ringworm 

Although it’s not particularly common, ringworm can lead to bald patches in your beard. Ringworm is caused by a fungi infection, and the symptoms typically show within the first two weeks. Instances of ringworm are most common in humid and warm climates, and the condition that ultimately affects your skin is known as tinea barbea. 

Chemotherapy 

As one of the most common ways of treating a range of cancers, chemotherapy is a treatment that often leads to hair loss. Depending on the type of treatment that you undergo, you may suffer from chemotherapy-induced alopecia, which can manifest itself on your scalp and on your face. However, not everyone who undergoes chemotherapy treatment necessarily experiences hair loss, and your doctor will advise you if your dosage of treatment is likely to lead to hair loss on your scalp or face. 

How to treat beard loss 

If you think you might be afflicted by the above conditions, then it’s best to seek advice from a medical professional before undertaking the right course of treatment for hair loss. However, if you have a patchy beard and want to improve the fullness and thickness of your facial hair, you might benefit from our clinically-backed beard booster. Made with a 3% Minoxidil solution, our beard booster can stimulate the growth of the hair follicles on your face, which can help you cultivate a fuller and thicker beard. 

Find out more about how our beard booster works, and start your consultation today. 

All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.