Your ability to grow facial hair can influence the way you feel about yourself and the way others perceive you [1]. That is why many men want to know what causes their patchy beard.
There are several potential causes of beard hair loss, such as your age, genes, and hormones. Certain types of alopecia can affect your beard as well. For example, alopecia barbae makes up 28% of all cases of alopecia areata [2]. This article will tell you all you need to know about why your beard may be patchy, including:
There are several reasons for a patchy beard. Some of them may resolve on their own, while others may require medication or a beard transplant to restore facial hair fullness. Here are the most common conditions that cause patchy beard growth.
Young men before the age of 25 have not normally reached their full beard growth potential yet [3], which is why their facial hair can still look sparse or patchy. This is especially true of teenagers, whose beard has recently started growing. The hormonal imbalances caused by puberty can affect the appearance and growth rate of their facial hair. That is also why the best age to get a beard transplant is normally after 25.
At the same time, men over the age of 50 may naturally experience some beard thinning and slower growth [3]. That is why they may notice sparser facial hair, which, depending on their genes, may look diffuse or patchy.
Men with male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) usually experience a receding hairline, temple hair loss or a bald spot on the crown due to an excess of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, when it comes to your beard, an opposite effect is observed: androgen hormones like testosterone and DHT promote beard growth and fullness [4][5]. Thus, hormonal imbalances can lead to sparser beard growth.
Similarly to androgenetic alopecia, a thin, patchy beard can be genetically inherited. However, just like if your dad is bald it doesn’t mean you will necessarily go bald, if your close male relatives have sparse facial hair, you are not certain to experience this as well. Still, you may be more predisposed to it.
Alopecia barbae is a form of alopecia areata which affects your beard. Studies show that almost half of men whose facial hair is affected by this condition will also develop it on their scalp (and 80% of these cases will occur within a year) [6].
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder where your white blood cells attack your hair follicles, causing them to stop producing hair. It creates circular bald patches on your scalp or, respectively, in your beard.
Psoriasis is another autoimmune disorder that can flare up anywhere on your body, including your beard area. It can result in inflammation, flaking and thickened, itchy plaques, as well as beard hair loss in the affected area. [7].
The skin beneath your beard is as vulnerable as your scalp to disease or infection. Perhaps even more so because your thicker facial hair helps retain oil and sweat, which can make a perfect breeding ground for fungi or bacteria. That is why some common scalp problems can also affect your beard.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common example. While it is mostly known as a yeast infection of the scalp, in 87.7% of cases, it affects your face (usually alongside other body parts) [8]. When it grows on your beard area, it can cause an itchy rash, greasy flakes as well as facial hair loss.
Another less common skin condition is tinea barbae – a fungal infection similar to ringworm, caused by a type of mould called dermatophytes. It usually creates inflammation and tender, oozing plaques known as kerions. The beard that covers affected skin becomes brittle and can fall out easily, leading to bald patches.
Accidents that cause scarring to your beard area (e.g. cuts, burns) are likely to prevent hair from growing in the affected area, as the beard follicles get destroyed. However, there is another form of mechanical harm that can cause some of your beard hair to fall out: traction alopecia.
This condition develops when too much tension is applied to your hair follicles over an extensive period of time. Braiding your beard tightly or twisting and pulling on it very often (as some men do without realising when they are nervous or bored) can lead to traction alopecia of the beard, leaving patchy spots at the points of tension (often, on your chin) [9]. The good news is that in most cases the symptoms resolve themselves once you stop the behaviour which caused them.
It is a known fact that stress and anxiety can cause hair loss, but they can also affect your beard. Significant psychological distress can disrupt your facial hair growth cycle, causing telogen effluvium. This can cause temporary excessive hair shedding from your head, and sometimes also from your beard.
While this hair loss is usually diffuse, it can sometimes cause a patchy appearance, especially if other factors that cause beard thinning are also present.
Another, much rarer psychological condition that can cause a patchy beard is trichotillomania. This form of obsessive-compulsive disorder involves repeatedly plucking hairs from your scalp or beard [10].
Men who pull out their beard strands often do so without realising, when stressed or bored. Since hairs tend to be plucked from the same area, they often develop bald spots in their beards.
Caring for your beard, and washing and brushing it frequently can be a healthy habit. However, some beard styling mistakes can make the hair brittle or more exposed to breakage.
Overbrushing or being too forceful with your brush can break off your strands, as can vigorously rubbing your beard dry. Using excessive heat to dry or style it can also dry out your face and beard just like heat can damage your hair.
Furthermore, frequent use of harsh chemicals, such as bleach or dye can cause hair loss from your beard as well as from your scalp.
You may be concerned about bald spots in your beard, or may simply be experiencing uneven beard facial hair growth, with sparser or thinning areas. Depending on the condition that is causing it, a patchy beard can look and feel in different ways. Here are a few examples [2][11]:
Type of beard patchiness
Potential cause
If you are unsure about the reason for your facial hair loss or about the most effective way to fix your patchy beard, the best thing you can do is to book a consultation with a trichologist. They will examine you thoroughly, take your medical history and listen carefully to your symptoms.
Here, at the Wimpole Clinic, our experienced hair doctors will provide you with an accurate diagnosis and recommend the best treatment options available for your specific condition. Moreover, they can support you by providing competent, evidence-based facial hair care advice to help you grow a fuller, healthier beard.
Are you looking for more information about uneven beard growth? Take a look at the answers to these frequently asked questions:
The moment when you reach your full beard maturation depends largely on your genes and hormones. It can happen as early as your late teens or as late as your early 30s. However, on average, research shows that most men see the highest beard growth rate between 25 and 50. This means that you may achieve greater beard thickness after 30, but nobody can tell for sure ahead of time.
That depends on what is causing your patchy beard. Many young men find their facial hair starts growing fuller as they mature. Some conditions, such as traction alopecia of the beard or telogen effluvium normally resolve on their own after the stressor is removed.
However, if your beard is genetically sparse if you have a persistent dermatological condition or scarring in your facial hair area, you will likely need the help of a dermatologist or a trichologist.
Yes. While it is rare, severe untreated infection in your beard area can lead to permanent scarring that results in bald spots. If you develop folliculitis in your beard or a beard hair loss fungus, monitor them closely. And if they don’t subside (or worsen) within a few days of home care, always see a doctor. A dermatologist or trichologist can recommend the treatment you need to prevent scarring alopecia in your facial hair.
It can often seem like men with wavy or curly beards have better coverage, with fewer thinning spots. However, this is normally just an illusion created by the fact that curly hair has greater volume. Due to their texture, it’s easier for coily beards to mask bald spots than straight ones.
Studies show that beard length and fullness do not accurately predict a man’s testosterone levels [12]. While it is true that androgens (especially DHT) can contribute to beard fullness [46][57], low testosterone levels are not necessarily the cause of your growing a patchy beard does not necessarily imply that you have low testosterone levels. As shown above, there can be many non-hormonal causes for beard hair loss.
However, if you have concerns about your testosterone levels, it is a good idea to share them with your healthcare provider. There are simple tests they can order to determine your hormone levels. And if you do indeed have a deficiency, supplementing testosterone at your physician’s advice may improve your quality of life.
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