Patchy Beard Causes & Solution

Did you know that the average beard can grow about 5.5 inches per year and your beard is made up of about 30,000 hairs? A full beard is an awesome way to add to the appeal of your face. But a big issue with beards is that sometimes hair can grow thicker in a certain part of the beard. Patchy beard can be an annoying problem when you’re trying to grow a beard. Perhaps you are experiencing thinning in some areas of your beard? The good news is you are not alone. This is a common issue many men have experienced.

If you are looking for help for your beard patches, keep reading. This article will review some ways to help you get past those patches in your beard. And we’ll begin by discussing some of the common causes of this problem.

[This article was written by Alex Rogers — the founder of Norse Grooming. See his author bio here. Proofreading was done by Hank and any mistakes found herein are entirely Hank’s responsibility.]

Contents

Patchiness in Beard – Causes
Solution for Beard Patches

What Causes Patchy Beards?

Reasons why your beard is patchy.

patchy beard causes: reasons why a beard is patchy

There are a few factors that can contribute to patches or the balding of your beard, they are:

Stress & Lifestyle
Genetics
Medical Conditions
It’s Still Growing

Stress & Lifestyle

Too much stress is bad for your health. When you’re consistently over-stressed, your mental and physical health is in terrible shape and your patchy beard reflects that. Lifestyle can also be a key factor as to why your beard has hair loss. Having a bad eating habit — for example, if you have a high sodium diet — can also affect beard growth. Another potential cause is not getting enough exercise. Exercise increases the testosterone levels in your body. Testosterone is a hormone that plays a crucial role in stimulating hair growth.

Genetics

There are certain things in life we have no control over and genetics is one of those things. If the men in your family have trouble growing a full beard, it may be genetic. Our genetics impact the color, length, and thickness of our hair. You cannot change genetics, but there are ways and strategies to help them.

Medical Conditions

A common medical condition that can cause beard patches is Alopecia. This condition creates spots of baldness on areas of your body that has hair. Alopecia can cause bald spots on your beard. Sometimes this condition disappears on its own. If it lasts for prolonged periods, there are treatments.

Hormonal imbalance is another factor that can contribute to hair loss. Testosterone levels control male characteristics and an imbalance can potentially cause balding of the hair and your beard.

It’s Still Growing

Sometimes the exact cause can be hard to pin down, and it might the combination of multiple factors. If this is your first time trying to grow a beard, maybe you just need to give it more time. For some men, patchy facial hair is a temporary phase they have to go through before getting that full, healthy-looking beard.

Read also: Full beard looks amazing on a bald man. Read more in Style & Grooming Tips for Bald Men

Ways to Fix a Patchy Beard

How to patch a patchy beard?

Patchy beard solutions: how to fix a patchy beard

We have looked at some of the common causes of beard patchiness above. The question can it be fixed? Is there a solution to your patchy beard problem? Of course, there is! As a matter of fact, there’s more than one solution. However, you may have to try them out yourself to see what works best for you.

Let’s now take a look at some of the most popular solutions men have tried and succeeded at fixing their patchy beards.

1. Brush Your Beard

This may sound like a simple solution, but it works. Grooming adds to the health and appearance of your beard. It can also help with bald spots.

If you are looking for a fuller beard, invest in a beard brush. By brushing your beard, you add volume to it. Increased volume can disguise the appearance of bald spots.

Another reason you should brush your beard is that it increases blood flow. When your blood flow increases it stimulates your hair follicles and promotes hair growth. Incorporate beard brushing into your grooming routine.

Be careful not to brush your beard too hard. A gentle brushing goes a long way. Also, remember you should only use a beard brush if you have enough hair to brush. If you use this brush on hair that is too short you can damage your chin and hair follicles.

2. Beard Oils & Beard Balm

Beard oils are bearded man’s best friend. They are essential in helping you get past patchy spots on your beard. Beard oils contain essential oils that are great for your skin.

Remember, hair growth starts at the hair follicle. It is important for you to have a good healthy base for your beard to start filling in. The oils can treat your hair follicles and skin to help with growth.

Depending on the length of your beard, essential oils can make combing and brushing your beard easier. Many beard oils have anti-microbial properties. They help to remove bacteria from your skin that may be halting hair growth.

Beard balm is quite different from beard oils. You can use beard balm to help you style your beard. It helps your hair stay in place. You can use beard balm to strategically position your beard hair so that patchy areas stay hidden.

3. Hair Growth Supplements

There have been limited studies that only target supplements and how they affect beard growth. But there is a ton of research on how supplements can impact overall hair growth.

As previously mentioned, genetics plays a critical role in your hair characteristics. Supplements can help enhance the growth process. Many hair growth supplements work by stimulating your hair follicles.

Also, hair growth supplements help to prolong and maximize the anagen stage of hair growth. This is the active hair growth phase. During this phase, your hair root is quickly dividing causing hair growth.

The average length of the anagen phase of hair growth is 3-5 years. Most hair supplements work to aid in this process. Although hair supplements have not been researched a lot in their effect on beard hair growth, it is still worth a try.

4. Vitamins

Vitamins are essential to the healthy functioning of your body. They can also aid in hair growth in your beard. If you suffer from patches in your beard, you want to make sure your body is receiving the proper nutrients and minerals.

Sebum is important to hair growth. It is a natural oil in your body that adds moisture. The natural moisture of your beard is important. Vitamins C and E produce sebum. Make sure that you incorporating enough Vitamins C and E into your diet.

Also, Vitamin A and Beta Carotene are great hair repair. This is particularly important for the balding areas of your beard. The first step in taking care of this problem is repairing the skin tissue. Both of these vitamins help to promote hair growth.

Everyone sheds and loses hair. But the B vitamins help to limit hair loss. Vitamins B6 and B12 aids in hair growth. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are also keep players in growing your hair. They help your hair from becoming dry and breaking off.

5. Hormone Therapy

The balding of your beard may be a result of a deficiency of hormones. Hormone therapy can be administered in a few forms. You can receive this type of therapy in pills, injections, or creams.

Hormone treatments have to be prescribed and monitored by a doctor. You should do your own research before taking this route. As with any type of medical intervention, there may be potential side effects.

The 5 solutions listed above are just a start to your journey to eliminate a patchy beard. This may not be an overnight process, but you have multiple options. Remember there is a combination of things such as genetics, diet, and overall health condition that can contribute to spots and patches in your hair.

Holistic Solutions

Here are a few more things to try.

Have a balanced diet
Exercise
Watch your stress level
Get plenty of sleep

About the Author

Alex Rogers – Male Grooming Expert

Alex Rogers is a beard expert. He loves everything related to men’s grooming and style. Having discovered that simple style and grooming can make a huge difference to his life, Alex founded Norse Grooming — a blog and brand dedicated to sharing beard tips & products with others.