How to Spot and Treat Bald Spots on Your Beard (Alopecia Barbae)
Alopecia barbae is a specific form of hair loss that affects the beard. Usually, a bald spot in your beard comes on suddenly. It appears as small circular bald patches.
Alopecia barbae is one form of alopecia areata, an autoimmune health condition that causes hair loss. Alopecia barbae refers to hair loss on the beard, which can cause patchy spots.
With an autoimmune disease, the body's immune system mistakenly targets healthy cells. In this case, it damages your hair follicles, resulting in patches where hair doesn't grow.
Some treatment options for alopecia barbae may help relieve symptoms and support hair growth.
Keep reading to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of alopecia barbae and when to talk with a doctor.
What causes alopecia barbae?
Alopecia barbae is an autoimmune condition in which the body damages hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss.
Commonly, hair loss occurs in small circular patches, often along the jawline, though you may lose all of your beard hair. The hair loss can be isolated to your beard or occur in other places, such as your scalp or face.
While the exact causes are unknown, psychological and physical stress are often linked to alopecia. Genetics may also play a role: It's more common in those related to someone with:
alopecia
asthma
allergies
another autoimmune condition, such as type 1 diabetes, lupus, or psoriasis
Certain viruses, substances, or medications can also be triggers.
Symptoms of alopecia barbae
It's not easy to predict how alopecia barbae develops. Hair loss can occur suddenly, within a few days, or over a few weeks.
Bald patches occur in small circular patches about the size of a quarter. As more hair is lost, these circles will sometimes begin to overlap. Hair around the edges of these patches may also be white.
Before you lose your hair, your skin may be:
itchy
painful
visibly smooth but rough to the touch
After the bald patches appear, you may experience:
discoloration
irritation
inflammation, or swelling
Exclamation mark hairs, or hairs narrower at the bottom, sometimes grow in and around the bald patch.
How do doctors diagnose the cause of beard hair loss?
A doctor or dermatologist can diagnose alopecia barbae. Sometimes, they do this by examining your hair loss and hair samples under a microscope.
You may need a scalp biopsy or a blood test to test for signs of an infection or an underlying medical condition, including an autoimmune disorder.
A healthcare professional may also test you for other conditions that can cause hair loss, such as fungal skin infections or thyroid disorders.
How do you treat alopecia barbae?
While there's no cure for alopecia barbae, you can treat and manage your symptoms.
With treatment, hair may grow back and remain, but it's possible that it could fall out again. Several years can pass between recurrences. It's also possible for your hair to grow back partially.
Your hair may grow back the same as it was before, though it has the potential to grow back in a different color or texture. Sometimes it doesn't grow back at all.
Different treatments have varying results depending on the individual. This can depend on how much hair loss you have, your age, and other factors.
These treatments aim to block the immune system's overactivity and stimulate hair growth. Treatments are generally more effective if you've lost less than half of your hair.
Medications
Doctors may recommend several medications to treat hair loss on your beard, including:
Corticosteroids: These anti-inflammatory drugs suppress the immune system, which can help stop or reduce an autoimmune reaction. They're usually applied topically or given as shots.
Minoxidil (Rogaine): Minoxidil is a topical drug for treating pattern baldness. The medication is applied to the affected area twice a day as a liquid or foam. You may see results after 3 months.
Diphencyprone (DPCP): This medication can be applied to bald patches for people with severe alopecia. It causes an allergic reaction characterized by skin discoloration, swelling, and itching. This is thought to trick the immune system into sending white blood cells to the skin's surface to reduce inflammation and keep the hair follicles active. Results can take 3 months.
Anthralin: This is a cream or ointment often used to treat psoriasis and alopecia. The tar-like substance is applied to hairless patches daily and left on for 30 minutes to a few hours. It irritates the skin, promoting hair growth. Results are usually visible within 8 to 12 weeks.
JAK inhibitors: JAK inhibitors are medications that modify immune system activity, which may help autoimmune alopecia. However, it's usually used for severe alopecia or if other treatments haven't worked, as they can cause side effects.
Home remedies
Home remedies for beard hair loss are also available. Although their effectiveness against alopecia barbae is mostly anecdotal, and there isn't a lot of research available, depending on your condition, they may be worth a try.
Garlic
The natural healing properties of garlic may be useful in improving symptoms of alopecia barbae.
While there isn't research specifically for alopecia barbae, a small 2007 study found that garlic gel effectively treats alopecia areata.
People who used the garlic gel and corticosteroid cream showed significant improvements compared to those who only used the corticosteroid cream.
Viviscal
Viviscal is a natural supplement containing marine extracts. It may promote hair growth in people with thinning hair when taken for at least six months.
It works by regenerating new cells and strengthening existing cells. Research is anecdotal regarding its treatment of alopecia barbae, but other studies have shown it to be effective in promoting hair growth.
A 2016 study examined the effects of a similar marine complex supplement. When taken for six months, the supplement was shown to promote hair growth and decrease shedding in men with thinning hair.
Zinc and biotin supplements
Eating a nutritious diet with necessary vitamins and minerals, such as zinc and biotin, may support hair growth and prevent hair loss. However, if you cannot get enough key nutrients in your diet, supplements may help.
It's best to talk with a doctor before adding any supplements to your routine, as they can have side effects and may interact with other medications.
More research is necessary to determine the effectiveness of other natural options for hair loss, including:
wheatgrass
aloe vera
castor, coconut, or almond oil
lavender, rosemary, and geranium essential oils
fish oil
probiotics
Managing social and emotional aspects of alopecia barbae
Having alopecia of the beard isn't a cause for concern in terms of health, but emotionally, it can have an impact. Hair loss has the potential to be challenging, particularly if beard hair has special cultural or religious significance or if you start to lose hair in other places.
Whatever your concerns may be, remember that they're perfectly valid. Try to experience these emotions or feelings without judgment. Be gentle with yourself during this time.
If it's affecting your mental health, consider seeing a therapist or joining an online support group. A supportive, professional environment may help you to manage what you're experiencing.
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation has support groups all over the world. These groups provide a safe, trusting, comfortable environment for you and your loved ones to share and learn from personal experiences with alopecia barbae. You'll learn how to overcome challenges that accompany this condition.
When to get medical help for alopecia barbae
If alopecia barbae affects your quality of life or you'd like to find out what's causing it, it's best to talk with a dermatologist or other doctor.
If you have sudden hair loss on your beard but do not have a diagnosis, it's best to talk with a doctor.
You can connect to a dermatologist in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.
They can assess the severity of your symptoms, determine if there are other underlying causes, and develop an appropriate treatment plan. They can also perform tests to determine the cause of your symptoms and rule out any other health conditions that may contribute to hair loss, some of which can be serious. You may need medical attention if you experience beard hair loss that:
comes on suddenly
appears to be spreading
is widespread
occurs with other symptoms that may indicate an infection, such as fever, rash, or the affected skin feels warmer than the surrounding skin
The bottom line
Alopecia barbae won't put your health at risk, but it can be difficult to manage emotionally. You can talk with a doctor and experiment with different treatment options to see if one of them can offer an improvement or solution.
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