Latest news with #alopecia
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Parents Are Sharing the Most ‘Unhinged' Comments People Have Made About Their Kids' Appearances
What's the most 'unhinged' comment that a stranger made about your child? One mom asked and the answers were astounding. 'Something about commenting on kids' appearances feels really off,' Jasmine Giachetti, a pregnant mother of two who posed the question, tells In a TikTok video, Giachetti, whose children are 3, and 5, wrote, 'Tell me the most unhinged thing someone said to you about your child's looks' — and parents unloaded. Comments on Giachetti's TikTok post include: 'That I should be ashamed to use haircuts as a punishment ... my son has alopecia.' 'I get told my son is very handsome and that I'm probably going to be a young grandma. He's 3!' 'My daughter has autism and I've had SO many people say, 'She doesn't look autistic.' Like, please explain to me what autism is supposed to look like?!' 'A medical assistant told me my son has a face only a mother could love.' 'An older woman told me my twins are absolutely 'kidnappable.' What?! Why would you tell me my biggest fear?' 'People keep saying my baby is a flirt. She is 9 months old.' ''Wow, look at those big ears!' Random guy in the store. I pushed my hair behind my ears and said, 'He got 'em from me.' The guy got real awkward real fast.' 'A lady told me I should put my 2-month-old baby on a diet.' ''Wow, your daughter has the body of a hockey player.'' ''Why does your daughter look like that?' My daughter has special needs and this absolutely broke me. I think my daughter is beautiful.' 'Not to me but I was in the delivery room with my sister when she gave birth. The baby was born with Down syndrome and a NURSE said the following to her: 'Ah, too bad. Better luck next time ... they can't all be beauty queens.'' 'I don't know if this counts but my daughter was born with a 99th percentile head size and the hospital notes said, 'Mother also has large head.'' Giachetti tells that a stranger has never rudely commented on her children, although one relative fondly called her 3-year-old daughter 'Fatty' for her fast metabolism and growing appetite. 'This person is from a different generation, where those comments were probably considered 'OK' — but I'm sure it made people feel a certain way,' says Giachetti. Giachetti says she confronted the family member, who stopped the name calling. According to Dr. Deborah Gilboa, family doctor and resilience expert, parents can take action the minute a stranger remarks on their children's appearances. 'You can look the person right in the eye and kindly say, 'Nope!'' Gilboa tells 'It defibrillates the conversation and shocks them into a new rhythm without you having been really rude. It's abrupt and confusing.' More phrases from Gilboa that don't send parents into a debate with strangers: 'We don't talk about my child's body.' 'That's not an appropriate thing to say.' 'It's interesting that you would say that to a stranger.' 'We don't know each other this well.' Gilboa notes that rude comments may come from people who genuinely believe they aren't offending parents or children. Still, parents should not engage in conversations that are hurtful to their children. A parent's response can be a wake-up call for the stranger and shows children the treatment they should not accept, adds Gilboa. If your child hears the remark, understands the meaning of it and is hurt, have a talk. 'Reframe it as if it's about the other person, not about your kid,' says Gilboa. 'You do that by asking your child, 'Why do you think they said that?'' Parents can explain that maybe the stranger was bored, searching for attention or was reminded of another person, such as a grandchild or a childhood memory. 'It doesn't matter why if it's not OK with you,' says Gilboa, 'but it's an interesting thought exercise that stops kids from thinking, 'What is it about me?' and instead think, 'What is it about that person?'' This article was originally published on
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly's Karen Hauer breaks down in tears as she speaks about her toxic third marriage to Jordan Wyn-Jones for the first time
Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer broke down in tears as she spoke about the breakdown of her toxic third marriage to Jordan Wyn-Jones for the first time. The dancer, 43, married Jordan in 2022 after they met online, but they divorced just 16 months later. Speaking in a moving interview on Paul C. Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast, Karen broke down in tears as she accused her ex of leaving her 'emotionally battered', and admitted she was lying to loved ones about her struggles. She said: 'I was just in panic mode, panic mode, love should not be panic. It's almost like he made up things to scare me so that I wouldn't go anywhere. 'But it's OK and I get on with it, I get on with it and smile because I don't want to cause trouble, I don't want to shake things up because that puts you in a bad mood which then makes my day really awful, and that's the state I lived in... From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I was not only lying to my family and friends and they were seeing it, but I was lying to him as well, because that was the only way I could get through the day, that would keep the peace.' Breaking down in tears, Karen added that she begun to suffer hair loss caused by autoimmune disease alopecia, which she believes was her nervous system responding to the stress she was under. She went onto reveal that on the day she was due to marry Jordan, her brother confronted her and said she needed to leave the relationship. When Karen and Jordan tied the knot in Hampshire, they sold their wedding snaps to magazine Hello!, and at the time she described her big day as a 'fairytale.' But in her hard-hitting interview with Paul, Karen painted a very different story, revealing: 'Everyone was trying to stop this from happening and I wish they would have just taken me, grabbed me and put me in a car, and I would have kicked and screamed, but I wouldn't have gone through more hell.' Speaking of Jordan, she said: 'He didn't hurt me physcally so you couldn't see it. It was there, digging, digging, digging ... 'Every dig every text, every call, why did I let someone do that to me?' Karen added that her friends eventually tried to stage an intervention to try and convince her to end the relationship. Sharing her most challenging moment in the ordealKaren said: 'There was a weekend I had to work but Pink was in concert and my two best friends, we got tickets and I was able to get away as an excuse as well that I was working down in London so I came down. 'I cried for the first 35 minutes of the show. The freedom of being out there with my friends and them holding me up. And going, 'You have to do this'. 'And then obviously the phone call from him (Jordan), 'Why did you take your luggage?' It's almost that he knew what was coming. 'I remember that moment, ''I have to, I have to do it because if not something is going to happen to me.'' Karen said things turned nasty between herself and Jordan following their split, adding: 'He started losing control of me and it was game-on from him. 'He pulled every shot, every string, did everything he needed to do to try and get my attention and try to get me away from what I was doing to go and see him.' The star admitted that Jordan begged her to take him back insisting he 'would change,' but he still made their divorce 'difficult.' Originally from Brighton, Wyn-Jones was living in Sydney when he began following Hauer on Instagram. She followed him back and they began to exchange messages before regularly speaking on FaceTime. The businessman eventually relocated to the UK, with the couple marrying in 2022, but the marriage soon crumbled and the couple announced their separation just 16-months later. She said: 'I got myself into a relationship that I shouldn't have. I felt embarrassed that I couldn't keep anyone around me and I said to myself, 'No, I'm not going to get into a relationship... spend some time on your own.' 'But I don't know how to be on my own.' Looking back on their relationship, Hauer says her former husband rarely contributed financially after moving into the home she owned before they met. 'He was saying to me I'm going to get a job soon, I'm going to help out when I can. But I work hard for my money and I was bankrolling everything,' she claimed. 'I wasn't home alone, but there was nothing that fulfilled me. He wasn't providing anything, there was no enhancement in my emotional being, my physical being. 'I was working, doing my thing, coming in and out of the house and letting him settle down.' Karen also admitted her family saw the red flags long before the relationship turned toxic and she found herself in 'a situation she couldn't control.' She recalled: 'They weren't excited by him at all because to other people it was like a big no. Like no, she'll get rid of him quick. And I didn't because it just got worse. ''I don't have what you have.' Well, yeah, but I need to go to work every day. 'Yeah, but I never see you.' 'Then 'Oh, but are you cheating on me?' No, no, I'm not, I'm not cheating on you. 'So, are you cheating?' No. No, I'm not cheating on you. I just like that person's Instagram post. ''Are you sure you're not sleeping with that person?' No, no, no. 'Can you send me a picture of where you are and who you're with?' 'l had to check in everywhere I went.' She added: 'Whatever he had going on, whatever was happening, I didn't want to be a part of it. So, I'd just leave. I'd just go away and then I'd come back. 'When can I come back home? Five days later. Okay. Are the dogs okay? Yeah, they're fine. You can come back now.' 'But the grip that he had on me, it paralysed me. It's really hard to explain. When he proposed to me, I didn't tell anybody. 'Why was I so attached to this feeling of insecurity, of gaslighting to the max. In my previous relationships, there was no such thing as that. There were probably hints of it, but this was at a different level. 'Finding myself in a situation where I couldn't control because I was afraid.' During the interview, Karen also reflected on her protracted and painful divorce from Kevin Clifton, saying they maintained a professional facade on Strictly while behind-the-scenes their three year marriage fell apart. The Venezuelan-American ballroom specialist, 43, married Clifton, her second husband, in 2015 - three years after joining Strictly's team of professionals. They would announce their divorce in 2018, and Hauer admits the separation played out behind the scenes for months before she finally confirmed they were no longer together. Karen insisted it was she who instigated the separation when it became clear that he had 'distanced himself' from the marriage. She said: 'This one hurt, because we belonged together. You wouldn't say each other's names without following the other person's name. 'I felt that he distanced himself from me, but I was probably doing the same. Because I felt that if you don't want me then OK, I'll retreat, I'll give you your space. It was one of those, where we're both not talking about it. 'I was like, 'Do you want a divorce? Do you want to split up? I don't know what I want to do. What do you want to do? Do you know what you want? I don't know what I want. Are we broken up?'' 'So it took a while actually, it took about a year... behind the scenes. In front of the scenes everything was normal. 'We fell apart, and me not knowing... obviously, I didn't know what was happening in his mind and whether he wanted to be with me or not.' Despite calling time on the marriage after just three years, Hauer claimed she would have worked at salvaging their relationship had he wanted to be with her. She said: 'I knew that I would've worked on it - I would've stayed. But at the same time, I couldn't be with someone who wasn't sure of whether they wanted to be with me or not. I couldn't wait. 'I waited for a while, and I was giving him his space to think, and then funnily enough I met someone. I was literally waiting to be loved. 'He just wanted a divorce, and I didn't fight it. Something had to happen in order for him to make a decision, because I wasn't going to make the decision. 'I wasn't going to pull the plug. So then I tripped and then the grenade went off. You know, I pulled the pin.' She added: 'It was tough for him, tough for me. It was tough for both of us at that moment. 'I could see he didn't want to let go. But that didn't give him any choice. He had to do the right thing for himself.' Despite their separation, Hauer insisted she and Clifton maintained a mutual admiration for one another as trained professionals on Strictly Come Dancing. She said: 'The respect we had for each other in the workplace. We respected one another, you know. 'We never said a bad word about one another. I think that's because we hold each other to such a high regard, you know. 'There will always be love there. So, we still danced together on the show and we were still working around each other. We would still applaud each other, support each other. 'We never lost that and that was what was really sad, that we could and transfer that onto our relationship.' Clifton subsequently embarked on a new relationship with documentarian Stacey Dooley after meeting her on the set of Strictly Come Dancing. The couple welcomed a daughter together in 2023. Meanwhile, Hauer will return to Strictly Come Dancing this year following recent claims that she had been axed. It was rumoured that the programme's longest-serving dancer had been dropped by bosses, sparking an 'ageism' row among the cast. But Hauer will be back as normal when the series returns in September. The dancer, who joined the lineup in 2012, is yet to win the glitter ball trophy but has reached several finals including with celebrity partners Made In Chelsea's Jamie Laing and former TOWIE star Mark Wright. Last year, she was partnered with former footballer Paul Merson, 57, but the pair were eliminated in week five and the previous season the dancer performed with DJ Eddie Kadi. A TV source told MailOnline: 'Karen is a well loved and respected member of the Strictly cast and there's no way she would be axed, especially not because of her age.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Heartbreaking moment Strictly's Karen breaks down in tears as she speaks for first time about ‘toxic' marriage
STRICTLY'S Karen Hauer has broken down in tears as she opened up for the first time about her 'toxic' marriage to ex Jordan Wyn-Jones. In a raw and emotional interview on Paul C Brunson' s We Need To Talk podcast podcast Karen, 43, described a relationship filled with fear and control, saying she started losing her hair from stress. 8 8 8 8 Dressed in a white suit and adidas trainers, the Strictly favourite had tears streaming down her face as she accused her ex of leaving her "emotionally battered". The dancer confessed to living a double life, lying to friends, family – and even to Jordan just to get through the day. She said: "I was just in panic mode, panic mode, love should not be panic. "It's almost like he made up things to scare me so that I wouldn't go anywhere. "But it's ok and I get on with it, I get on with it and smile because I don't want to cause trouble, I don't want to shake things up because that puts you in a bad mood which then makes my day really awful, and that's the state I lived in ... "I was not only lying to my family and friends and they were seeing it, but I was lying to him as well, because that was the only way I could get through the day, that would keep the peace." In a heartbreaking moment, Karen says she suffered hair loss caused by autoimmune disease alopecia, and believes it was her nervous system responding to the stress she was under. She also revealed on the day of her wedding her brother confronted her over the relationship, and begged her to leave Jordan. Karen had been married twice before, previously to Matthew Hauer for nine years but they went their separate ways in 2009. She was wed to former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton but they divorced in 2018. Karen and Jordan said their vows at Chewton Glen in Hampshire in 2022 and sold their wedding snaps to glossy magazine Hello!, calling the big day a "fairytale" at the time. But in her emotional interview with Celebs Go Dating star Paul, the dancer reevealed: "Everyone was trying to stop this from happening and I wish they would have just taken me, grabbed me and put me in a car and I would have kicked and screamed, but I wouldn't have gone through more hell." She added of Jordan: "He didn't hurt me physcally so you couldn't see it. It was there, digging, digging, diggingg ... "Every dig every text, every call, why did I let someone do that to me?" Karen revealed her friends staged an intervention to encourage her to be brave and end the relationship. Asked her the most challenging moment throughout the ordeal, she said: "There was a weekend I had to work but Pink was in concert and my two best friends, we got tickets and I was able to get away as an excuse as well that I was working down in London so I came down. "I cried for the first 35 minutes of the show. The freedom of being out there with my friends and them holding me up. And going, 'you have to do this'. "And then obviously the phone call from him (Jordan) 'why did you take your luggage?' It's almost that he knew what was coming. "I remember that moment, 'I have to, I have to do it because if not something is going to happen to me'." She says things turned nasty after the split. Karen added: "He started losing control of me and it was game on from him. "He pulled every shot, every string, did everything he needed to do to try and get my attention and try to get me away from what I was doing to go and see him." Karen says she reached out to his family and they were supportive, and says they told her more about his issues. She leaned on her mum for support, flying her over from New York, saying her mum was "a pitbull". She added Jordan begged for her back, saying he "would change". He eventually left her home, but Karen says he made the divorce "difficult". The star, who has appeared on Strictly for 14 years, is now in a new healthy relationship with rugby player Simon Davidson. She told Paul: "I'm in a new relationship and it's my first proper relationship at 43 years old. He has a job. Tick. He takes care of himself. Tick. "We have conversations about what we want, our values. I'm still a little bit messy, and the thing with me, what I'm navigating right now is learning when to accept when someone's telling me this is the way you should do it and now this is how you do it. "So, making sure that I understand where you're coming from without going, oh, why are you telling me what to do? "Instead of oh, you're trying to help me. That's what I'm learning in this relationship." 8 8 8 8
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I've had two hair transplants in two years but couldn't imagine unexpected side effect
AS a beauty editor, I could give a TED Talk on how to take care of your hair. So imagine my horror when I started losing mine, aged 32. 6 6 Four years later, when a whole patch surrounding a childhood scar went, I started to freak out. Was I going to go completely bald? And how could I get my hair back? I was so self-conscious I found it hard to make eye contact with people. All I could think was that they could see I was losing my hair, despite the strategically placed parting to give the illusion my hairline started where it used to. Riddled with anxiety, I spoke to a dermatologist, who told me I had a condition called traction alopecia. It's caused by repetitive tension or pulling on the hair. I was surprised, but realised that I blow-dried my curls regularly and scraped my hair up into a bun when pushed for time. But there was worse news. After long-term tension, scarring alopecia occurs — and that can't be reversed. This is when there is a permanent death of the follicles and hair is no longer able to grow back Too nervous According to the NHS, eight million women in the UK are affected by some form of hair loss. The most common type is androgenetic alopecia, a hormonal and genetic condition that affects about 40 per cent of women by the age of 50. Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson, 33, and Made In Chelsea's Olivia Bentley, 29, have both battled alopecia areata, a patchy form of hair loss often triggered by stress. Mel Sykes reveals devastating battle with alopecia as she says she's 'lost half her hair' amid health battle And supermodel Naomi Campbell, 54, has struggled with traction alopecia, which increasingly affects black women due to styling practices that place prolonged tension on the scalp. I spent three years trying multiple hair-loss treatments, including light therapy, microneedling, taking supplements and vitamin injections. Nothing worked. In fact, my hair loss got worse. I decided against commonly recommended Minoxidil — a topical treatment that slows loss, thickens hair and promotes regrowth — because any hair you gain will fall out if you ever stop. And it can trigger hair growth in unwanted areas, such as the face. 6 6 So I went to see hair transplant surgeon Dr Christopher D'Souza, who was recommended to me by a male friend. Dr D'Souza said I did indeed have scarring alopecia and would make a good candidate for surgery. After he showed me some before and after images of his female patients, I felt confident I was in safe hands. While hair-transplant surgery can cost anywhere between £4,000 and £15,000 in the UK — compared to £1,200 to £4,000 in Turkey — I felt far too nervous to undergo the procedure abroad. You only have to look at social media to see that people regularly return home with botched or unnatural-looking results. 'In the UK, your surgeon should be a member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgeons (BAHRS) and International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS),' said Dr D'Souza. What is alopecia and what causes it? About two per cent of the population will experience alopecia at some point in their lifetime, with around one in every 4,000 developing the condition each year. It can start at any age but is most common in early adulthood and can lead to a lack of all hair including eyelashes and eyebrows, nasal hair and public hair. Alopecia areata causes patches of baldness about the size of a large coin. 'Alopecia' is the medical term for hair loss and 'areata' means that it occurs in small, random areas. There are various classifications, including: Alopecia areata totalis: Total hair loss on the scalp Alopecia areata universalis: Total hair loss on your scalp and all body hair The causes of alopecia areata are not fully understood but the loss of hair is because of inflammation around the hair follicles. The cause of the inflammation is unknown but it is believed that the immune system, which normally protects the body from infections and other diseases, misfires and attacks the hair follicles. Therefore, it is understood to be an autoimmune condition, says Alopecia UK. Genetics may be behind the condition, but there are other things thought to trigger it, including a virus, iron deficiency or stress. Studies are not conclusive. For women, sometimes birth can trigger postpartum alopecia. In most cases of alopecia areata, hair will grow back in a few months to a year. At first, hair may grow back fine and white, but over time it should thicken and regain its normal colour. There is no cure for the condition, only treatments that are not guaranteed to work. People with alopecia may need to take extra precautions, including protecting their skin and eyes when outside and preventing stress. Latest figures show that last year, women accounted for just 15 per cent of all hair-transplant procedures. But that is up 16.5 per cent since 2021 — and numbers are climbing. The most popular method is follicular unit excision (FUE), but I went for follicular unit transplantation (FUT) instead. Dr D'Souza explains: 'FUE surgery involves each hair graft — a tiny piece of scalp that contains anything from one to three hairs — being removed using a small punching device. 'With FUT surgery, a thin strip of the scalp is removed and the grafts are taken from that strip of removed scalp.' I liked the idea of avoiding stitches, but FUE surgery meant shaving a large section at the back of my head — not ideal when you've got long hair. It's been life changing for me and I have no regrets. FUT is more discreet and tends to yield more grafts in one go. It's also safer for curly or Afro-textured hair, where follicles curve beneath the scalp. I arrived early on a Friday morning at Dr D'Souza's central London clinic, where he began by drawing the outline of my new hairline directly on to my skin. He explained that irregularities, as well as a graduation of hair density, make a natural-looking hairline. Once I was happy with his proposed design, he injected my scalp with local anaesthetic in three areas to ensure my whole head was numb. This was the only uncomfortable element of the whole process. He then removed the strip of scalp before making tiny incisions on my hairline, into which his team of technicians would later place the grafts. The whole process took five hours. I was sent home with painkillers, which I didn't end up needing, a travel pillow to keep me upright when I slept, and saline solution to regularly spritz on to the transplanted area. This promotes healing, reduces itching and keeps the grafts moist, which boosts their survival rate. 'HAIR HALO' For a week after my surgery, I kept a low profile. There was some swelling of my forehead, as well as minor bleeding from the donor area. But by day two that had subsided, and by day four the swelling had gone down. A week later I felt fine seeing friends for coffee, but it wasn't until around three weeks post-surgery — when most of my implanted hairs had fallen out — that I started to live life as before. You might be wondering if losing all that newly placed hair meant that the surgery hadn't worked, but it's totally normal. 6 Dr D'Souza explains: 'New hair will grow from the follicles at three to four months post-op, with noticeable results at the six months mark.' Even if your transplant is perfectly carried out, you may experience changes to how your hair and scalp behave. I developed a shock of grey hair, which is rare, but not unheard of. The trauma of surgery, reduced blood flow and inflammation around the follicles can result in a loss of hair pigment. Thankfully, the colour eventually came back. For around six months I also had to live with a frizzy 'hair halo' across the front of my hairline, so I strategically placed longer hair from behind over the shorter hairs at the front. The skin along my hairline became a lot drier than it used to be, too, which Dr D'Souza explained can happen. Non-oil-stripping shampoos and moisture-boosting scalp serums worked well for me. I was ecstatic when, at my six-month review, Dr D'Souza said that my hair was growing well. Now, just six months on, the results are incredible. But I must admit that in the back of my mind I'm worried hair loss might happen again. And when I hit 12 months, I could really appreciate how much my hairline had changed — and how much more confident I felt. But I had hoped my hairline would be restored to its childhood glory, which wasn't the case. My scar was still visible because, as Dr D'Souza explained at my one-year check-up, scar tissue tends to have less blood supply — and good blood supply is essential for transplanted follicles to thrive. There was also a little too much scalp visibility for my liking. Yes, I could have lived with the results, but I knew these issues would bother me so I opted to have surgery number two. This time I would only need another 500 or so grafts added, as opposed to 1,200 the first time. Now, just six months on, the results are incredible. But I must admit that in the back of my mind I'm worried hair loss might happen again. With curly hair it's tough not to straighten it here and there, or wear it up when I don't have time in the mornings to resurrect my squashed and tangled ringlets. I'm trying my best to avoid causing tension with my styling practices to ensure my new hairline will last, but if it doesn't, I'd absolutely consider another transplant in the future. It's been life changing for me and I have no regrets.
Health Line
20-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
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.
