Beard growth refers to the growth of hair in the jaw, chin, cheeks and neck area. This hair growth usually begins during or after puberty. Young men often express the desire to grow a beard in order to keep up with trends and traditions.
However, this growth can be interrupted by various factors and reasons such as age, genetic factors, ethnicity, alopecia areata and nutritional deficiencies.
This article is about explaining why your beard isn't growing, how you can encourage it to grow, and what signs to look out for when your beard isn't growing. Read on to learn more about beard growth and how you can encourage it.
- Part 1: What are the signs of a man's lack of beard growth?
- Part 2: Why isn't my beard growing?
- Part 3: How do you grow a beard when you can't?
- Part 4: Conclusion
What are the signs of a man's lack of beard growth?
Inability to grow facial hair during the facial hair growth period
Facial hair growth usually begins after puberty. However, it does not begin to grow fully until two years after pubic hair appears. A decent amount of facial hair growth can be expected between the ages of 17 and 21. Beard growth is usually a slow process, with some not seeing beard growth until their early thirties.
If beard growth is not noticeable at these ages, it is a clear sign that the man is not able to grow a beard.
Normal hair growth on different parts of the body
If there is adequate and normal hair growth on the hands, chest, legs, pubic area and armpits, but little to no hair growth on the face, it indicates an internal problem or an imbalance in the production of dihydrotestosterone that is causing facial hair not to grow.
In certain scenarios, less hair growth on hands, chest, legs, pubic area and armpits is also an indication of inability to grow hair on the face. Hair growth on the body is usually due to the play of genetics.
Abnormal facial hair pattern
Noticeable gaps and patches in the facial growth areas and thin and fine hair growth are signs that facial hair is not growing. Uneven and irregular hair growth is caused by many factors such as nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance, genetics and improper beard care.
Some men have a genetic predisposition to an uneven distribution of androgen receptors on the face, which leads to patchy facial hair growth.
Low density on the sideburns
Sideburns are the strip of hair that grows on each side in front of the ear. A low hair density on the sideburns is a sign that facial hair is not growing. This is usually due to hormonal factors: high testosterone levels lead to a high hair density on the sideburns, while low testosterone levels lead to a low hair density on the sideburns.
Why isn't my beard growing?
Here are some reasons why you can't grow a partial or full beard:
genetics
If the man's ancestors had thick hair and normal hair growth, the son is likely to have normal thick hair growth as well. If the men in his family have sparse and minimal facial hair growth, it is likely that he too will have minimal facial hair growth.
Dihydrotestosterone is a hormone responsible for hair growth. It binds receptors to the hair follicles, causing hair growth. The degree of sensitivity with which the receptor binds to the hair follicle is determined by genetics.
Certain medical conditions
Medical conditions such as alopecia areata can affect beard growth. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair to fall out in patches, which usually occurs on head and facial hair. There is no cure for alopecia areata, but the condition can be maintained and controlled by the doctor and patients through treatment measures.
Symptoms of this condition include visible patches in the areas of hair growth, itching and burning of the skin, and the appearance of white and gray patches. The disease usually occurs between the ages of 25 and 36.
Hormonal imbalances
Two hormones that play an important role in facial hair growth are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Both hormones cause male characteristics such as facial hair to develop.
For optimal facial hair growth, a man should typically have a testosterone level of 10 to 35 nanomoles per liter; anything below this can result in little or no hair growth.
Malnutrition
Eating foods that are deficient in nutrients can be a reason for facial hair not growing. Vitamin A, B-12, C, D, biotin, niacin and protein are important elements necessary for hair growth. A lack of biotin affects beard growth. Vitamins help in growing thick and healthy hair.
Lazy or bad lifestyle
A lazy or unhealthy lifestyle can affect beard growth. Lack of sleep, stress, diet, skin care and lack of exercise all have a direct impact on facial hair growth. Lack of sleep and stress cause testosterone and hormone levels to fluctuate, which in turn can lead to hair loss or hinder the facial hair growth process.
General health of the person
A deficiency in vitamin B12, biotin or other nutrients can affect the facial hair growth process. A healthy man has a higher chance of developing healthy hair because he is healthy overall.
Clogged pores & ingrown hairs on the face
Clogged pores can block the hair follicle and prevent facial hair from growing. Ingrown hairs grow into the skin instead of outward and sometimes cause infections, which in turn can prevent facial hair from growing.
Slow growth rate of facial hair
Some people's facial hair grows slower than others. For these men, the onset of facial hair growth may begin in their late 20s and early 30s. In such cases, patience is key.
Poor blood circulation
Good blood circulation promotes healthy hair growth. If blood circulation is poor, the hair follicles are likely not stimulated, so the chances of a man developing facial hair are very low. This can be counteracted with regular exercise and exfoliation.
How do you grow a beard if you can't?
If you can't grow a beard, this section explains what helps beard growth:
Get enough sleep
Sleep is a necessary element to stay healthy and also has a direct impact on beard growth. Restful and adequate sleep of 8+ hours helps to increase testosterone levels. Fluctuating and incorrect sleep times cause testosterone levels to drop directly. This drop can hinder the growth of facial hair.
quit smoking
Smoking leads to a reduction in blood circulation in the human body. Hair follicles need good blood circulation to be stimulated and to grow hair. Insufficient blood supply hinders this process. The nicotine contained in cigarettes depletes the blood of its nutrients and this nutritional deficiency can prevent the growth of facial hair.
Try stress management
Stress causes the hair growth process to slow down. The growth process of facial hair is slow, and stress can further impair the growth process. Stress can also lead to thinning hair and hair loss. During stressful times, opt for healthy coping strategies and stress management activities such as journaling, taking a walk or a relaxing bath, exercising, and meditating.
Exercise regularly
Exercise can boost the production of testosterone, which in turn contributes to optimal hair growth. This can also promote overall health. Exercise also improves blood circulation , which stimulates the hair follicles that cause hair growth. Lifting heavy weights and strength training are good for testosterone production.
Massage your face often
Facial massages are not only very beneficial for the skin but also for beard growth. Facial massages increase circulation and blood flow, which stimulates the hair follicles and encourages hair growth. This can be done with your fingers or other tools such as a facial roller, gua sha or a facial massager.
Keep your facial hair groomed
Taking care of your beard hair can help to enhance the growth process. Regularly trimming your beard will help remove split ends and keep your beard looking presentable and even. Wash your beard often with a beard shampoo and condition it regularly with oil as this will keep it soft. Brush your beard often to keep it clean and shape it often with a trimmer.
peeling
Exfoliation helps remove dirt, dead skin and impurities from the skin. This in turn stimulates continuous hair growth. This can also help reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs. Exfoliation helps create a clean environment for optimal hair growth and promotes blood circulation.
Keep your face clean
Dust and dirt can clog the skin pores and hinder hair growth. It is important to remember that pollutants in the environment are increasing, which means that you have to wash your face several times a day. It is not necessary to wash your face with soap every time, a splash of water 2 to 3 times a day will help keep the skin pores clear.
Try topical treatments
Topical treatments containing minoxidil and finasteride can help with beard growth. Minoxidil is essential for hair growth as it promotes hair growth and increases the thickness of the hair. It can be applied to the area where you want hair to grow. Finasteride, on the other hand, is comparatively less effective but stimulates the growth of facial hair. Redensyl topical treatments also work wonders for beard growth as they stimulate blood circulation.
Consume enough protein
You should consume enough protein so that your body can grow hair properly. Proteins are the building blocks and a lack of protein hinders hair growth, including on the face. Legumes, red meat, fish, cheese and dairy products contain a lot of protein that you can include in your meals.
Maintain a balanced diet
A nutrient-rich diet is essential for healthy beard growth. Make sure the food you eat contains biotin, gelling vitamins A, B-6, B-12, C, D and E, proteins and collagen. All of these elements are important for beard growth as they help stimulate hair follicles to grow a healthy and thick beard.
Conclusion
It is obvious that many people have problems with facial hair growth and there are many reasons for this. However, there are some ways that they can see an improvement in their facial hair growth over time. It is important to be patient with the treatment and to keep an eye on facial hair growth to see any improvements.
If there is no improvement despite many attempts, a doctor may be able to confirm whether or not these people can really grow a full or partial beard.
