Genetics plays a pivotal role in your ability to grow a lush beard. If your family history includes thin or patchy facial hair or you hit puberty later than expected, growing one could prove challenging.
There are healthy lifestyle habits you can implement to support beard growth, such as maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise and proper sleep patterns.
13 Signs You Can’t Grow a Beard
Many men struggle with growing a beard. Here’s why:
- Genetics: Beard thickness is determined by genes, as is hair follicle sensitivity to testosterone.
- Ethnicity: Some ethnic groups are naturally hairier than others.
- Age: Facial hair starts during puberty but fully develops in the late twenties.
- Alopecia Areata: Autoimmune disease causing hair loss, including facial hair.
- Unhealthy Habits: Poor diet, lack of exercise, and high stress impact beard growth.
- Low Testosterone: Insufficient testosterone may hinder beard growth, but not always.
- Skin Conditions: Alopecia or iron deficiency can lead to thin facial hair.
- Slow Growth: Very slow or no growth suggests difficulties growing a beard.
- Sparse Hair: Thin or fine facial hair may not fill out a full beard.
- Inconsistent Growth: Patchy beard growth signals an inability to grow a full beard.
- Bald Spots: Non-filling bald spots indicate difficulties growing a full beard.
- Light-Colored Hair: Very light or barely visible facial hair makes a full beard challenging.
- Family History: Family traits affect beard growth, hair texture, and baldness likelihood.
Though genetics play a major role, lifestyle changes like exercise, a nutritious diet, supplements, and skincare may enhance beard growth. Yet, embrace what you have. Beards are personal.
Genetics
Men’s facial hair growth is highly determined by genetics. One’s genes determine how sensitive his hair follicles are to testosterone, which is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5-alpha reductase enzyme. Some men can respond well to DHT and have thick facial hair growth while others struggle to stimulate their beard follicles into growing beard follicles.
Genetics also play a factor when it comes to where and when beards grow. Many men begin noticing thicker beard coverage during puberty (from 13-19), when this stage usually arrives.
An active, healthy lifestyle can also promote beard growth. Eating well, taking part in regular physical exercise and getting enough rest all have the power to have an enormous positive impact on its appearance.
Low Testosterone Levels
Testosterone is the primary hormone responsible for stimulating beard growth in men. How quickly your beard grows may depend on both how much testosterone your body produces as well as your genetic makeup.
Low testosterone levels can thwart facial hair from growing, leading to patchy or no facial hair at all. Conditions like Alopecia Areata may further lower testosterone levels and inhibit hair growth.
To increase testosterone levels, the best approach is getting enough restful sleep, managing stress levels effectively, and exercising regularly. Eating foods rich in proteins, healthy fats, micronutrients such as zinc and magnesium as well as foods high in iron is another surefire way to bolster production of testosterone and grow beards more rapidly.
Poor Diet
While we can’t control our genetics or when facial hair starts growing, there are still steps we can take to stimulate beard growth – such as eating right, engaging in regular physical activity, and getting enough restful sleep.
Keep yourself well hydrated – your body is made up of nearly 1/4 water, so staying hydrated is crucial for keeping skin follicles nourished with all of the necessary vitamins and nutrients they require. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water each day will promote beard growth.
Additionally, taking a daily multivitamin will ensure your body gets all of its required vitamins and minerals for proper beard growth. Furthermore, there are beard-specific supplements like biotin and vitamin D available that specifically target beard development – research has proven these can provide essential nourishment necessary for beard expansion.
Hormonal Imbalances
Some individuals can experience hormonal imbalances that hinder or even stop beard growth, according to Vary. When cortisol (the stress hormone) levels become high enough, hair goes into resting phase resulting in loss of facial hair.
Lo Sicco notes that hormonal imbalances may affect how sensitive you are to androgens like testosterone. Your hair follicles could react either by increasing in growth or contracting with androgens depending on your DNA and hormonal influences.
No matter your genetics, there are ways you can stimulate beard growth faster and thicker. Focusing on maintaining overall body health through nutritious eating, exercise and regular restful sleep patterns will help your beard to look natural while chronic stress should be avoided and biotin supplements taken to keep hormones balanced and keep the beard looking full and thick.
Skin Conditions
Even if you have enough testosterone to grow facial hair, certain skin conditions may impede its development. Seborrheic dermatitis – more commonly known by its medical name “dandruff” – can cause itchy and flaky skin under your beard that should be washed regularly with an antidandruff cleanser designed specifically for your skin type.
To combat the problem, wash both your face and beard daily using one formulated specifically to your needs.
Avoid touching and stroking your beard to prevent spreading dirt, germs, oils and dead skin cells that clog pores. Furthermore, moisturize the skin beneath it to reduce dryness and itchiness. Consult a dermatologist on finding the ideal product to meet both skin care needs as well as beard care concerns; they can identify where problems lie while prescribing treatments accordingly.
If you exhibit signs that hinder beard growth, don’t fret. There are ways to enhance facial hair growth and achieve your desired beard style.
How to Stimulate Beard Growth
Looking to stimulate beard growth? There are several ways to encourage healthy hair growth for your beard. Here are some helpful tips:
- Facial Massages: Gently knead the face to bolster blood circulation, thereby encouraging hair growth.
- Amplify Protein Intake: Fuel hair growth with a protein-rich diet. Incorporate meat, fish, eggs, milk, and leafy greens into daily meals.
- Harness Eucalyptus & Amla Oil: Massage the beard with eucalyptus and amla oil to invigorate hair growth.
- Alleviate Stress: Mitigate stress to maintain balanced hormone levels, fostering healthy hair growth.
- Engage in Exercise: Improve blood flow through exercise, which stimulates follicle growth. Weightlifting and strength training may also momentarily boost testosterone.
- Regular Beard Combing: Stimulate hair follicles by diligently combing the beard, redistributing natural oils produced by the skin.
- Embrace Beard Oil or Balm: Employ beard oils enriched with natural and essential oils to enhance the appearance, texture, and condition of facial hair. Hydration provided by these oils alleviates beard itch and prevents moisture depletion from the underlying skin.
- Nourishing Diet: Foster healthy hair growth through a balanced diet comprising vital nutrients. Foods rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E, such as spinach, sweet peppers, nuts, avocados, sweet potatoes, and berries, prove beneficial.
Bear in mind that genetics significantly influence beard growth. Thus, managing expectations and embracing the facial hair one possesses remains essential. If indications from previous advice suggest a challenge in growing a beard, fret not. Various methods can still augment facial hair growth, enabling the attainment of the desired beard style.
Are There Any Medical Treatments for Beard Growth
There are several medical treatments available to stimulate beard growth. Let’s take a look at some of these options for promoting the growth of facial hair:
- Neofollics Treatment: Comprising a beard roller, growth serum, and tablets, this remedy stimulates non-activated follicles. The serum, with ten active ingredients, coaxes follicles into sprouting healthy beard growth.
- Minoxidil: FDA-approved for scalp hair loss, Minoxidil also encourages beard growth. It comes in topical and oral forms.
- Natural Growth Factor Injections: Utilizing growth factors derived from one’s blood, these injections spur hair growth, including facial hair. Administered precisely in desired areas.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that these treatments may prove effective for some, but not all. Additionally, certain treatments may bring about side effects. Therefore, consulting a doctor before embarking on any medical approach to beard growth is imperative.
