10 Reasons Your Beard Suddenly Stopped Growing
You may get panicked realizing that your bread has stopped growing suddenly. There are some common reasons why your beard is not growing anymore.
But, these reasons can vary from man to man. A sudden halt in beard growth can be frustrating and confusing but it is possible to grow your beard again by addressing the reasons behind it.
Your beard hair falls out once it reaches its terminal length, making room for new hair growth. Technically your beard never stops growing, but each facial hair falls out after reaching to its terminal length. So you can not grow your beard longer than your individual terminal length.
Genetics plays a significant role in determining the terminal length, growth, and thickness of your beard. Besides, one may face slower beard growth and facial hair loss because of hormonal disturbance, poor diet, damaged hair, or for some skin diseases too.
What may be the real reason in your case? You will know why your beard has stopped growing from the following write-up.
10 Reasons Your Beard Suddenly Stopped Growing
#1. Stress
Stress can wreak havoc on your body, including your beard growth. High levels of stress can cause hormonal imbalances, disrupt your sleep, and lead to poor dietary choices.
All of these factors can contribute to stalled beard growth. If you are experiencing high levels of stress, manage some time for your own refreshment and relaxation.
#2. Alopecia Areata or Alopecia Barbae
This is actually not a typical stoppage in hair growth. Some people have bald spots and patches under the chin and on the neck. This is called alopecia areata. Another variant of this autoimmune disease is alopecia barbae. In both cases, you need to consult a dermatologist to get the proper medical treatment.
#3. Imbalanced Diet
Without power supply a machine will never work, likewise, without a balanced diet, our body will not work appropriately. The beard needs energy to grow and food supplies that. If one has poor diet he is sure to face difficulty in hair growth. Protein is the prime component that forms hair. Besides, vitamin E, minerals etc also play a vital role to keep the natural growth going. So, a poor diet may stop the beard growth.
#4. Breakage and Beard Split Ends
Damaged hair is another reason why your beards may stop growing. Hair breakage and beard split ends are common problems regarding the growth of the beard. Dry hair, over coloring, over usage of a blow dryer and such other activities damage the health of the hair. As a result, the hair strands start to fray and break off. When the edges are split, hair stops growing past a particular point.
#5. Lack of Sleep
Some people are busy all day long. Do you have enough time to sleep and exercise? If not, then you may intrigue the stress hormones and that may contribute to hair loss or stop hair growth.
Our whole body works as a unit. If one fails to cope with the mechanism of this organic machine, he will face the consequence. Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night to promote optimal beard growth.
#6. Telogen Phase Of Beard Growth
This phase is characterized by a pause or cessation in the growth of the hair follicle. If your beard growth has stopped temporarily, it could be an indication that your beard is stuck in the telogen phase.
During this phase, the hair follicle is resting, and no new hair is being produced. The hair eventually falls out due to natural shedding, and a new hair follicle takes its place. This is a natural process that occurs with all hair on the body, including the beard.
#7. Terminal Length
Every individual has a certain beard length at which the beard stops growing. It is called the terminal length. Even the hair of different parts of the face has different terminal lengths.
This means that if your beard stops growing at a certain length, it has reached its maximum growth potential or terminal length.
#8. Age
Just like how age impacts the fullness of your beard, it can affect the growth rate. As you get older, your beard growth will slow down over time.
This can lead to the appearance that your beard isn’t growing if the growth rate is different from how it grew when you were younger. Some men may not see peak beard growth until their thirties, making it seem like their beard won’t grow.
#9. Low Testosterone
Your beard may have stopped growing or started growing more slowly because your testosterone levels are low. Testosterone causes facial hair to grow, so if your levels drop, this may impact your beard growth. See a doctor if you have any concerns.
#10. Medications
Some medications can also affect beard growth. Drugs used to treat conditions such as Cancer, high blood pressure, depression, etc., can all have side effects that include hair loss. If you are taking medication and notice a decrease in beard growth, speak to your doctor.
The Growth Phases of a Beard
There are three main phases of beard growth: the anagen phase, the catagen phase, and the telogen phase.
The anagen phase is the active growth phase, during which the hair follicle produces new hair. It’s the phase where you’ll see the most growth in your beard. During the anagen phase beard will grow longer and thicker.
The catagen phase is the transitional phase. It signals the end of active beard growth. It typically lasts 7-14 days.
The telogen phase is the resting phase, during which the hair follicle remains inactive for several months. After this phase, the hair falls out and the growth cycle starts again.
A shorter anagen phase means an increase in the percentage of facial hair entering in telogen phase. So, disruption in beard growth phases can cause your beard to stop growing.
What Is the Terminal Length for a Beard?
When your beard reaches its terminal length, it is replaced by new growth. It can vary from person to person. Some guys can grow beards that go down to their chest, while others might only be able to grow a beard that’s a few inches long.
On average, the terminal length for a beard is around 1 to 3 feet (30.5 to 91.5 cm) long, and you won’t find out what your terminal length is until your beard gets there and falls out.
You can potentially increase your beard’s terminal health by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, reducing stress, keeping your beard clean, and moisturizing with beard oil or balm.
As genetics is one of the primary factors that determine individual terminal length, so these tips may not necessarily work for everyone.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about beard growth.
Does my beard stop growing after a certain length?
All hair has a terminal length, in which your genetics and hormones play a significant role. If your beard is over a foot long, you should consider your beard has reached its terminal length. If there are no improvements in growth after some lifestyle changes, your beard may have stopped growing due to its terminal length.
Is it possible to extend my beard’s life cycle?
How long your beard grows is based on the anagen phase of the cycle. You may be able to lengthen the anagen phase with lifestyle changes that promote beard growth, like getting more vitamins and eating better.
Why does my beard stop growing in one spot?
Alopecia may be the reason why your beard stops growing in one spot. Alopecia stunts hair growth and can lead to bald patches. However, this issue can also happen due to being too young to grow a full beard. It could also be genetics. If your family members also have patchy beards, it could be just how your beard grows.
Can you fix beard growth stopping?
It is usually possible to fix it if your beard stops growing. Lifestyle changes can play a big part in jump-starting your beard growth again. If you have concerns, you can see a doctor. They can test your testosterone levels and your vitamin levels to determine the cause. If alopecia may be a cause, your doctor will likely work to rule out other similar conditions.
These are the usual reasons that may stop your facial hair growth. If you face other difficulties, contact a doctor to know the specific reason. Take care of the beard and grow as a man.
