Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Alopecia Areata of the Beard: A Review of the Literature

  • Review Article
  • Published:
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder in which inflammatory cells attack the hair follicle, resulting in round, well-circumscribed patches of noncicatricial hair loss in normal appearing skin. AA affecting the beard area is well known and is referred to as AA of the beard (BAA) or AA barbae when involvement is limited exclusively to the beard. BAA has been documented in a select number of studies. We review the literature and discuss the clinical features, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of BAA. Clinical presentation of BAA can vary and manifest as single small areas of hair loss, multiple small or large simultaneous focuses, or total hair loss. Most patients are middle-aged males with focal patches of round or oval hair loss, mostly localized along the jawline. Patches are characteristically well circumscribed and smooth with white hair present at the periphery. Dermoscopic features of BAA include yellow dots, broken hair, and short vellus hairs. BAA may be associated with other autoimmune disorders, including atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and psoriasis. Many treatment modalities are available for BAA, and selection of a therapy depends on several factors, including disease activity, extent of area affected, duration of disease, and age of the patient. Topical corticosteroids are most commonly used as initial treatment, followed by intralesional steroids. Other therapeutic modalities are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Khodaee M. Bald patch in the beard. Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(7):583–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Wolff H, Fischer TW, Blume-Peytavi U. The diagnosis and treatment of hair and scalp diseases. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(21):377–86. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0377.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Saceda-Corralo D, Grimalt R, Fernandez-Crehuet P, Clemente A, Bernardez C, Garcia-Hernandez MJ, et al. Beard alopecia areata: a multicentre review of 55 patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(1):187–92. doi:10.1111/jdv.13896.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ranawaka RR. An observational study of alopecia areata in Sri Lankan adult patients. Ceylon Med J. 2014;59(4):128–31. doi:10.4038/cmj.v59i4.7865.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kavak A, Yesildal N, Parlak AH, Gokdemir G, Aydogan I, Anul H, et al. Alopecia areata in Turkey: demographic and clinical features. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2008;22(8):977–81. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2008.02699.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Dawber R. Diseases of the hair and scalp. 3rd ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Villasante Fricke AC, Miteva M. Epidemiology and burden of alopecia areata: a systematic review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:397–403. doi:10.2147/CCID.S53985.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Gilhar A, Etzioni A, Paus R. Alopecia areata. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(16):1515–25. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1103442.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sredoja Tisma V, Bulimbasic S, Jaganjac M, Stjepandic M, Larma M. Progressive pigmented purpuric dermatitis and alopecia areata as unusual skin manifestations in recognizing hereditary hemochromatosis. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2012;20(3):181–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Richmond HM, Lozano A, Jones D, Duvic M. Primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma associated with alopecia areata. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma. 2008;8(2):121–4. doi:10.3816/CLM.2008.n.015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Campuzano-Maya G. Cure of alopecia areata after eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a new association? World J Gastroenterol. 2011;17(26):3165–70. doi:10.3748/wjg.v17.i26.3165.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Emre S, Metin A, Caykoylu A, Akoglu G, Ceylan GG, Oztekin A, et al. Clinical characteristics and HLA alleles of a family with simultaneously occurring alopecia areata. Cutis. 2016;97(6):E30–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Miteva M, Tosti A. Hair and scalp dermatoscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(5):1040–8. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2012.02.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Dainichi T, Kabashima K. Alopecia areata: What’s new in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic options? J Dermatol Sci. 2017;86(1):3–12. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.10.004.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Zimova J, Zimova P. Trichotillomania: bizzare patern of hair loss at 11-year-old girl. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2016;24(2):150–3.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Madani S, Trotter MJ, Shapiro J. Pseudopelade of Brocq in beard area. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42(5 Pt 2):895–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ramos-e-Silva M, Pirmez R. Red face revisited: disorders of hair growth and the pilosebaceous unit. Clin Dermatol. 2014;32(6):784–99. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014.02.018.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Salido-Vallejo R, Garnacho-Saucedo G, Moreno-Gimenez JC, Camacho-Martinez FM. Beard involvement in a man with frontal fibrosing alopecia. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2014;80(6):542–4. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.144183.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hordinsky M, Donati A. Alopecia areata: an evidence-based treatment update. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014;15(3):231–46. doi:10.1007/s40257-014-0086-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Messenger AG, McKillop J, Farrant P, McDonagh AJ, Sladden M. British Association of Dermatologists’ guidelines for the management of alopecia areata 2012. Br J Dermatol. 2012;166(5):916–26. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10955.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Alkhalifah A, Alsantali A, Wang E, McElwee KJ, Shapiro J. Alopecia areata update: part II. Treatment. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62(2):191–202. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2009.10.031 (quiz 3–4).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Porter D, Burton JL. A comparison of intra-lesional triamcinolone hexacetonide and triamcinolone acetonide in alopecia areata. Br J Dermatol. 1971;85(3):272–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kassim JM, Shipman AR, Szczecinska W, Siah TW, Lam M, Chalmers J, et al. How effective is intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide compared with topical treatments in inducing and maintaining hair growth in patients with alopecia areata? A Critically Appraised Topic. Br J Dermatol. 2014;170(4):766–71. doi:10.1111/bjd.12863.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fiedler-Weiss VC. Topical minoxidil solution (1% and 5%) in the treatment of alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987;16(3 Pt 2):745–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Orecchia G, Perfetti L. Alopecia areata and topical sensitizers: allergic response is necessary but irritation is not. Br J Dermatol. 1991;124(5):509.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Dall’oglio F, Nasca MR, Musumeci ML, La Torre G, Ricciardi G, Potenza C, et al. Topical immunomodulator therapy with squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) is effective treatment for severe alopecia areata (AA): results of an open-label, paired-comparison, clinical trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2005;16(1):10–4. doi:10.1080/09546630410023601.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Olsen EA, Carson SC, Turney EA. Systemic steroids with or without 2% topical minoxidil in the treatment of alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 1992;128(11):1467–73.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Burton JL, Shuster S. Large doses of glucocorticoid in the treatment of alopecia areata. Acta Derm Venereol. 1975;55(6):493–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Friedli A, Labarthe MP, Engelhardt E, Feldmann R, Salomon D, Saurat JH. Pulse methylprednisolone therapy for severe alopecia areata: an open prospective study of 45 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;39(4 Pt 1):597–602.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ohtsuki A, Hasegawa T, Ikeda S. Treatment of alopecia areata with 308-nm excimer lamp. J Dermatol. 2010;37(12):1032–5. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2010.00942.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Al-Mutairi N. 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of alopecia areata. Dermatol Surg. 2007;33(12):1483–7. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2007.33320.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Fernandez-Guarino M, Harto A, Garcia-Morales I, Perez-Garcia B, Arrazola JM, Jaen P. Failure to treat alopecia areata with photodynamic therapy. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2008;33(5):585–7. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.02712.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Eckert MMG, Gundin NL, Crespo RL. Alopecia areata: good response to treatment with fractional laser in 5 cases. J Cosmetol Trichol. 2016;2:108. doi:10.4172/2471-9323.1000108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Bayramgurler D, Demirsoy EO, Akturk AS, Kiran R. Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for alopecia areata. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2011;27(6):325–7. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0781.2011.00612.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Krook G. Treatment of alopecia areata with Kromayer’s ultra-violet lamp. Acta Derm Venereol. 1961;41:178–81.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Sinclair RD, Banfield CC, Dawber RPR. Handbook of diseases of the hair and scalp. Oxford: Blackwell Science; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Shapiro J. Current treatment of alopecia areata. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2013;16(1):S42–4. doi:10.1038/jidsymp.2013.14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Ikeda T. A new classification of alopecia areata. Dermatologica. 1965;131(6):421–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1475 NW 12th Ave., Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Jessica Cervantes, Raymond M. Fertig, Austin Maddy & Antonella Tosti

Authors
  1. Jessica Cervantes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Raymond M. Fertig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Austin Maddy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonella Tosti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jessica Cervantes.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Jessica Cervantes, Raymond M. Fertig, Austin Maddy, and Antonella Tosti have no conflicts of interest and no commercial associations with any product or device described in the article. Dr. Antonella Tosti has served as a consultant for P&G and DS Laboratories; as Principal Investigator for Incyte and Pfizer; has received author royalties from Taylor & Francis; is the Editor in chief for Karger Publishers; and is on the scientific board for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

Funding

No funding was received for this manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cervantes, J., Fertig, R.M., Maddy, A. et al. Alopecia Areata of the Beard: A Review of the Literature. Am J Clin Dermatol 18, 789–796 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-017-0297-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-017-0297-6

Search

Navigation