Dear Doctor;

I am a 26-year-old man who has failed to grow facial hair. Whereas I like beards, they just cannot come. And I look too young for my age. Strangely, my hair grows well. What could be the problem? Why should my hair grow well but the beards refuse? Nickolas Mpiimbaza.

Dear Nickolas, 

Men usually start developing facial hair around puberty, which becomes dense by ages of 19 years or so. Beard forms one of the sexual characteristics of men and depends on the male sex  hormones like testosterones. A person may start having loss of beard hair due to stress, fungal infections, too much shaving, among other problems. But a person failing to grow beard is likely to have  some hormonal problem.

Disorders of the pituitary and or thyroid gland or diabetes can cause such problems. Consumption of alcohol around puberty can  disrupt  the normal hormonal changes which manifests as underdevelopment of male characteristics.

 Similarly, liver disorders also alter normal sexual development. Genetic factors also play a role. You can consult endocrinologist and get tests done to assess hormonal levels. If there is deficiency, it can be easily treated.