Why did my beard growth slow down?

[seilerbird]

This is a serious question and I almost didn't post it since it sounds so crazy. I turned 62 this month and to celebrate it at the beginning of the month I stopped doing the last few remaining drugs that were messing up my life. That would include caffeine, nose spray, aspirin and junk food (I know junk food is not a drug but it is as addicting and as bad for me as drugs are). So this past month has been the first time I have been 100% totally drug free. I have been noticing lately that my beard growth has very dramatically slowed down. After 24 hours my beard used to feel like #80 grit sandpaper. Now after 24 hours I barely need to shave. I did a Google search on beard growth slowing down and every hit was about how to speed up beard growth (teenagers love this subject) and nothing about it slowing down. Has anyone else ever experienced their beard growth slowing down? Is it just something that happens with old age or did quitting one of those drugs prompt it?

[tvman44]

I believe it is an age thing, I turned 67 last month and my beard does not grow nearly as fast as it used, not to mention it is no longer black.  I used to shave every morning and by 5:00Pm I needed to shave again, now I shave every other day and it ahs hardly grown and does not hardly show.

[Jim Godward]

And how has your testosterone level changed.  Bet it is down!!

[seilerbird]

And how has your testosterone level changed.  Bet it is down!!

Actually it is at about the level of a teenager.

[Phil]

This is a serious question and I almost didn't post it since it sounds so crazy. I turned 62 this month and to celebrate it at the beginning of the month I stopped doing the last few remaining drugs that were messing up my life. That would include caffeine, nose spray, aspirin and junk food (I know junk food is not a drug but it is as addicting and as bad for me as drugs are). So this past month has been the first time I have been 100% totally drug free. I have been noticing lately that my beard growth has very dramatically slowed down. After 24 hours my beard used to feel like #80 grit sandpaper. Now after 24 hours I barely need to shave. I did a Google search on beard growth slowing down and every hit was about how to speed up beard growth (teenagers love this subject) and nothing about it slowing down. Has anyone else ever experienced their beard growth slowing down? Is it just something that happens with old age or did quitting one of those drugs prompt it?

STD?

[Wendy]

Ok, so it's not a beard, but the hair on my legs grows a lot slower and is sparser than it was in my younger days....not complaining, just saying 
 
Wendy
 

[seilerbird]

STD?

I haven't done anything that would give me a STD in about 25 years.

[seilerbird]

Ok, so it's not a beard, but the hair on my legs grows a lot slower and is sparser than it was in my younger days....not complaining, just saying 
 
Wendy

I think we are talking about something different here Wendy. On most older people most body hair gets thinner as we get older and it does so gradually. This is not thinning, this is growing much slower and it happened suddenly, in less than a month.

[Tony_Alberta]

This is not thinning, this is growing much slower and it happened suddenly, in less than a month.

I have a vague memory of reading somewhere, somewhen this could be a sign of a thyriod deficiency.  Runs in my family.

[Utclmjmpr]

Sleeping too close to your cat, its licking your face during the night.>>>Dan

[borntocruise53]

maybe all the caffeine was supercharging your beard growth  and without it you are just returning to normal beard growth levels.

[borntocruise53]

I have a vague memory of reading somewhere, somewhen this could be a sign of a thyriod deficiency.  Runs in my family.

btw here are standard symptoms for hypothyroidism:
-Decreased cardiac output and respiration
-Constipation
-Myxedema with impaired renal output
-Cold intolerance
-Muscle weakness, lethargy, fatigue

[seilerbird]

btw here are standard symptoms for hypothyroidism:
-Decreased cardiac output and respiration
-Constipation
-Myxedema with impaired renal output
-Cold intolerance
-Muscle weakness, lethargy, fatigue

I sleep in an unheated RV that gets into the 30s at night without a problem. I hike 5 to 10 miles per day. I have no pooping problems. I have no peeing problems. I don't think hypothyrodism is my problem.

[Sarguy]

btw here are standard symptoms for hypothyroidism:
-Decreased cardiac output and respiration
-Constipation
-Myxedema with impaired renal output
-Cold intolerance
-Muscle weakness, lethargy, fatigue

Gee, that sounds like me on a good day! :-)

[WeatherWunder]

btw here are standard symptoms for hypothyroidism:
-Decreased cardiac output and respiration
-Constipation
-Myxedema with impaired renal output
-Cold intolerance
-Muscle weakness, lethargy, fatigue

Damn, I think I would rather just have the slow beard growth!

[carson]

Just for fun...

Females have XX chromosomes
Males have XY chromosomes

Tom, is it possible you have lost the Y in your travels over the years?

Trust me, no offense intended.

carson FL

[seilerbird]

Just for fun...

Females have XX chromosomes
Males have XY chromosomes

Tom, is it possible you have lost the Y in your travels over the years?

Trust me, no offense intended.

carson FL

Maybe I took a wrong turn at the Y in the road

You can't offend me Carson, I am offended just being here

[Just Lou]

Tom, it's just a sign of maturing. 

Your beard growth has most likely not slowed.  It just appears that way because the hair in your nose and ears now grows so much faster.

Ask any of the senior citizens around here.

[WeatherWunder]

Tom, it's just a sign of maturing. 

Your beard growth has most likely not slowed.  It just appears that way because the hair in your nose and ears now grows so much faster.

Ask any of the senior citizens around here.

That is an image I may not be able to get out of my head for a long..long...time!

[seilerbird]

Tom, it's just a sign of maturing. 

Your beard growth has most likely not slowed.  It just appears that way because the hair in your nose and ears now grows so much faster.

Ask any of the senior citizens around here.

It can't be a sign of maturing, I refuse to mature. It most definitely slowed way down. The hair in my nose and ears slowed down and so did the hair on my head. It is just more noticeable on my face since I shave every day. My razor blades use to last about 3 shaves now they last about two weeks.

[Tom]

Every time I visit the hairdresser (aka barber) I ask why the hair they're cutting off is a little different color each time. Yesterday I was aghast when someone's (?) gray hair fell onto the cape they put on you. Couldn't be mine, because it's salt & pepper. Chris set me straight when I got home 

[seilerbird]

Every time I visit the hairdresser (aka barber) I ask why the hair they're cutting off is a little different color each time. Yesterday I was aghast when someone's (?) gray hair fell onto the cape they put on you. Couldn't be mine, because it's salt & pepper. Chris set me straight when I got home 

I have three words for you: Just For Men.

[Tom]

Just For Men.

You've never seen a gray haired female?

[seilerbird]

You've never seen a gray haired female?

I thought you were talking about yourself. There are no gray haired women. Only women with mature hair.
edit: fixed link.

[Len and Jo]

Very good thread.

Ah, I forgot what it is about.

It is good though.

[Ernie Ekberg]

my ears are starting to grow hair

[Luca1369]

I'm just glad I don't shave...

[seilerbird]

I'm just glad I don't shave...

My problem is I hate shaving. The only thing I hate worse than shaving is having a beard.

[John From Detroit]

My problem is I hate shaving. The only thing I hate worse than shaving is having a beard.

SECOND

I suspect hair, beards included, grow slower in June, in this part of the world, than in January.

[seilerbird]

SECOND

I suspect hair, beards included, grow slower in June, in this part of the world, than in January.

If I lived in Australia would my hair curl in the other direction?