Incipient Diabetes Mellitus and Nascent Thyroid Disease Presenting as Beard Alopecia Areata: Case Report and Treatment Review

July 2020 in “ Curēus ”

Parnia Forouzan, Philip R. Cohen

alopecia areata beard alopecia areata triamcinolone acetonide autoimmune conditions diabetes mellitus thyroid disorders thyroid-stimulating hormone alopecia beard alopecia triamcinolone autoimmune diseases diabetes thyroid disease TSH

TLDR Beard hair loss can signal early diabetes and thyroid issues, treatable with specific cream.

A 28-year-old man with a five-month history of facial hair loss was diagnosed with beard alopecia areata, which can be associated with autoimmune conditions like diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders. Treatment with 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide cream twice daily resulted in complete beard regrowth after six months. Laboratory tests revealed elevated fasting blood glucose and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, indicating incipient diabetes mellitus and nascent thyroid disease. This case highlights the importance of evaluating patients with beard alopecia areata for potential underlying autoimmune diseases.

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