Can Having a Beard Cause Acne?
Yes, beard acne is a thing. The skin under your beard still needs taking care of, even if covered by facial hair. And while it may be less noticeable until you shave, it can still be uncomfortable or frustrating to deal with.
So, if you’ve never had troublesome skin before - you’re probably wondering: can having a beard cause acne?
Like regular acne, beard acne is a common skin condition that can be painful and uncomfortable to deal with. There are ways to prevent acne under your beard to make sure you can stay on cloud nine for the rest of your glorious beard-faced days. But first, let’s get into how beard acne is caused.
Can beards cause acne breakouts?
Yes, having a beard can cause acne breakouts when not correctly cared for. Oil and bacteria can become trapped beneath the beard when it is not properly maintained which can clog pores and cause acne breakouts under the beard.
However, beard acne can be avoided. Having a good daily skin and beard care routine can significantly reduce the risk of beard acne breakouts.
Are longer beards more prone to causing acne?
No - beard acne can happen whether you have a longer and fuller beard or a more close-cropped beard style. Between the skin producing extra sebum (oil) and the dead skin cells not able to shed properly – the odds of developing acne can increase when you grow a beard of any length. Preventing beard acne all comes down to maintenance and treatment, not the length of your beard.
How to prevent acne breakouts with a beard
You can take a few steps daily to prevent acne from developing underneath your beard – starting with the right skin and beard care routine.
Wash your beard
Washing your beard is critical to preventing breakouts. When you wash your beard, you rinse away any bacteria or fungal buildup that can occur under the beard.
When it comes to washing your beard, the best approach is a simple one. Every morning and evening, use a gentle face cleanser that works for your skin type to remove dirt from the day or oils and dribble (come on, we know you dribble) developed overnight.
Afterwards, wash your facial hair with a beard shampoo to remove bacteria, debris, and dirt that can accumulate on it throughout the day. As opposed to regular shampoos that can cause skin irritation, beard shampoo is made specifically for the more sensitive skin on the face.
Dry your beard with a clean cloth
After your beard is sparkly clean, dry it with a clean cloth or towel. It’s essential that your beard towel hasn’t been used on the rest of your body, is hung up to dry after use, and is swapped out regularly (every two to three days). This will prevent any bacteria and oils on the body from transferring to your face.
When drying your beard, gently run the clean cloth through the hair in a downward motion. Don’t use a hair dryer on your beard – the high heat can damage the man mane you’ve worked so hard to grow.
Use natural beard care products
Using natural beard care products to moisturise your skin will help soften and nourish your facial hair and skin follicles. Rehydrating your skin with natural beard care products locks in the moisture underneath your beard, preventing irritation and excessive dryness – both of which contribute to beard acne.
In the morning, use beard oils with natural oils like almond, sunflower, grape seed, avocado, hemp seed, and shea to hydrate the skin and hair follicles. After your evening beard-washing routine, chuck on some beard butter before bed to help keep your beard moistened and natural skin oils balanced while sleeping.
Keep in mind that every man’s beard is unique – so make sure you know what works and what doesn’t work for your beard and skin. If your skin is naturally oily, you may only need to apply beard oil and balm every other day, but if your skin is usually pretty dry, using beard oil and balm once or twice a day can be beneficial. You may have to experiment to figure out the best approach for you.
Wash your pillowcase
After you’ve just taken the time to wash your beard, carefully dried it off with a fresh towel, and expertly applied your beard care products – your efforts can all be undone with a dirty pillowcase.
By washing your pillowcase regularly (about once a week), you can reduce the risk of bacterial growth making its way onto your skin, thus helping prevent acne flare-ups.
Try acne treatment products
People who continue to experience beard acne, even after setting up a solid beard care routine, can try incorporating dermatologist-recommended acne products.
Acne products contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid ingredients to provide antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to your face washes. Topical treatments can also be beneficial as it is directly applied to acne blemishes – helping clear up even the most stubborn spots.
Acne treatment products should be seen as a last resort and only when the above beard acne prevention care does not provide relief in a reasonable time frame.
Final thoughts
So, after all that – yes, having a beard can cause acne. But that’s only if you don’t treat it right! Developing the right beard care routine for you and being on top of keeping your facial skin and hair clean can effectively prevent acne breakouts.
At Jericho, we specialise in beards. From beard shampoos to beard oils, our collection of beard care products was created with the intention of helping you grow the best man mane possible – without worrying about acne breakouts.