Learn how to get rid of beardruff from a dermatologist. Yep, there is a medical reason for beardruff and a trained skin care doc is the one to help. The skin under a man’s facial hair is the perfect place for seborrheic dermatitis. Facial seborrhea presents as redness, flaking and itching, as described in this medical review article on dandruff. Dandruff of the beard is also known as ‘beardruff’ and it’s easy to fix.
Grow a Healthy, Well-Groomed Beard in 3 Simple Steps
According to recent research on facial hair and masculine attractiveness by the University of Queensland, “beards are judged as more attractive than clean-shaven faces for long-term relationships.” This may be why you see more men sporting beards from local colleges, to Hollywood to the workplace, and beyond. But, a well-groomed, attractive beard takes a little effort. Otherwise, you can get the dreaded “beardruff.” You know what I’m talking about… those white flakes that appear on your beard just like dandruff on your scalp. So, what’s a guy to do?
3 Steps to Fight Beardruff
When it comes to having a healthy, well-groomed beard, there are a few steps to follow.
1. Wash with a cleanser that gets rid of dry skin under your beard.
While you may wash your beard regularly, you may not consider the cleaning agents you use.
Use a medical-grade medicated skin cleanser for your beard that contains pyrithione zinc. This will fight seborrhea, the most common cause of beardruff. My Foaming Zinc Cleanser contains a robust 2% pyrithione zinc (the strongest level allowed). It foams beautifully, lathering onto the skin where beardruff starts. It is also an excellent scalp shampoo and back and chest cleanser – other places prone to seborrhea.
Did you know that many soaps that target male consumers are filled with musky popular fragrances that are potent allergens? Avoid them in your cleansing products because they can inflame your skin and actually create more flakes, redness and itching.
2. Condition your beard hair.
When you finish washing your beard, it’s time to condition. Use a good, natural beard oil on the skin under your beard and on the actual beard hair. This will hydrate your skin and enhance your facial hair. More important, a good, natural beard oil will fight inflammation and allergic reactions that can play havoc with your skin.
I created my Omega Enriched Facial Oil as the ultimate beard oil. It fights beardruff by combining organic sea buckthorn, borage and cypress oil in a ‘skin identical’ oil; your beard readily soaks up this conditioning oil creating a soft and luxurious beard. Enjoy the subtle woodland scent of the cypress oil along with a handsome beard free from beardruff.
3. Use sunscreen to protect your skin.
The skin under your beard is vulnerable to the sun. And without protection, you are at risk for sunburn, itchy, dry skin, unnecessary wrinkles, and even skin cancer. If you have a beard, you may avoid sunscreen because it just creates a huge mess… unless you use a thin-based and invisible zinc oxide sunscreen that works especially well on hair-bearing skin. My Sheer Strength Pure Physical Matte Tinted SPF 50+ Sunscreen is a men’s favorite. It works well into hairy skin and absorbs oil during the day. The tinting technology blends invisibly into all skin tones, helps to soften complexion flaws like facial redness. Most importantly, it never looks ‘tinted’.
Say Goodbye to Beardruff!
By taking the time to wash, condition and apply sunscreen to the skin under your beard and your actual beard hair, you can avoid beardruff, and enjoy a healthy, well-groomed beard.
