Beard Problems That Men Face
1. Beard lice
Lice in the beard and moustache are often the result of the spread of lice from the pubic region, precisely through oral sexual contact or skin-to-skin contact with the infected areas. A study published under the title “Pubic Lice In Facial Hair” talks about a single man who was diagnosed with phthiriasis of the facial hair which he acquired through oral sexual contact.
The symptoms were noticed three days prior to the contact with yellowish deposits on the facial hair, followed by itching and sensation in the area. The diagnosis revealed crab-shaped parasites (lice) with thick claws, along with their translucent nits. [1]
2. Beard mites
Demodex are tiny parasitic mites that live near or in the hair follicles and cause certain dermatological conditions. Mainly two species of Demodex i.e Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis affect humans. Though the infestation usually remains asymptomatic, skin problems occur when the person has a weakened immune system.
These face mites can spread on the beard through physical contact and cause tiny white bumps like acne or whiteheads, along with itching, redness, irritation and burrow marks in the face. [2] Another type of mites that may affect the beard is Sarcoptes scabiei which causes scabies mites. [3]
First Case Of Vertical Penile Fracture Reported In UK Man: All About Penile Fracture
3. Fungal infection
Fungal infections in the beard are common as it is often transmitted by contaminated hairbrush, shaving tools and hats. Dermatophytes are fungi that mainly invade keratin of the skin for their growth, and cause infection referred to as tinea, which is categorised as per body sites that are affected.
Tinea barbae is a dermatophyte infection that infects the beard and moustache and may cause inflamed red lumps, pustules and crusting in the beard areas. It is also called a barber’s itch and beard ringworm. [4]
4. Beard dandruff
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a condition that mainly affects those areas of the skin where there is a rich supply of sebaceous glands, including the beard. It is mainly caused by a yeast called Malassezia or due to dry skin. The symptoms of seborrhoeic include stubborn dandruff, scaly patches and inflamed red rashes on the skin.
Seborrhoeic could be severe in patients with immune conditions like HIV. [5]
READ RELATED: Melanie Sykes showcases her figure in skintight latex and fishnets ahead of her 50th birthday
6. Problems with dense and curly beards
Pseudofolliculitis corporis is another condition of the beard, similar to Pseudofolliculitis barbae. It is an inflammatory disorder that occurs in men who naturally have coarse, dense and tightly curled beards. After the shave when the hair starts growing, sometimes, instead of growing straight out of the follicle, the hair curls back into the skin, sometimes with multiple folds, causing inflammation and resulting in Pseudofolliculitis corporis. [7]
7. Dirt
Some anecdotal studies say that beards carry more germs than dogs carry in their fur. As our face is exposed to several types of germs and dirt on a daily basis, the same goes for beards. The hairs of the beard catches dirt particles when exposed to them, and if not brushed or washed properly, can cause breakouts due to friction of the particles on the skin and result in irritation, itching, redness and other skin problems.
Who Is A Pescatarian? Benefits Of A Pescatarian Diet, Its Drawbacks, What To Eat And Other Details
8. Beard hair loss
It is characterised by bald spots or patches on the beards. Some of the main causes for beard hair loss are alopecia, ringworm infection and chemotherapy. Beard hair loss can come suddenly, go away suddenly or can stay for a longer period. They vary in size from person to person and cause symptoms depending on the cause. In alopecia, the beard hair loss could be autoimmune and non-contagious; in ringworm infection, it could be due to sharing of infected objects; and in chemotherapy, it could be due to harsh radiations.
9. Beard acne
Acne near, over or underneath the beard areas could be frustrating and painful and can lower your confidence due to appearance problems. It can be due to many reasons such as harsh shaving, shaving tightly curved beards, dry skin and bacterial and fungal infections. Severe forms of beard acne due to infections can cause permanent hair loss and scarring on the skin.
10. Unwanted facial hairs
Androgen, a male sex hormone helps in the physique development in males, including the growth of beard. Though the hormone is also found in women, the production is only limited to the growth of pubic and underarm hairs. Sometimes, the androgens in males get uncontrolled and result in unwanted facial hairs, especially near the beards areas. According to a study, electrolysis or permanent hair removal is the only solution to it as frequent shaving or epilation of beard are temporary methods and can also cause dryness, redness, itching, hyperpigmentation and other skin disorders. [8]
No Shave November Special: Benefits Of Beard Wax And How To Use It
11. Smelly beard
Poor hygiene of the beard can result in a smelly beard. Smell from the beard is often a result of bacterial infections and excessive sweating in the beard area. Some of the other causes include unhealthy diet, poor hydration and certain bad quality beard products.
How To Get Rid Of Beard Problems?
1. Washing
Source:
