Can Facial Hair Cause Acne? - Beard Gains

Can Facial Hair Cause Acne?

Facial hair can make a stylish statement, to be sure, but it comes with some inherent grooming and skincare issues that men need to look out for. From skin irritation and ingrown hairs to dandruff and more, there are many factors beard-bearing men face. Acne, in particular, is a serious pain for men with facial hair to deal with. Please continue to find out about the link between acne and facial hair, along with what you can do to address the condition and keep your skin from breaking out in painful pimples. 

If you’d like more information on what you can do to help ensure the health and quality of your facial hair, please consider exploring the range of educational articles provided by our beard experts at Beard Gains today. Also, don’t forget to look through our selection of top-quality, 100% organic, handmade beard-care products

Related: Why Does My Facial Hair Grow Slow?

How Does Facial Hair Cause Acne?

Sadly, acne isn’t strictly confined to the faces of hormonal teenagers struggling with the complications of adolescence. Acne is considered the most commonly experienced skin condition in the US and is extremely common among all age groups, and it can be an incredibly annoying struggle for men who choose to flaunt their facial hair. These pimples can develop for various reasons, such as an infection in the follicles or inflammation caused by ingrown hairs. 

Acne is especially common for men who don’t care for their beard and face regularly as part of their normal hygiene routine. This causes the skin’s naturally produced sebum oil to mix with a build-up of dead skin cells and bacteria that accumulate on the face, rather than being washed or brushed away. These elements combine to clog up the pores and beard hair follicles, resulting in minor infections and causing pimples to develop.

That said, please keep in mind that the old wives’ tale about beards being inherently dirtier than clean-shaven faces is a total myth. In actuality, research shows that bearded faces often carry fewer harmful bacteria than non-bearded faces, as long as the facial hair is appropriately cleaned and groomed regularly.

That said, it’s important to note that other things may be triggering your breakouts aside from a lack of regular and consistent beard hygiene. These include;

Harmful or Irritating Facial Products

In some cases, acne breakouts can trigger due to the types of oil, cleansers, balms, soaps, creams, lotions, or gels that you regularly use on your face and beard. Your skin may have a sensitivity to some of the ingredients in said products, leading your face to become irritated and itchy. It’s highly recommended that you avoid products containing alcohol, parabens, and sulphites to help prevent this issue; it’s also a good idea to avoid products that carry fragrances, as these are much more likely to irritate your skin. Instead, use products with as many organic ingredients as possible, such as those we sell here at Beard Gains.

Do you need a fast way to grow out a healthier, fuller beard and keep it looking as fine as possible? Take a peek at our selection of 100% organic, handmade beard care products here at Beard Gains today to stock up on our vast array of top-quality beard products.

Poor Shaving Technique 

A man getting his beard trimmed at a barber. 

Shaving is a regular part of beard maintenance, especially since many men prefer to shape their beards in specific ways by removing hair from certain parts of their faces. That said, wrong or harmful shaving techniques can easily trigger an acne outbreak, as well as razor bumps and razor burns. To ensure you’re shaving technique is up to snuff and not causing you any problems, you should always;

  1. Shave after a warm shower to help soften your skin
  2. Change your blades out regularly
  3. Store your razor in a dry area
  4. Use as few strokes as possible 
  5. Only shave in the direction that the hair grows and don’t shave against the grain if possible
  6. Rinse the razor after each swipe
  7. Consider trying a pre-shave oil, cream, or gel

Related: How to Effectively Fix a Patchy or Bald Spots on your Beard

How Do You Treat Facial Hair Acne?

A bald man with a beard laughing at the camera.

There are several steps that professionals at the American Academy of Dermatology suggest you follow as part of your daily skincare regime to clear up the breakouts occurring beneath your facial hair. These six steps are:

  1. Don’t touch your face or beard. Doing this can spread dirt and germs from your hands and lead to breakouts.
  2. Wash your face diligently at least twice per day with a gentle, acne-fighting product that contains either salicylic acid or glycolic acid. You’ll want to use this type of facial cleanser in place of soaps and shampoos because they can irritate your skin and cause the acne to worsen. 
  3. Always ensure you completely rinse away the cleanser by repeatedly splashing your face with lukewarm water. Using a washcloth can also lead to more skin irritation and cause your acne to flare up, so be sure to avoid using one and stick to rinsing with water.
  4. Always use a clean towel to blot dry your face- don’t scrub or wipe! Dirt and germs on a dirty towel can lead to more breakouts and further irritate your skin.
  5. Apply a specialized acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or a retinoid to your whole face, not just the breakout areas. Gently spread a thin layer of your acne treatment solution over your skin to treat your acne and prevent the development of new blemishes.
  6. Groom your beard with a small amount of non-comedogenic beard conditioner, but don’t use beard oil. This step can help prevent the skin under your facial hair from becoming dry and itchy, leading the skin to produce more oil and causing more breakouts.

Related: Should I Shave My Beard? The Truth Revealed

Getting rid of acne caused by facial hair tends to be a relatively lengthy process, so you’ll need to have patients and ensure you follow these steps daily to speed the process alone. On average, you’ll likely need to use your acne treatments for at least a few months to get a clearing. If you don’t see a reduction in your breakouts after that, you’ll want to try a new acne treatment. 

It’s essential to keep your beard clean and well-kempt to help prevent acne and skin irritation, but how should you do that? Our selection of 100% organic, handmade beard products here at Beard Gains can provide you with the perfect way to keep your facial hair looking and feeling good.

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