If you’re growing a beard, you’ve likely discovered that it can sometimes be physically painful. So why does your beard hurt all of a sudden? Let’s get to the bottom of your achy beard.
Beards can be a serious pain for various reasons — including causing you literal physical pain. So if your facial hair feels tender to the touch, you probably want to know why it hurts so much.
However, beard pain is pretty common. If you speak to fellow beardsmen, they’ll probably all have stories about beard tenderness and pain throughout their growth phases.
But why does beard pain happen? And what can you do to help?
Related: How to Get Rid of Beard Rash
What to Know About Beard Growing Pains
Before we dive into what causes beard pain (and how to fix it), you should know three things about your tender, painful beard:
Need the best beard care products to ease your growing pains? From shampoos and conditioners to oils, combs, and everything in between, we’ve got you covered.
Now, let’s explore how to help your beard growing pains no matter what’s causing them:
Dry, Brittle Beard Hair
Is your facial hair feeling a little parched? A dry and brittle beard can cause tenderness and pain along your jawline.
If your beard hair is drier than any desert, it can cause you pain and is likely a result of washing your beard too much. But, like the hair on your head, you don’t need to wash your facial hair daily.
While how often you’ll need to wash your beard depends on various factors, typically, washing it twice a week with a hydrating beard shampoo and conditioners can help the dryness.
In addition, it’s an excellent idea to follow up with nourishing beard oil. Your beard won’t only feel much softer when it’s properly hydrated, but it will also look much better.
Excess Oil and Dead Skin Cells
We talked about washing your beard too much, but what if you don’t wash it often enough? It could be another reason why your beard is causing you pain. Why? Because the skin cells underneath your facial hair shed rapidly.
That combination of too much oil and dead skin cells creates the ideal environment for bacteria and yeast to live, leading to inflamed skin underneath your beard.
We know that sounds gross; however, beards are typically more hygienic than a clean-shaven face. So your beard itself isn’t necessarily dirty.
But you could benefit from more frequent washing and better beard care products. You can start washing your beard one or two additional times each week, use a cleansing face scrub, and ensure you use beard-specific products to give your facial hair the moisture and nutrients it needs.
Acne in Your Beard
If you only experience beard pain when you touch your face, it could mean there’s a painful pimple underneath your facial hair — beard acne is a problem that men of all ages can face.
Related: Can Your Beard Cause Acne?
However, if your beard pain is due to acne, once you treat the condition, you should be back to having pain-free facial hair in no time; you likely won’t have to put up with it for too long.
The first treatment to try is usually an over-the-counter acne treatment — you can easily find various ones to try anywhere you regularly shop or online.
If that’s not enough, and your beard growing pains persist, a dermatologist can likely help treat your beard acne.
The “Awkward” Beard Growth Phase
If it’s your first time working on a beard, don’t worry; all of the annoying snags you face — beard itchiness, sparse patches, pain, tenderness, etc. — won’t last forever.
Especially if you wake up with beard pain in the morning that gets better throughout the day, it’s nothing to worry about and will likely go away with time.
The key is to focus on taking the best care of your beard while it grows and simply ride out the phases of awkward growth.
Is it a pain? Yes. Will it be worth it? Also, yes.
In the end, you’ll have a glorious beard that will grow to its fullest potential, and the memories of beard tenderness and pain will be left in the past.
The Wrong Beard Care Products
There are many great products you can find at your local grocery store — beard care products aren’t on that list. Will you save a couple of bucks? Maybe, but they also likely contain poor-quality ingredients that will irritate your skin and facial hair.
For example, cheap beard oils and washes often contain artificial fragrances, which can dry out your skin and beard, leading to pain and tenderness, especially while it’s growing.
Low-quality beard care products are also more likely to give you a reaction, resulting in itchy rashes, tight skin, and a painful beard.
To keep your beard, skin, and body feeling great and looking amazing, premium beard care products are a must.
Did you find out you’re using the wrong beard care products? Switch to the right ones here.
Stop Your Beard’s Growing Pains
When the skin underneath your beard becomes painful or unbearably itchy, dryness is the most common culprit.
However, it’s not always easy to tell why your skin and beard become too dry, so it’s best to change up your beard care routine one thing at a time.
We suggest starting with a new beard shampoo, conditioner, and oil.
Regular shampoos are much too harsh to use on your facial hair — they contain surfactants that strip away your natural oils, drying out your beard.
In addition, beard oil will help keep your facial hair (and the skin underneath) moisturized and nourished to help you avoid any pain and itchiness while making your beard look and feel its best.
Related: The Stages of Beard Growth