Growing a beard is a great experience, but it often comes with some downsides. Have you ever found yourself constantly scratching your beard during an important meeting or your first date?
Beard itchiness and irritation are very common among men and can be caused by several reasons, from dry skin to ingrown hair.
However, the good news is that with a simple beard care routine and a few lifestyle changes, you can easily keep your beard healthy.
Here are some expert tips on how to prevent beard itch and irritation.
What is My Beard Itchy and Irritated?
Before we jump into ways to prevent the beard itch, it is essential that you first understand what might be causing it.
Here are some of the most common causes of an itchy beard:
- Ingrown hair
- Dry skin
- Beard dandruff
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Improper grooming
- Fungal infection
- Allergies
- Using products with harsh chemicals
If you are unsure about what might be causing the itch, it is best to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Because once you have pinpointed the root cause, managing and preventing the itching and irritation becomes easier.
How to Prevent Itching and Irritation in the Beard?
Preventing beard itch and irritation is not very complicated, it’s as simple as one, two, three. However, you need to remain consistent to get the best results. Here are a few essential tips that you must incorporate into your care routine.
1. Keep your Beard Clean
One of the most common causes of an itchy, irritated beard is the dirt, oil, and bacteria buildup in the beard. A dirty beard can be home to different bacteria and viruses that often lead to complications like skin infections.
This is why it is essential to keep your beard clean as much as possible. According to the general rule of thumb, you must wash your beard with a beard shampoo at least 2 to 3 times a week to keep it clean and healthy.
However, if you have an active lifestyle or have a job that requires you to work outdoors or in a polluted, dusty area, then you can wash your beard once daily. However, make sure that the beard wash you are using has a gentle formula that is free from harsh chemicals such as fragrances, parabens, and sulfates.
Because these chemicals can irritate your skin and often cause itching. If you are searching for a skin-soothing and hydrating shampoo for your beard, then try one from Facial Fortress.
2. Moisturize the Beard and Skin
As we have discussed before, dry skin is one of the most common causes of an irritated beard. This is why keeping the beard and skin underneath it moisturized is very important. Most of us think that washing the beard is enough to keep it healthy.
However, the truth is that moisturizing it is as important as washing it. You can use beard balm, beard butter, or oil to keep it moisturized after washing. Take the product that suits you the best and apply it to your palms.
Then gently rub it in your hands and massage it all over your beard with your fingertips. And don’t forget to work through the skin under your beard. If you are unsure whether beard balm, oil, or butter will work best for you, consult a dermatologist. They will prescribe the best one according to your skin and hair type.
3. Exfoliate Your Beard
Exfoliation is important for maintaining a healthy beard and preventing itchiness. Our skin goes through a skin renewal cycle in which the dead skin cells fall off and new ones take their place.
However, sometimes, either due to product and oil buildup or any other reason, these dead cells start accumulating beneath your beard. This can clog pores and often leads to itching and irritation.
Exfoliation also helps you get rid of ingrown hairs. You can easily exfoliate your beard and skin under it with the help of a boar bristle brush. Use it to gently massage your beard in a circular motion. For extra care and exfoliation, you can use an exfoliating scrub once a week to deepen the skin.
4. Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Harsh chemicals like fragrances, sulfates, dimethicone, formaldehyde, alcohol, artificial dyes, and phthalates are often found in our skin and beard care products. These chemicals can strip away natural oils from the skin and leave your beard dry, rough, itchy, and irritated.
This is why every time you shop for the products, whether they are beard-specific, always make sure to check the ingredients and choose only those that are free from these skin-irritating chemicals.
So, if you are searching for beard products that are free from these chemicals and instead contain natural chemicals to minimize the risk of itchiness and irritation, then try Facial Fortress products.
5. Trim Your Beard Regularly
Most people don’t know, but regular trimming can help prevent unruly, fuzzy hairs from turning against your skin and causing itch. Overgrown and uneven hair can often cause itching in the skin especially if they have split ends.
You can use high-quality scissors or a beard trimmer to trim your beard every 4 weeks. If you are a first timer and don’t know how to do it, then visit a barber.
6. Stay Hydrated
Dry skin can also be caused by dehydration. Keeping the skin hydrated on the inside is as important as moisturizing it on the outside. So in order to prevent the dry, itchy, irritated beard caused by dehydration, drink plenty of water every day. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day and try to limit your intake of alcohol.
7. Treat the Skin Condition
The itching and irritation in your beard is sometimes a symptom of a certain skin condition, such as beard dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or eczema. If this is the case, then you will not be able to prevent the itching until unless you treat the condition itself.
For beard ruff or seborrheic dermatitis in the beard, you can use a medicated beard shampoo that contains pyrithione zinc as an active ingredient to wash your beard 2 to 3 times a week. Pyrithione zinc helps reduce the flaking, scaling, itching, and irritation associated with dandruff.
8. Don’t Scratch
We know it can be tempting to scratch that itchy beard. But once you do it, there is no stopping. By scratching your beard, you trigger a never-ending itchy scratch cycle that can actually damage your skin and hair follicles and make the condition worse. So, no matter what happens, don’t scratch, instead try patting your skin.
Conclusion
An itchy, irritated beard can be caused by various reasons, such as dry skin, ingrown hair, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, fungal infection, and harsh chemicals in the products. However, preventing the itch and irritation is much simpler than you think.
All you must do is keep your beard clean, moisturized, and trimmed, exfoliate it once a week, avoid any beard products that contain harsh chemicals, don’t scratch, and keep your body hydrated.
If the itching is a result of a certain skin condition, such as beard dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis, then treat the condition first to get a healthy itch-free beard.