There are many benefits to keeping a beard. Besides looking and feeling great, a beard is a perfect way to show the world that you know how to take care of yourself. But what happens when your beard is less than perfect? Beard dandruff is a problem that’s only skin deep, but it might be sending the wrong message about you and your beard that you’ve worked so hard on.
What is Beard Dandruff?
Beard Dandruff, or Beardruff, is very similar to it’s more common cousin - scalp dandruff. It’s caused by a buildup of dead skin cells that flake off the face. You can usually tell when you have dandruff by an itchy feeling on your beard and the presence of those skin cells on your collar and shoulders after they fall from your face. They usually look like flakes, but in the case of beard dandruff, they can look finer and more powdery than if they had fallen from your scalp.
What Causes Beardruff?
There are three main causes of Beardruff that you need to keep an eye on:
- Dry skin - it might be that your skin is dry and that’s causing it to flake and fall. This could be happening because of a dry environment that you work or live in that uses an AC or a heater for long hours, or even because of an incomplete grooming routine. In some cases, this could even indicate a mild skin problem, like eczema that would require a more medical solution than the ones we’re about to give you.
- Beard products not agreeing with your skin is another common cause of Beardruff. If you’re using anything to help your beard’s shine or hold, it might be time to find an alternative that’s a little more friendly to your face.
- This one sounds worse than it really is, but your Beardruff could also be caused by microorganisms that eat the oil produced by your skin that would usually be keeping your beard healthy. This lack of natural oils is what dries out your skin, ultimately causing the frustrating flakes that you’d prefer to avoid.
How Can I Fix It?
Yes! There are plenty of options you have to help cure your Beardruff and have your face fuzz feeling fine again. One option you have is to shave. It doesn’t matter what the source of your Beardruff is, shaving will help your skin regain it’s natural lustre. The good news is, your beard will grow back when you’re ready for it.
The next step down from a full out assault on your beard is to start exfoliating. In case you don’t know, exfoliating a process that removes dead skin cells from the surface of the body. Using a soft beard brush, gently massage your beardly bristles. Doing this will help soften the skin underneath and help distribute vital oils that your sin produces. Do this before cleaning your beard and in no time, you’ll be flake free.
If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to your man muzzle just yet, there are a couple of products you can try to help keep your skin feeling fresh. You can try Beardruff Shampoo. Using a Dandruff shampoo properly a couple of times a week will go a long way to help moisturize your skin and keep your beard healthy. Properly means using the shampoo regularly and giving it five whole minutes to absorb into your skin before you rinse your face in the shower.
If you don’t have the time for long showers, a soothing beard balm may be the answer you’re looking for. We’ve talked about the advantages of Beard Balm in this blog before, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that we’re recommending it as a great way to moisturize and maintain your facial hair.
The most important step in maintaining your beard and trying to avoid Beardruff is to create a regular beard maintenance habit that you won’t flake on. Growing a beard is only step one in keeping it healthy - you also have to make sure you wash, moisturize, and trim to make sure that your beard looks as great as you do.