Want to grow your beard but suffer from beard dandruff? Don't worry. We've all been there - it's one of the most common problems with beards. And fortunately, it's really no reason to just shave it off again. Read here how this dandruff occurs, what to do about it, and how to prevent it in the long run.
What is beard dandruff?
This dandruff is similar to dandruff on your scalp. You notice the problem in a couple of ways. There are white, flat beard flakes in the hair - and the more you brush into it, the more flakes fall out. You often experience an itchy beard, and if you comb the hair to the side, you may notice that the skin is redder than normal.
How is it caused?
Like normal dandruff, dandruff in your beard is caused by a fungus. Quietly, we are not talking about whole mushrooms, but a microscopic single-celled creature. This fungus, Malassezia globosa, occurs naturally on everyone's skin and lives there off our sebum (skin oil). In the process, it produces oleic acid, an acid to which many people are hypersensitive.
The oleic acid can cause your skin to become red, itchy and flake off more dead skin cells than normal. As you scratch, your skin becomes even more irritated and also dries out, making the problem worse.
Dandruff, eczema, dry skin or allergy?
Dandruff is often confused with dry skin, eczema and contact dermatitis (an allergy). Three problems that have roughly the same symptoms.
- In fact, many men have dry skin if they think it is dandruff. Dandruff treatment actually makes dry skin worse. If your dandruff doesn't go away or actually gets worse, try washing less often, use a gentle beard shampoo and protect your skin with a moisturizer.
- Seborrheic eczema is eczema on your face, and therefore often eczema in your beard. This can cause scaling in the beard, as well as in your eyebrows or other places on your face. Eczema in the beard is not nice and can feel very dry and burning. The cause of seborrheic eczema can vary, so a visit to your doctor is recommended.
- Contact dermatitis is a mild allergic reaction to a substance. If you are hypersensitive to certain ingredients in a beard care product, you may develop dermatitis. Changing beard care products can make a big difference. That's also why never use hair shampoo for your beard - it's full of harsh chemicals that can cause hypersensitivity. Instead, use a special beard shampoo.
How to get rid of beard dandruff?
Do you suffer from dandruff in your beard? Fortunately, this irritating condition is easily treatable! These steps can help you tackle the problem quickly.
Use a beard scrub
A very mild beard scrub will help you instantly remove the worst collections of dead skin cells. Really use the mildest scrub you can find for beard or sensitive facial skin. Another good way to exfoliate is to use a beard brush regularly. We recommend a beard brush with hog bristles, which is ideal for conditioning and cleaning your beard.
Wash your beard with beard shampoo
A special beard shampoo washes away beard flakes, removes the fungus and sebum it lives on from your skin. At the same time, beard shampoo contains essential oils that prevent your skin from drying out. As a result, you will suffer less from an itchy beard and prevent scratching.
Treat your beard with beard oil or beard balm
Beard care products such as beard oil or beard balm provide a protective layer on your facial skin and hair. As a result, your skin will produce less sebum, reducing the growth of fungus.
How do I prevent beard dandruff from coming back?
If the three tips above help resolve your dandruff, that's good news. The next step, of course, is making sure the trouble doesn't start again. With these tips, you can keep your beard and skin in top condition.
- Beard shampoo is by far the best product to combat and prevent dandruff. It removes dirt, sebum and microorganisms, promotes healthy skin cell growth and protects your skin from drying out. This really should be your number one product in treating dandruff!
- Keeping your skin moisturized prevents irritation, excess production of sebum and the return of fungus.
- Beard care is important! Brushing your beard a few times each week helps to remove dirt, dead skin cells and other contaminants.
- A beard scrub also helps - but be critical about which product you use, so as not to break or irritate your skin.
We hope you can tackle your beard dandruff with all the above tips. Should you still have questions, for example about suitable products, please contact us. We are happy to make you happy. You know where to find us!
Good luck,
Your friends, The Alpha Men