Do you want to grow your beard, but do you suffer from beard dandruff? No problem. We've all been there – it's one of the most common beard problems. And luckily it's really no reason to shave it off again. Read here how this rose arises, what you can do about it, and how you can prevent it in the long run.
What is beard dandruff?
This dandruff looks like dandruff on your scalp. You notice the problem in a few ways. There are white, flat beard flakes in the hair – and the more you brush into it, the more flakes fall out. You often suffer from an itchy beard, and if you comb the hair to the side, you may notice that the skin is redder than usual.
How is it caused?
Like normal dandruff, dandruff in your beard is caused by a fungus. Relax, we're not talking about whole mushrooms, but about a microscopic single-celled creature. This fungus, Malassezia globosa , occurs naturally on everyone's skin and lives on our sebum (skin oil). In addition, it produces oleic acid, an acid to which many people are hypersensitive.
The oleic acid can cause your skin to become red, itchy, and more dead skin cells than normal to flake off. Scratching further irritates your skin and dries it out, making the problem worse.
Dandruff, eczema, dry skin or allergies?
Dandruff is often confused with dry skin, eczema and contact dermatitis (an allergy). Three problems that have similar symptoms.
- In fact, many men have dry skin when they think it's dandruff. A dandruff treatment actually makes dry skin worse. If your dandruff doesn't go away or gets worse, try washing less often, using a gentle beard shampoo , and protecting your skin with a moisturizer .
- Seborrheic dermatitis is eczema on your face, and therefore often eczema in your beard. This can cause flakes in the beard, but also in your eyebrows or other places in your face. Eczema in the beard is not nice and can feel very dry and burning. The cause of seborrheic dermatitis can vary and therefore a visit to the 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 products can make a big difference. That is why you should never use hair shampoo for your beard - it is full of harsh chemicals that can cause hypersensitivity. Instead, use a special beard shampoo.
How do you get rid of beard dandruff?
Do you suffer from dandruff in your beard? Fortunately, this irritating condition is treatable! These steps can help you quickly address the problem.
Use a beard scrub
A very mild beard scrub helps you to immediately remove the worst collections of dead skin cells. Really use the mildest scrub you can find for the beard or sensitive facial skin. Another good way to exfoliate is to use a beard brush regularly. We recommend a boar bristle beard brush, 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 the 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 you from scratching.
Take care of your beard with beard oil or beard balm
Beard care products such as a beard oil or beard balm put a protective layer on your facial skin and hair. As a result, your skin will produce less sebum, so that the fungus can grow less.
How do I prevent beard dandruff from coming back?
If the three tips above help you get rid of your dandruff, then that's good news. The next step, of course, is to ensure that the misery does not 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 micro-organisms, ensures healthy growth of skin cells and protects your skin against dehydration. This really should be your number one product for treating dandruff!
- Keeping your skin hydrated prevents irritation, excess sebum production and the return of the fungus.
- Beard care is important! Brushing your beard a few times each week will help remove dirt, dead skin cells, and other contaminants.
- A beard scrub helps too – but be critical of what product you use so as not to break or irritate your skin.
We hope that you can tackle your beard dandruff with all of the above tips. If you still have questions, for example about suitable products, please contact us. We are happy if we can make you happy. You know where to find us!
Good luck,
Your friends, The Alpha Men