Growing a beard isn’t always an easy task. If you haven’t experienced any dryness or flakiness on your manly mane, you’re one lucky guy. Majority of the dudes who choose to grow their facial hair are hounded with skin and hair problems. Some experience dandruff, breakouts, itchiness, poor growth, and more. Although there are fixes for these, the process isn’t always easy, let alone fast. To help you out, we will discuss some common beard problems and how to treat them on this post.
Regardless if you’re up for the No-Shave November challenge, beard issues, if not treated, will stem to major problems. It’s not pleasant to the eyes either. God forbid that your facial hair looks like pubes that had gone out of somewhere. But don’t worry, here are our guaranteed solutions:
1. Dandruff
Of all the beard issues men encounter, the most common would be the so-called “beardruff”. This happens when the beard and the skin are so dry that yeast starts to grow in it or the skin starts to flake. Enough moisture can easily treat this problem, however, not always in the form of washing. Facial wash with added moisturizers doesn’t penetrate deep on the hair follicles. There’s a need to use separate leave-on moisturizers like oils and the likes.
Beard dandruff is like having the same problem with your scalp. It tends to be itchy and the sight of white flakes is a confidence bane. Even veteran bead growers can still experience beard dandruff from time to time. But fret not; you can refer to these common beard problems and how to treat them.
Solution:
If the dandruff is caused by dryness, pick a beard oil product that suits your skin. The likes of apricot and grapeseed are excellent in promoting smooth and healthier skin and hair. It also acts as a lubricant to the beard so it won’t get snags when combing or styling it. If you don’t want a scented oil, the perfect bet is the Ranger Grooming Co. Leave-On Oil.
In case you’re using a regular shampoo on your beard, switch to one that’s tailored for the manly mane. Products like these are gentler and blended with moisturizing ingredients. One of my favorites so far is the Professor Fuzzworthy’s All-Natural shampoo. It’s a solid block, something that looks like a bar of soap, so there would be no spills or plastic containers to dispose of.
All these would usually treat dandruff, but if it persists, you might need the help of a dermatologist.
2. Ingrown hair
Do you always rush when shaving? Chances are you have an ingrown hair on your beard. These are strange bumps that may look like an acne and hives in between. Ingrown hair happens when the hair strand folds and grows backward inside the skin. Sometimes, it would grow outside and bend down, blocking other hair follicles. Causes like dead skin, shaving too close to the follicle, or curly hair usually result to this condition. Here, it’s part of the common beard problems and how to treat them.
Some guys pinch or tweeze their ingrown hair which makes the problem worse. The unseen dirt and bacteria on the hands might cause infections and inflammation.
Ingrown hair is commonly found on the beard area since it’s the part where unwanted hair is removed through a razor. And though ingrown hair is pesky, it’s quite easy to cure.
Solution:
Most of the time, ingrown hair will go away naturally, but there are also cases when it doesn’t. One simple trick to remove the ingrown hair and prevent it from coming back is massaging the beard area. This is very important if you have a curly beard. Use a balm or oil to ensure that you’ll disturb the hair strands that are starting to bend down on your skin. Massaging the beard will help soften the strands, thus, less chance of it poking the other follicles.
If you don’t have curly hair, one solution is to practice regular beard scrubbing. There might be dead skin cells blocking the follicles which cause the hair to be trapped inside. A product like Brickell Men’s Facial Scrub would be excellent here, but make sure that you only scrub once or twice a week. This is helpful for these common beard problems and how to treat them.
3. Beard acne
Beard acne can be a matter of hygiene and genes. Too much oily skin that’s failed to be maintained can cause breakouts. Beard acne usually happens after a shave and for those with long manes, a neglected skin regimen.
You should remember that choosing beard products isn’t always about how well it will make your facial hair regal. It’s important that you factor in how your skin will react to the substance. Most of the time, beard acne break out erupts when you use an abrasive product on your sensitive skin.
To give commercial products the benefit of the doubt, it’s not always the cause of the problem. Various hormones can come into play especially for younger guys. This is usually treated differently.
Solution:
The number rule in growing a beard is to maintain a healthy skin. Everything else will follow. By having a well-cared for skin, you cut the risk of having dandruff, ingrown, and acne. Invest in a facial wash with gentle and all-natural chemicals. Make sure that it’s formulated for the skin type that you have. Otherwise, it will worsen your problem.
It will also help to use anti-bacterial products to remove irritants. Mostly, it’s the answer to common beard problems and how to treat them. Oils are also helpful but it’s not for everybody. There are guys who experienced worse breakouts after applying an oil product. To prevent any harsh effects, apply oil after cleansing your face. That way, you prevent trapping dirt on the follicles.
For beard acne that’s beyond the power of commercial products, the help of a dermatologist is unbeatable. You might need a certain medication to stop the irritation.
4. Brittle hair
So you have a lush beard with no dandruff and acne. You almost think that there’s no problem until the hair starts to fall off or tear while you’re styling it. Brittle hair is common among bearded dudes, most especially for those who have mustaches or whiskers. This happens when the hair isn’t well moisturized or the strands are too stiff.
Brittle hair can cause patches when not treated early on. It will also make the beard look dry and “pube-like”. One common cause of brittle facial hair is the failure to take care of it properly. It’s almost the same as having brittle scalp hair. It means you didn’t moisturize or wash it well. Brittle hair may take some time to fix since you’ll have to wait until new length grows. But as it lengthens, you should ensure that the new sprouts are well maintained so it will grow stronger than before. It’s one way to address common beard problems and how to treat them.
Solution:
A trusty moisturizer is a common treatment for brittle hair. It will give the beard more nourishment so the strands won’t dry up. Using a leave-on beard oil will also help in keeping the manly mane smooth and soft. Check how coarse or dry your beard is before purchasing any of these products. Most moisturizers are formulated to a certain extent of dryness. You’ll have a faster time fixing the problem if you pick the proper one.
In case your beard has split ends, a little trim will be a good start. However, don’t overdo it or you’ll hurt the appearance of your mane.
5. Itchy beard
Itchiness is normal for growing beards. The sprouting hair tends to irritate the skin, causing the discomfort in the facial hair area. But if the itchy feeling doesn’t go away, it might be a sign of another problem. The culprit could be the products you’re using, improper beard washing, or the way you comb your hair.
Although itchy beards are relatively safe, it could be a cause of other problems like bruises due to excessive scratching or acne if there’s an infection going on. An itchy mane can actually be the first sign of an imminent breakout. The clogged pores experience irritation, and before you know it, you have plump bumps all over your chin.
Solution:
Tired of these common beard problems and how to treat them? The first thing that I recommend you to do is to check the products you’re using. Perform some research about the ingredients on it. There’s a chance that it’s not suited for your skin type or other dudes are also experiencing the same thing. Switching to new beard products might fix the problem.
If the discomfort lingers, proper moisturization might be needed. You can also use essential oils to soothe the irritation in the skin.
You might be surprised, but proper combing might be the only solution needed here. Untrained beard strands will tend to poke the skin. Combing it regularly and in the right direction will surely end the suffering. Most likely, itchiness will go away once the beard has a substantial length.
6. Dry skin
When you have a thick beard, there’s a tendency that you’ll fail to look beneath. This is where the dry skin starts to form, causing itchiness, acne, and a myriad of beard nightmares. Since the beard is thick, the external hair gets the most moisture, thus leaving the skin beneath to be parch and flaky. It can also be the start of dead skin cells build up; the least you would want to happen on your manly mane.
Aside from the hygiene aspect, the state of the skin under your beard can be affected by temperature. A very cold and dry atmosphere can cause the skin to crack up. The same thing goes to days as if you’re experiencing summer in Miami.
Other causes of dry skin are stress, poor sleeping habits, products, and diet. Still, there are ways to deal with common beard problems and how to treat them.
Solution:
The usual fix for dry beard skin is the use of essential oils. It supplies the needed moisture to the skin to prevent it from becoming flaky. Bearded guys who live in extremely hot and cold places won’t go out without applying a product to their manes. It prevents freezing or too much drying while it also shields the hair from natural elements.
If you have vices like smoking, quitting would do your beard and skin a good favor. The smoke you puff directly sabotages the moisture on your facial hair and skin. It also makes your entire skin dry, not to mention the long-term effects it will leave on your lungs.
7. Poor/patchy growth
Patchy beards are every guy’s nightmare. A lot of men have problems in stimulating facial hair growth. Of all common beard problems and how to treat them, this one’s a headache. It could be due to hormonal issues, infection, genes, and immune system problems. Whatever it is, patchy beards are in no way fashionable.
Alopecia barbae can be the cause, too. It’s when the immune system attacks the hair follicles on the beard area, causing the growth to stop in circular patches. Most of the time, this is treated medically.
All guys who want a lush beard would aspire to have a symmetrical growth. Whether it is a Galifianakis or not, it’s important to have a beard that’s growing in an almost equal phase.
Solution:
Most of the time, the target here is to stimulate growth. Some perform beard massage with various essential oils. This is proven to work for some who have minor issues about beard growth. There are also beard growing shampoos that you can purchase to encourage hair growth while maintaining the health of your present beard.
For those who have nutrient deficiencies, taking biotin supplements like the Delta Genesis Beard Grow XL will be excellent. Usually, these pills are packed with the usual skin and hair staples. It can work, but not for everyone, especially if the cause isn’t a nutrient deficiency. However, it will take a few months before seeing any progress with any of these solutions.
If you’re in a hurry to have a fuller hair, a hair transplant will serve you well. But be prepared to shell out as much as $7,000.
What do you think of these common beard problems and how to treat them? Let us know below!
