Itchy beard

Beard hair isn’t like the hair on your head. It’s called androgenic hair, which means that it’s growth is driven mainly by your testosterone. More testosterone causes more growth and thickness of these hairs. Because of this, you need to take care of your beard differently than other hair on your body.

The cause of an itchy beard can range from a minor to a more serious infection. Causes include:

• Growing out your facial hair

When you shave, you leave a sharp edge on the end of each hair inside its follicle, the tiny tube that contains and shields each hair. When the hair grows out, this sharp edge can scratch the follicle, causing it to itch. When you’re growing out a beard after shaving for a long time, all of your follicles across your face can itch.

• Dry skin

Dry skin, also called xerosis, can be caused by dry or cold weather or immersing your skin in hot water, especially during a bath or shower. Shampoos and soaps can wash off your skin’s natural oils, drying your skin and making your beard itch.

• Ingrown hair

Ingrown hairs happen when a hair that’s been shaved or cut grows back into its follicle, instead of out. This causes the follicle to get inflamed and make your beard itch. This is more likely to happen to you if you have tight, curly hair. You’ll notice ingrown hairs when the follicles get red, bumpy, itchy, and sometimes painful around the areas that you’ve shaved.

• Folliculitis

Folliculitis happens when the hair follicles that contain your beard hairs get inflamed. This inflammation can be caused by an infection from bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Alternatively, it may be related to hair follicle clogging, such as an ingrown hair.

• Seborrheic eczema

Seborrheic eczema (seborrheic dermatitis) is a skin condition that can make your skin scaly, red, and flaky. It’s also known as dandruff when on the scalp.

• Tinea barbae

Tinea barbae is a fungal infection in the facial hair region. It’s caused by a type of fungus called dermatophyte fungus. This fungal infection usually appears as red, inflamed, and crusty skin around your mouth, cheeks, and under your chin. It’s similar to the ringworm of the scalp, which is known as tinea capitis.

Common symptoms are itching a red, itchy rash that won’t seem to go away. Symptoms may vary depending on the CAUSES of the rash (see above)

The most common cause of itching is dry skin. You can easily avoid the itch by lubricating the skin with moisturizing creams.

Another cause of itching may be a fungal infection that causes itchy rash – and crusty skin. You can also see that the skin is scaling. If you think you have the fungal infection, you should contact your health care provider to get the right treatment.

Rash: hairs that grow in the wrong direction appear as small red dots on the skin. They can both itch and hurt. You can prevent ingrown hair by removing dead skin cells with a peel before shaving.

Red rash that looks like pimples in the beard? You can easily determine if it is acne or not. If there is a hair strand in the middle of the pimple, you probably have a hair follicle inflammation.

If you see that you have small blisters on the skin under the beard, try to find out if they are fluid-filled. If you see fluid, you may have a bacterial infection called impetigo. There is a honey-colored crust on the blisters. If you suspect you have impetigo, seek care to get the diagnosis and proper treatment.

Does it look like you have dandruff in your beard? You may be right. Scalp eczema can also be found in the beard. Try non-prescription medications first, such as special shampoo. If they do not work, you can contact the health care provider for assistance.

Do you get bald patches in the beard? It can be a sign of hair loss. It can affect not only the hair growth on the head but also the beard. But there is help. A dermatologist can determine why you are losing hair and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Some causes of an itchy beard are minor and can be treated by bathing regularly and paying close attention to your facial hygiene. Other causes may require medication or special antibiotics to treat the source of the itch.

Good hygiene

Keep your face and beard clean to prevent oil, dirt, and bacteria buildup. Try the following to keep your beard from itching:

• Bathe or shower regularly, at least once a day or every other day.
• Even if you don’t bathe, wash your beard with warm water every day.
• Use a face or beard wash that’s specifically meant for beard care.
• Use beard conditioner with jojoba or argan oil to keep your beard hair naturally oily.
• Limit the length of your showers or baths, and don’t use extremely hot water.
• Each time you shave or trim your beard, use a natural aftershave wash or lotion, such as one containing tea tree oil or aloe vera. Avoid products that contain too many harsh, synthetic chemicals.

When you first grow a beard out, if possible, try to avoid shaving or trimming to give your hair time to grow out beyond the follicles, which can prevent irritation and skin or follicle damage.

Don’t use strong face cleaning products. They can make the skin dry and flaky and cause irritation and itching.  Use softening creams and keep razors clean. It can easily become a habit to touch the beard when you are thinking about something. Don’t do it. You can relocate bacteria from your fingers to the skin.

The most common cause of itching is dry skin. You can easily avoid the itch by lubricating the skin with moisturizing creams.

Follicle inflammation often goes away by itself. Since the rash can itch, it can be nice to know that you can speed up the healing. You can do this by washing the rash with bactericidal agents, which you can find at a pharmacy without a prescription.

Another cause of itching may be a fungal infection that causes itchy rash – and crusty skin. You can also see that the skin is scaling. If you think you have the fungal infection, you should contact your health care provider to get the right treatment.

If you have an infection or other underlying skin condition, your doctor may suggest medicated ointments, creams, or lotions. 

You can also take certain types of medications orally. Treatment options will depend on what your doctor feels is the best therapy for your specific condition.

Contact a doctor if you have major problems or skin scaling, or if you have tried to treat the problem yourself without any effect.

APPOTEK can help you with an itchy beard. In the initial consultation, a nurse or doctor will make an individual assessment based on your symptoms. You may then be prescribed treatment or referred for further examination.