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Itchy Beard: Causes And How To Treat It
Whether you have just started growing your beard or you have had it for a long time, you have probably experienced itching and discomfort in your beard. An itchy beard is a common occurrence and it usually occurs when you are growing your beard for the first time. However, in certain cases, you may have an itchy beard due to an underlying skin condition that requires medical treatment.
The itchiness can range from mild to severe and it can be unpleasant and uncomfortable as scratching the skin constantly will leave your skin feeling irritated.
In this article, we will explain what causes an itchy beard and how it can be treated.
What Causes An Itchy Beard?
Some causes of an itchy beard are minor, while others can be serious. The most common causes of an itchy beard are:
• Facial hair growth
When you shave your beard hair, the sharp edge at the end of each hair remains inside the follicle. As the hair starts growing, the sharp edge of the hair scrapes against the edges of the follicle and causes itchiness.
If you have been shaving and starting to grow a beard, you will experience itchiness.
• Dry skin
Dry skin is another cause of itchy beard. Weather changes, using soaps and other skin care products that affect the skin's natural oils, using certain medications or skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema can cause dry skin.
• Ingrown hair
Ingrown hair occurs when a hair that has been shaved grows inwards, back into its follicle instead of growing out. This results in inflamed follicles and causes itchiness.
• Tinea barbae
It is caused by a type of fungus called dermatophyte that causes fungal infection in the bearded and moustache area of the face and neck, mainly around your mouth, cheeks and under your chin. It causes the skin to become red, inflamed, crusty and itchy [1].
• Folliculitis
It is characterised by the inflammation of hair follicles. If folliculitis occurs on the face, it can cause your beard to itch. Folliculitis is usually caused by a bacterial or fungal infection [2].
• Seborrheic eczema
Seborrheic eczema, also known as seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff is a skin condition that causes your skin to become red, scaly and flaky. It most commonly affects your scalp; however, it can also affect the beard region [3].
• Pseudofolliculitis barbae
Pseudofolliculitis barbae, also called razor bumps is an inflammatory skin condition that occurs when facial hairs growing from their follicles cut your skin inside the follicle or curve backwards and grow inside your skin. It happens as a result of shaving and causes red or pus-filled bumps to develop in the beard region [4].
Image ref:baldingbeards
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How To Treat An Itchy Beard?
Minor causes of itchy beard can be treated by practicing some facial hygiene methods. And if an itchy beard is caused by a serious skin condition, it can be treated with medications.
• Keep your face and beard clean
It is important that you wash your face and beard frequently to prevent the buildup of dirt, oil and bacteria. Here are some tips on how to keep your beard and face clean to prevent an itchy beard:
•
Take
a
bath
everyday
and
avoid
bathing
in
hot
water
and
taking
bath
for
too
long.
•
Wash
your
face
and
beard
with
warm
water
and
cleanser
daily.
•
Use
a
beard
face
wash
that
is
only
meant
for
beard
care.
•
Use
jojoba
oil
or
argan
oil
to
keep
your
beard
conditioned.
•
When
shaving
or
trimming
your
beard,
do
not
use
face
washes,
foams
or
lotions
that
contain
harsh
chemicals.
Instead,
use
a
natural
aftershave
wash
or
lotion
like
aloe
vera
or
tea
tree
oil.
•
When
you
are
growing
your
beard,
avoid
shaving
or
trimming
the
hair.
Allow
the
beard
hair
to
grow
to
prevent
follicle
damage
and
ingrown
hairs.
• Medications
Your doctor may prescribe some medications depending on what skin condition you have that's causing your beard to itch.
•
Ointments
or
creams
with
lactic
acid
and
urea
can
help
treat
dry
skin.
•
Mupirocin,
an
antibiotic
medication
used
to
treat
bacterial
infections
[5].
•
Antifungal
cream
to
treat
fungal
infections.
•
Topical
corticosteroid
cream
for
non-infectious
skin
conditions.
•
Glycolic
acid
to
treat
pseudofolliculitis
barbae
[6].
•
Hydrocortisone,
clobetasol
and
ketoconazole
medication
for
treating
seborrheic
eczema
[7].
•
Itraconazole
and
terbinafine
for
treating
tinea
barbae
[8].
• Surgeries
If you have a chronic skin condition that causes your beard to itch due to constant infections and inflammation, your doctor may suggest laser hair removal.
Your doctor may recommend a procedure that involves making incisions to drain boils or carbuncles (cluster of boils) that are making your infections worse.
7 Nutritious Foods That Help Promote Beard Growth
To Conclude…
If you are growing your beard for the first time, you may experience an itchy beard. Maintaining proper face hygiene can help prevent minor causes of itchy beard. If an itchy beard is caused due to an underlying skin condition, seeking early medical treatment can prevent further damage to the skin and hair follicles.
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