Understandably, we beard-growers spend a lot of time obsessing over our facial hair.
We’re constantly trying to give our beard hair the tender loving care it deserves, so we can rock that glossy, healthy look that says ‘I’m a responsible beard owner.’
However, while we’re busy caring for our beards, it’s all too easy to overlook the skin underneath - which is a catastrophic error. Neglected skin often leads to dryness and irritation, and this spells disaster for your face.
Dry skin under beard hair can lead to a wide range of issues, from rashes to itchy beard and even the dreaded dandruff. If you want a healthier beard, you need to look after the skin underneath as much as the bristles themselves.
Luckily, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll be exploring the various causes of dry skin under your beard - and more importantly, sharing a few top tips for healthier skin, superior beard growth, and better grooming.
Table of Contents:
What are the causes of dry skin under your beard?
Ending up with dry skin underneath your beard is easier than you think. While you might feel like your grooming routine is on point, there are a few common causes behind dry skin that you should watch out for.
1. Depletion of Sebum Oil
Your skin secretes an oil called sebum, and its job is to keep your hair healthy and your skin moisturised.
Sebum is secreted from the sebaceous glans, but these glans don't have an infinite supply. As your beard grows longer, you'll start to run low on sebum oil, and when they happens - you guessed it - dry beard.
Your beard will start to lose moisture, become dry, and it'll get itchy and flaky. Not nice! Beard care products like beard oil play a vital role in combatting this dryness and replacing your skin's supply of sebum with an equally nourishing alternative.
2. Your Environment
Living in a cold place with harsh weather? Your skin could be suffering.
Cold weather conditions can quickly dry out the skin beneath your beard hair, reducing moisture levels and sucking away the natural oils that keep your skin happy.
(Oh, and if you’re taking long, hot showers after being out in cold weather, this can also lead to dry skin! Who knew avoiding skin irritation could be this tricky, eh?)
If you’re frequently exposed to cold and windy conditions, make sure you’re moisturising thoroughly to retain as much moisture as possible and prevent dry skin.
3. Hygiene Habits
Your hygiene habits and grooming routine will also impact the skin under your beard.
For example, a lack of thorough cleaning under your beard can cause a buildup of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. This is a recipe for irritated skin, itchiness, and dryness.
On the other end of the spectrum, excessive washing can also cause skin issues. Washing more than twice a day (particularly with harsh soaps/cleansers) can strip your skin of precious natural oils that are key for retaining moisture.
When it comes to beard and skin hygiene, you need to take the Goldilocks approach - not too little, not too much, but just enough to maintain healthy skin.
4. Grooming/Skin Care Products
Although many grooming products claim to be great for your health, they may contain ingredients that irritate the skin under your beard. And that’s a big no-no.
For instance, some skincare products (e.g. moisturisers, aftershaves, cleansers) contain alcohol. While this might not be an issue for everyone, if you have sensitive skin or are prone to eczema, alcohol can potentially cause dry skin, rashes, and irritation.
Everyone’s body is different, so the best thing to do is see how your skin reacts to a new product. If you’re noticing flaky skin or dryness, it may be time to switch brands.
5. Lifestyle & Health Factors
Your body needs to be well-hydrated to keep your skin moisturised and healthy. If you’re not drinking enough water, this can lead to dehydration - and, you guessed it, dry skin.
However, there are also unavoidable health factors that can lead to increased dryness.
Some of us will just be genetically predisposed to skin irritation, while others will suffer from conditions like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, and acne prone skin. If you experience any of these conditions, it’s best to consult a doctor to see if medication can help reduce symptoms and treat dry skin when it occurs.
What are the consequences of neglecting dry skin?
So, dry skin can be caused by various factors, from genetic conditions to cold weather and aftershave ingredients. At some point, most of us will probably deal with itchy skin, rashes, and other irritations.
But what happens in the long run if you don’t treat dry skin?
Well, the most obvious challenge will be daily discomfort and health issues. Dry skin will quickly become itchy and flaky if left untreated, and these problems can be a real pain to deal with.
Failing to combat dry skin can also cause serious issues for your beard hair.
We’ve already mentioned the connection between healthy skin and healthy beards - and it makes sense, considering they’re literally attached to each other. This means that when your skin health is neglected, your beard health will follow suit.
If your skin is dried out, your sebaceous glands won’t be able to produce enough oil to lubricate, moisturise, and hydrate your beautiful beard hair. This can lead to dry and brittle facial hair, and that means trouble for your beard growth goals.
But the potential issues don’t stop there. Dry skin can also cause persistent beard dandruff, which equals two words that every hirsute man fears - flaky beard.
(If you do find yourself dealing with beard dandruff, don’t panic. We’ve written a handy guide that will help you fight dandruff and reclaim your silky, luscious whiskers.)
Are there treatments available for dry skin under your beard?
Fortunately, you can always fight back against the perils of dry skin and flaky beards.
Several home remedies can assist with dryness, such as coconut oil, aloe vera, and petroleum jelly. When incorporated into a consistent skincare routine, these substances can help you trap moisture and soothe your skin.
For more serious skin dryness, you can also seek out over-the-counter products that will help you moisturise and protect your face. These often include creams and lotions that will thoroughly hydrate your skin to prevent irritation.
Finally, if you’re not seeing any success with natural remedies or basic over-the-counter products, you should book an appointment with your doctor to discuss your options. It may be that you just need a stronger medication to reduce the symptoms and avoid dryness!
The role of hydration and diet in maintaining skin health
We’ve already covered some of the common causes of dry skin. However, it’s important to note that for many people, small changes in dietary habits can produce big improvements in skin health.
Proper hydration, for instance, is something that many of us tend to overlook - but this is an easy win that can help you moisturise your skin and encourage healthy beard growth. The more hydrated you are throughout the day, the easier your skin will find it to retain moisture!
(Listen, we know that drinking water isn’t the most exciting of activities - but neither is dealing with beard dandruff, so get hydrating.)
There are also specific foods that can support healthy skin. Remember - your whiskers need to sprout from skin that’s moisturised and nourished, so everything is connected.
For example, fatty fish provide essential omega-3 fatty acids that help to prevent dryness and reduce inflammation. A vitamin C deficiency can also lead to dry, flaky skin, so try to include foods like citrus fruits and peppers in your diet to avoid this.
While dietary changes aren’t going to cure dryness overnight, they can be very important for maintaining long-term skin health - and more importantly, keeping your bountiful bristles soft, silky, and supple.
How can you prevent dry skin under your beard?
What’s better than finding the right treatment for dry and flaky skin?
Preventing dryness from ever happening in the first place.
Here at Mission Beard, we’re passionate about helping our hairy brethren maintain handsome, healthy, and hydrated beards. That’s why we’ve pulled together some expert tips for looking after your skin, promoting solid beard growth, and avoiding dryness and irritation.
- Give your face and beard a rigorous daily wash to prevent skin problems. Use a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells that can cause issues.
- Moisturise your face to keep your skin healthy and hydrated.
- Use high-quality grooming products to look after both your beard hair and skin. Conditioners, beard balms and beard oils can all be excellent options, and you can use a beard comb to ensure even application across your bristles.
It’s also essential to select skincare and beard grooming products with the right ingredients.
As we’ve already mentioned, it can be smart to avoid products containing alcohol if you’re prone to skin irritation. You should also look for quality natural ingredients (e.g. jojoba oil, argan oil) that will maximise hydration, support growth, and prevent dryness.
The best products to use for healthy beard growth
If you want to keep your beard hair and skin looking (and feeling) their best, then it’s key to use grooming products that will deliver consistent results.
Below are some of our top recommendations for products that will nourish and protect your handsome face.
Beard Oils
Beard oil helps to provide both your bristles and skin with much-needed moisture, locking in hydration to maintain stronger hairs and prevent dryness.
These oils are usually made with a blend of all-natural carrier oils (i.e. jojoba oil, coconut oil, argan oil) and essential oils (i.e. lavender oil, peppermint oil) that combine to create a hydrating, nourishing, great-smelling product for your whiskers.
Beard Balms
Beard balm is another must-have grooming product for your kit. Balms are generally made with a mixture of beeswax, natural butter, carrier oils, and essential oils - and when these magical ingredients combine, they leave your face thoroughly moisturised and fully protected.
Using a quality beard balm is a great way to hydrate and condition your facial hair, which is crucial for preventing brittle bristles and skin issues.
Beard Shampoo
Finally, beard shampoo is a fantastic way to keep your facial hair clean and healthy. Beard shampoos are very similar to normal shampoo products, but contain nourishing oils designed to strengthen your hair - they also avoid harmful ingredients that can irritate your skin.
As part of a daily washing routine, you can use beard shampoo to keep your bristles feeling softer and stronger. You can also try a conditioner alongside your beard shampoo to help you maintain silky hairs that feel healthy and happy.
If you want to sprout a majestic beard, you need to look after the skin beneath your bristles.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can prevent dry skin, beard dandruff, and other pesky conditions. By investing in high-quality skincare/grooming products, improving your diet, and sticking to hygiene best practices, you can keep your face healthy and hydrated.
However, if you’re suffering from skin dryness that just won’t improve, your best bet is to see a qualified dermatologist or doctor for medical advice. Best of luck, beard-growers!