
BEARD IRRITATION | What Causes It And How To Get Rid Of It?
If there’s something that makes any bearded man sleepy, without a doubt, it’s beard irritation, caused by hypersensitivity of the skin in the face and/or neck region. After all, in addition to being uncomfortable because it causes itching and peeling, it is something that affects a man’s appearance a lot, since it turns red and ends up attracting attention.
With that in mind, Burnt Whiskey experts have gathered the main reasons for this problem and, in particular, some tips on what to do to prevent it from happening again and affecting your well-being. Follow and learn more about it!
What are the causes of beard irritation?
In this first topic, you will get to know some of the factors that cause the most irritation in the beard and even go further, even causing the appearance of blisters, small bumps, and wounds on the skin. Check out what they are!
Allergic Reaction
The first on the list is the allergic reaction which, contrary to what many people think, is not the problem itself, but a signal that your body sends to show that something is wrong and requires attention. It can be triggered by several reasons, the most common being skin sensitivity to the sun’s rays, the use of medications, climatic variations (especially dry weather), insect bites, and food poisoning.
However, there is another relevant reason: contact with allergenic substances for some individuals – which generates irritation not only in the area of contact with them but also in other parts of the body. Among them, we can mention latex, nickel, plastic materials (polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, etc.), and fabrics of synthetic origin (polyester, nylon, polyamide, etc.).
In other words, elements that are present in several products that you use in your routine and often don’t even realize it because you don’t suspect them, such as face towels, sunglasses, rings, condoms, toothbrushes, the t-shirts, the necklaces, and so on.
Folliculitis
The second cause of beard irritation is folliculitis, which is mainly due to bacteria and fungi that can be present in various regions of the body, including facial hair. As the infection is active and not properly treated, the hair follicles become inflamed and generate the famous ingrown hairs.
Excess Tallow
In addition to what has been mentioned, the excess sebum produced by the sebaceous glands is capable of generating irritation on the face. This is because, when expelled, it travels through the same duct where facial hair comes out. However, in large quantities, this channel ends up clogged, causing it to become inflamed and, consequently, to develop acne and ingrown hair.
Hair Shaving
Yes, my friend, the act of shaving the beard – something common in the daily life of many men – also irritates. This is mainly due to using poor quality or incorrect razors for your skin type and the amount of hair you have. This poor choice ends up leaving the areas of the face and neck hypersensitive, inflamed, and, in some cases, even with minor injuries.
Not to mention that not taking into account the direction of hair growth when shaving them increases (and a lot) friction with the skin, something that, over time, leads to dryness of the face, the appearance of stains, and the development of wrinkles, folliculitis.
How to get rid of beard irritation?
Now that we’ve covered some of the most common causes of beard irritation, there’s nothing better than talking about how to get rid of this problem, right? So pay attention to the following tips!
Don’t neglect hygiene
If your beard already shows signs of irritation, don’t hesitate and neglect hygiene! The ideal is to have a proper cleaning routine to prevent sebum and impurities from accumulating throughout the day and becoming a kind of micro-barrier. It prevents the sebaceous glands from working properly and makes it difficult for the hair shaft to come out of the hair follicle.
This will only increase the chances of folliculitis occurring and, in addition, more blackheads and pimples . To top it off, your beard can be missed in several corners.
Use suitable products
A second tip is to use the right products to clean the beard, exfoliate the skin of the face and neck, moisturize the hair and keep it properly disciplined. These care not only to reduce beard irritation but are essential to keep it beautiful, well-groomed, strong, soft, and most importantly: healthy.
Therefore, a good tip is to assemble a product kit (with shampoo, exfoliating paste, oil, balm, conditioner, and comb ) for you to use in your daily life and to be able to take it with you whenever you spend the day away from home so as not to neglect hygiene.
Consult a dermatologist
Finally, consult a dermatologist if you notice that beard irritation has become common and there is no apparent cause (such as oiliness, folliculitis, or incorrect shaving). As we mentioned, this can be an allergic reaction caused by “N” factors, and only a professional in the area will be able to accurately examine the face and neck region to identify the reason for it.
Even, once the cause of the allergy is found, it can indicate from the use of medicines (such as histamines, steroids, and anti-inflammatories) to changes in habits that involve food, sun exposure, and hygiene, for example. So, follow the recommendations in the letter to say goodbye to this problem beyond annoying.
As you read, beard irritation happens for several reasons. Therefore, it is important to know your skin type, pay attention to aftershave and have a skincare routine to notice any changes that may arise in advance. In addition, be sure to put into practice the tips presented in the text to avoid this nuisance and have healthy, strong hair with a neat look!