It was a couple of years ago when a scientific magazine, , dropped the bomb regarding the beard. A study showed that men’s beards have more germs than dog hair.
To reach that conclusion, the team took bacterial samples from the fur and mouths of 30 dogs that had been brought to a hospital for an MRI. The researchers chose 18 bearded men who also went to a hospital for the same reason, and took samples of their beards.
More germs on beards than on dogs?
The results of the microbial count of human beards against dog hairs, more out of curiosity than scientific importance, are described in the study as follows:
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All of the men, 18 of 18, had high microbe counts, while 7 dogs had moderate microbe counts and 23 dogs had high microbe counts.
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More human pathogenic bacteria were found in the beards of men than in the skin of dogs. In 7 of the 18 humans and in only 4 of the 30 dogs, we found bacteria pathogenic for humans.
On top of that, the team also took samples from MRI scanners to compare whether those used for dogs end up with a higher level of microbes than those used exclusively for humans. And the result was very good… for the dogs.
Yes, the beard is full of germs and?
Of course that doesn’t mean anything bad. Our skin is covered in germs but most of them are harmless to us and some bacteria are even beneficial. But what about the beard? Does it carry germs that can cause disease?
If we take good care of it and wash it no less than 3 times a week, our beard will be as good as the face of any shaven person. With the same microbes that are attached to us all the time.
As one dermatologist says: “It’s no different than what we usually have on our skin, which is home to a complex, ever-changing microbiome.”
And what does that mean?
Well, on our skin aerobic bacteria travel like staph and streptococciviruses, yeasts and even small mites called demodex that live in or near hair follicles. They are harmless and are known to some as “the unknown inhabitant of the eyelashes”.
More microbes on the face with a beard or without a beard?
A 2014 study published in compared the bacterial ecology of the facial hair of 408 male workers to determine whether those with beards had more bacteria.
The researchers found that bacterial colonization in both groups was comparable, with a prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus actually slightly lower (41.2%) in those with beards than in those who were clean-shaven (52.6%).
These are germs that are transmitted by contact and mainly cause skin infections, although sometimes they can be worse.
But the reality is that the differences between shaved and not shaved are quite small. Understanding, of course, that the study has been done with people who have a job and have their beards usually clean. Otherwise we could talk about lice or more serious diseases.
How to keep your beard “hygienically clean”?
Let’s start by saying that the way microbes get into our beards is neither mysterious nor easily avoidable. Because as in other parts of the body, germs “stick” to us through the hands and the air, which is full of them.
But starting from that base, the beard is an aesthetic element like any other, which depends on the taste of each one and which is perfectly accepted by dermatologists. It is not mandatory to shave facial hair, nor is it necessary for us to shave our heads.
What is important is to keep the beards clean and well groomed.
And how is it achieved? Well, the dermatologist recommends that we wash it with the same frequency and good work with which we wash our scalp, generally a few times a week.
They also recommend brushing it frequently because this way we will be able to eliminate dead skin cells that can get tangled between the hairs.
Better with an antibacterial shampoo?
It is not necessary and the dermatologists with whom we have spoken do not consider it essential. Because what they insist on is the need to wash and clean it, much more than the type of shampoo we use.
The (US Food and Drug Administration), which is responsible for protecting the public health of the country, says that there is not enough evidence to say that an antibacterial soap when washing hands is better at killing germs.
And the same goes for washing your beard. With the point, for both cases, that you have to massage well, rinse well and dry well.
Without forgetting, in addition, that good hand hygiene is an essential complement to have a beard that is as clean as possible. Because we touch our faces thousands of times every day, with even more beards, and we are taking everything we touch towards those hairs.
Of course, if we were talking about a shaved person, we would have to say the same thing.
What if we have to continue wearing a mask?
The mask is an added concern for people with beards, because medically it can be a problem.
We already know that with the safest models, such as the FFP2, a good fit is as important as the mask itself.
And if facial hair does not allow the mask to create a secure seal, we should change the beard model.
Already in 2017, long before the pandemic, the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) made the attached infographic to explain the beards and mustaches that those who needed a mask at work might or might not wear.
It is fun and illustrative, and it certainly shows that they prefer the mustache.