Having a beard can be great, but if you’re experiencing dry, flaky skin under your beard, you know it can be a huge pain. For many men, maintaining a well-groomed beard means dealing with the discomfort caused by dry skin beneath it. This issue can range from mild flakiness to severely dry, scaly skin, often accompanied by redness and itchiness.
Fortunately, you don’t have to drive yourself crazy scratching at your face fuzz. In this guide, we will explore how to prevent and treat dry skin under your beard, while also covering the best products to keep your beard (and the skin underneath it) healthy and hydrated. So, let’s get started!
Different Causes of Dry Skin Under Your Beard
Sometimes the best way to address dry, flaky skin under your beard is to understand potential causes. It’s a very common condition among men with facial hair, and there are a variety of reasons that it can occur. Here are some of the most common causes:
- Weather - Cold weather and dry air are two culprits that frequently result in dry skin on the face, particularly the skin under your beard. The combination of low temperatures and low humidity causes the skin to hold onto less moisture, leaving it dry and irritated.
- Trapped Debris - Long, thick beards are more prone to trapping dirt, oil, and dead skin cells, all of which can exacerbate dryness. This is because trapped debris can block your pores, causing skin to become itchy and potentially increasing the risk of acne flair ups or ingrown hairs.
- Genetic Predisposition - Unfortunately, there are certain causes of dry, scaly skin under your beard that are beyond your control. Some men are simply predisposed to dry skin due to genetics. The skin may naturally produce less oil, leading to constant dryness, regardless of the season or grooming habits.
- Improper Grooming - If the skin under your beard is dry, neglecting your beard care routine could be the reason. Failing to moisturize regularly or groom your beard properly allows dryness to develop and even worsen with time.
How to Treat Dry Skin Under Beards
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’re already dealing with dry skin under your beard and you want to know how to fix it. Thankfully, there are easy skincare techniques that can help you treat this issue without going to the dermatologist (though a doctor’s visit may be necessary in some cases). Here’s how to get rid of dry skin under your beard using proper grooming and skincare practices:
- Use a Gentle Cleanser - Quality skincare always begins with a good cleanser. Using a gentle beard wash or conditioning beard cleanser can help the beard follicles and the skin underneath remain healthy. These should be specifically designed to cleanse your beard and skin without stripping them of moisture.
- Exfoliate Regularly - It’s a common misconception that you can’t exfoliate the skin under a thick beard. While it’s true that beard hairs can get in the way to a degree, exfoliating your beard helps remove dead skin cells and prevents the buildup of these cells, which can often worsen dryness. A beard scrub and a soft-bristle brush can be helpful to gently exfoliate the skin without causing damage.
- Moisturize Your Beard & Skin - Moisturizing is one of the best and most important steps for treating dry skin under your beard. Ideally, you should opt for a moisturizer that hydrates your beard and your skin at the same time. A good oil can nourish the skin beneath the beard while softening your facial hair. Look for natural ingredients like basil and rosemary to prevent irritation, moisturize deeply, and help your beard look and feel well-groomed.
- Keep Your Beard Neat & Trimmed - While you might like the look of a long, unkempt beard, it’s not the best way to treat dry skin. Instead, try to trim your beard to a manageable length. This helps stop debris and dead skin from building up. Regular trimming also makes it easier to clean and condition your beard.
How to Prevent Dry Skin Under Beards
Once you have dry skin under control, you’ll want to keep it that way. Preventing dry skin under your beard requires a combination of a consistent grooming routine, proper hydration, and the right products. Here are some of our top tips for keeping the area well-hydrated and free of dry, itchy patches:
- Don’t Overwash - It’s difficult to determine how often you should wash your beard, as it varies from one person to the next. However, if you scrub your beard every day, especially with harsh shampoos or chemicals, you’re actually doing more harm than good. This is because overwashing your beard strips it of its natural oils. Most men should aim to wash their beard about 2 to 3 times per week, using a gentle beard shampoo or conditioning beard wash.
- Moisturize Daily - Regularly applying a moisturizer can prevent dry skin from forming under your beard. Massage hydrating beard oil into your beard and skin daily to keep it soft and hydrated. Also be sure to use a quality moisturizer on the skin surrounding your beard, particularly on the cheeks and neck.
- Avoid Hot Water - While a hot shower or face wash may feel refreshing, it’s one of the easiest ways to cause dry skin under a beard. Hot water makes your skin more sensitive, and frequently leads to red, dry, patchy areas almost immediately. When washing your beard, use lukewarm or warm water to avoid unnecessary dryness.
The Best Beard-Care Products For Dry Skin
Are you sick of dealing with dry, itchy skin under your beard? Have you been looking for ways to fix or prevent dry skin without completely getting rid of your facial hair? Finally, do you want to use the best possible skincare products designed for men with beards? If so, Anthony has the solutions you need.
To treat the dry skin under your beard and keep it fresh and healthy, check out some of our top skin and beard care products for men:
- Anthony’s Pre-Shave + Conditioning Beard Oil - This multi-faceted beard oil prevents irritation, softens scruff, and deeply nourishes both the beard and the skin beneath it. It’s formulated with essential oils (including basil and rosemary) to calm inflammation and hydrate the skin, making it the ultimate solution for treating and preventing dry, flaky skin under the beard.
- Anthony’s Conditioning Beard Wash - This conditioning beard wash offers the perfect way to get rid of dandruff and leave your beard (and skin) feeling soft and smooth. It utilizes coconut oil to keep your skin hydrated, black currant extracts to calm itchy skin, and bilberry fruit extract to cleanse and exfoliate.
- Anthony’s All Purpose Facial Moisturizer - While this all purpose moisturizer is not just for men with beards, it is the best all-around facial moisturizer that can treat and prevent dry skin. It can be applied lightly over facial hair and to areas surrounding your beard. This formulation is truly the best way to soothe, hydrate, and enhance the appearance of your skin and beard.
Want to learn even more about how to prevent and get rid of dry skin under beards? If so, be sure to check out the great products and solutions available at Anthony today!
