How to Treat an
Itchy Beard

Have a read of our guide for everything you need to know about dry skin under your beard and how to treat an itchy beard.

In a nutshell, for you:

How to Treat an Itchy Beard
Skin Irritation Under Your Beard And What Causes It
Beard Pimples
How to Get Rid of Beard Dandruff

How to Treat an
Itchy Beard

Whether you've just started growing a beard or you've had one for a while now, you've probably experienced itching. Sometimes the itch is barely noticeable, but it can also become really uncomfortable, as constant scratching can make your skin feel even more irritated.

Follow our guide to find out what causes an itchy beard, how you can treat an itchy beard, and how to soothe dry skin under your beard.

What’s the difference between beard hair and head hair?

Your beard hair is different from the hair on your head. Beard hair is called androgenic hair, meaning that growth is mainly driven by hormones. It's thicker and coarser than the hair on your head, and your hormone levels help determine the thickness and growth of your beard.

There are several causes of an itchy beard and itchy beard stubble, from irritation from shaving through to clogged pores.

Read on to find out what's behind your itchy beard and how you can treat it.

Skin irritation under your beard
and what causes it

If you’ve got a full beard and it itches, it could be caused by dry skin under your beard. Facial hair draws moisture from the skin, pulling it up from the surface and onto the hairs, where it quickly evaporates. This can leave your skin extremely dry or flaky and even cause beard dandruff. Dead skin cells that are normally removed by daily face washing or exfoliation also get trapped in the hair, and dirt and oil build-up can cause skin irritation.

It’s also really common to have itchy beard stubble at the start when you decide to grow a beard. When you shave, you leave a sharp edge to each hair follicle, and when it first starts to grow, the tougher tufts of hair scrape against the edges of the follicle – which is what causes itchy beard stubble.

Razor Burn

Dermatologists call this irritant contact dermatitis. Your razor can cause redness, burning and beard itch. Dull razors, or a dull electric shaver, may be the culprits, while shaving too closely on skin that isn't properly prepared can cause friction and result in a beard rash or itchy beard.

Sensitivity to Products

Your skin might be sensitive to ingredients in shaving creams, gels and pre-shave lotions, which can lead to the protective outer layer of your skin breaking down and leave it vulnerable to irritation and itching. If you’ve got sensitive skin, go for fragrance-free lotions and creams to reduce the risk of an itchy beard and itchy beard stubble.

BEARD
PIMPLES

Beard pimples, or beard acne, are a major cause of itchy beard and itchy beard stubble. There are several reasons why you might notice red, bumpy, itchy patches – or beard pimples:

Breakouts
Spots and breakouts occur when sebum produced by your skin mixes with dead skin cells on the skin's surface.

Ingrown Hair
Ingrown hairs happen when a hair that has been shaved or cut grows back into the follicle instead of out, and becomes trapped under the skin. This is what causes irritation and inflammation. When this happens, the follicle can become red, lumpy and itchy. If you have curly hair, you're particularly prone to ingrown hairs.

Folliculitis
Folliculitis is when the follicles that contain your beard hair become inflamed and feel tender or painful to touch. They can develop blisters and, if there's a bacterial infection, they can fill with pus. Folliculitis is usually a result of a bacterial, viral or fungal infection, although it can also be caused by ingrown hairs.

How to
get rid of beard dandruff

Beard dandruff is caused by a condition called seborrhoeic dermatitis, which leads to beard rash and flaking skin.

Although experts don't know exactly what causes seborrhoeic dermatitis, they do know it's a reaction to a yeast in your skin called Malassezia. This fungus is more likely to grow in areas with lots of sebaceous glands, such as your scalp and face. The fungus breaks down the oil produced by these glands, and this process can trigger scale formation and flaky rashes on your scalp, eyebrows, nose, beard and moustache. It’s a chronic condition that can flare up at any time, but keeping up good beard hygiene will help ease it.

If you have flaky skin under your beard but no redness or irritation, the cause of your itchy beard may simply be dry skin under the beard.

Tips for How to Get Rid of Beard Dandruff:

- Wash your beard with warm water daily.

- Use a beard wash that’s gentle on your skin

- Exfoliate with a beard brush to remove dead skin cells. Be careful not to brush too hard, or you’ll make your beard dandruff or beard rash worse

- Moisturise your beard. This is a crucial step, especially if beard itch or dandruff is caused by dry skin under your beard. Again, choose a product that’s gentle on your skin.

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How to care
for your beard and stop beard itch

There are a few simple steps you can take to help prevent beard itch. Check out our routine for getting rid of beard itch:

CLEANSE – Cleanse and exfoliate your face regularly to avoid dirt getting trapped in your beard. Because facial hair is different from the hair on your head, regular shampoo may not be the best option for your beard, as it can strip the natural oils from the beard and make it feel dry. Instead, choose a beard‑specific shampoo or a high‑quality cleanser, as these are more suitable for facial hair and sensitive facial skin.

CONDITION – If you’ve got a longer beard, use a special beard balm to loosen and soften the hair. Once you’ve cleansed your beard, apply the balm and let it work for a few minutes before rinsing. When you’re choosing a balm, look for products with natural ingredients like argan oil or jojoba oil – these are great for softening and strengthening your beard.

DRY YOUR BEARD – Although this step is often overlooked, it’s really important – make sure you dry your beard properly. Leaving water in your beard can dry out your skin and beard and cause an itchy beard rash. Gently pat your beard with a towel after cleansing to absorb excess water.

MOISTURISE – Moisturising is another important step when you’re dealing with an itchy beard rash. Use a light beard oil or lotion to soften your beard and nourish the skin underneath.

BRUSH – Regular brushing will not only give your beard a neat shape and smoother texture, it’ll also train the hairs to grow in a single direction – which helps avoid ingrown hairs and itching. There are specialised beard combs available that make it easier to spread products through your beard, so you get maximum results from the active ingredients.

REFINE YOUR SHAVING TECHNIQUE – How you shave can reduce your chances of ending up with an itchy beard. To help prevent an itchy beard and beard pimples, try:

- Shaving after you shower – the steam opens your pores and gives easier access to the hair follicles, provides a much closer shave and reduces the chances of irritation, chafing, redness and dryness
- Using a new razor blade each time you shave
- If you don’t already use one, consider switching to an electric razor or a four‑ or five‑blade razor

NOTE:
If you already have a beard rash, give your skin some time to calm down. Try to avoid shaving or irritating your skin in other ways – use mild products to relieve the irritation and nourish the dry skin under your beard.