REASONS A BEARD CAN CAUSE OR WORSEN ACNE

* Food and dirt can get clogged in the hair and lead to bacteria forming and causing infections including acne.

 
* Sweat and oil from the skin can get trapped in the hair and lead to blocked pores and ultimately acne.

* Ingrown hair is common among beard wearers and is another reason pores can get blogged and infected.

ACNE TREATMENTS TO BENEFIT BEARDED and NON-BEARDED MEN

* Keep the beard well trimmed to prevent ingrown hair and to highlight any areas where food or dirt is lingering.

* Wash the beard thoroughly each day and rinse it well to remove cleansers which can clog pores.

* Men who love beards and others who hate them, should test a variety of shaving creams, shavers and after shave products to test which is best for them personally. Avoid thick creams that cause the pores to clog and do not use heavily perfumed shaving products or anything with high chemical content.

* Shave lightly in one direction to avoid causing the skin to cut or stretch and thereby aggravate an acne condition.

IMPORTANT

* Scars left by acne can lead to hair growing sparsely or not at all on the affected area and can make it difficult to grow a full beard.

* ‘Acne Beard’ is a term sometimes used to describe a beard of acne or acne scars on the lower part of the face which can be caused by poor hygiene, facial sweating, or from harsh shaving with improper materials. Without corrective action the condition can be permanent. Ask a qualified pharmacist or dermatologist for information about best products to use for shaving and caring for acne.