Does Facial Hair Cause Acne?
Does facial hair cause acne? Does growing facial hair cause acne?
For those beardsmen who struggle with breakouts, it’s normal to wonder, does growing facial hair cause acne? Does having facial hair cause acne? And the truth is, your glorious mane could actually be a contributing factor to any facial acne you’re experiencing.
So, does facial hair cause acne? Yes, it can contribute. But, and this is a big but, Kingsmen, there are ways to prevent these annoying breakouts, and it starts with using the right tools consistently.
In this article, we’ll fill you in on how beard acne is caused and what you can do to prevent it while still rocking those magnificent whiskers. There’s no need to sacrifice the ‘stache to clear your skin. Let’s take a look at what we can do instead.
What is Beard Acne?
Does having facial hair cause acne?
While many associate acne with the hormonal changes teenagers experience, acne happens to people of all ages and genders.
Acne can indeed be hormonal, but it can also be caused by clogged pores and hair follicles, which can happen easily to any beardsman. Hormonal acne is often caused by the overproduction of sebum which creates breakouts of whiteheads and blackheads.
Beard acne, on the other hand, is often caused by a build-up of dead skin, sebum, and beard products that can block and infect hair follicles and clog pores. This build-up can cause painful blemishes under your mane and can be enough to drive any proud beardsman to shave.
Before you do, however, let’s look at the alternatives.
Why Does Facial Hair Cause Acne with Beards?
Why does facial hair cause more acne? Why does excessive facial hair cause acne? Why does growing facial hair cause acne?
Beard acne is a common issue faced by any beardsman, unfortunately, but it is not dependent on how much facial hair you have.
There are several main causes of this frustrating condition. They include:
- Build-up of sebum - sebum is a natural substance produced by the skin with an oily and waxy consistency. This consistency contributes to the ease with which sebum can build up in the pores and hair follicles.
- Hormonal changes - spikes in testosterone production can cause an increase in the production of sebum, as well, contributing to its build-up.
- Bacterial infection in a pore - infection in pores can be caused by excessive bacteria, as well as the combination of dead skin cells and sebum. This can cause a black head in the beginning and eventually become inflamed, causing blemishes.
- Skin irritation - skin irritation can be triggered by many different environmental factors, including exposure to chemicals, allergens, excessive heat or cold, sun exposure, and more. This can cause inflammation and blemishes, and the skin may become itchy.
How to Treat Beard Acne
The good news, Kingsmen, is that you don’t have to live with beard acne!
There are so many different ways to treat and prevent beard acne that are tried and true and will keep those whiskers looking rugged and distinguished.
The treatment options below help to reduce the appearance of blemishes but also prevent new beard acne from showing up. That’s why it’s crucial to continue your treatment regimen even when your skin is clear.
Let’s take a look at some of the methods for rocking a majestic mane without beard acne.
1. Keep it Clean
Cleanliness is the first step in keeping beard acne at bay, but one of the biggest problems with this is that some of us tend to use the wrong cleanser on our facial skin and beard.
The skin on your face is delicate, unlike any other skin on your body. As such, you can’t use the same harsh soaps you might use on your scalp or your back to cleanse your face.
Don’t look away in shame, beardsman. We’ve all done it, but it’s time to change that habit. You need a cleanser light enough to protect your natural oils while gently removing product, dead skin, dirt, and sebum build-up. A medicated face wash can help gently wash your face without stripping all the good stuff. Look for a face wash with salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a gentle exfoliator that clears pores.
When you need to wash your beard, use a beard wash instead of shampoos with harsh detergents. Regular shampoo will dry out your skin which can cause it to compensate by overproducing oil and sebum, thereby promoting breakouts.
2. Comb it Through
What beardsman doesn’t love running a comb through their whiskers? Well, now we’re prescribing it.
Routine brushing and combing can lightly exfoliate the skin, loosening dead skin, and product build-up, and distributing oils throughout your mane so they’re not building up around the hair follicles and in pores. Regular brushing can also free ingrown hairs or hairs that might become ingrown if left to do so.
Additionally, a light brushing massages the face, increasing blood flow to the area, which can aid in healing and clearing up the skin. So, whip out your beard comb and get combing.
3. Use a Topical Treatment
Topical creams and ointments that contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide can help to reduce the appearance of blemishes that have already occurred. This is your main tool of defense during a breakout and can be used as a spot treatment.
Do not overuse this product, however, as it is extremely drying and can cause beard itch, itchy skin, and flakiness which can lead to more breakouts. Be sure to use a quality facial moisturizer to counteract the effects of these topical treatments.
Beard Acne Prevention Tips
We’ve answered the question, “does facial hair cause acne?” and we know that it can, but how do we prevent it? Does having facial hair cause acne? Does growing facial hair cause acne?
Luckily for beardsman across the globe, having and growing facial hair is not the main cause of the beard acne you’re experiencing. You can prevent future breakouts by changing a few simple habits.
Here are some of the most effective ways to prevent future breakouts.
1. Shave Less Often
Any beardsman who has shaved before knows that it can cause inflammation and irritation in the skin. If you shave too often, the skin has no time to heal and will always be in a state of irritation which can lead to infected pores and hair follicles, leading to beard acne and blemishes.
Reduce the frequency of your shaves and make sure you’re using clean blades and moisturizing shave cream during the process. Always shave a clean face and beard and follow up with quality beard oil that will soothe the skin.
2. Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliation of the skin under those beautiful whiskers is the key to clearing dirt, oil, and dead skin from pores. The exfoliation process is a part of skin care that gently loosens any sebum, product or dead skin build-up in or around follicles as well as within pores.
Regular exfoliation will leave your skin feeling baby soft, and it will look and feel clear and clean. We recommend Kingsmen Premium’s Sea Salt Scrub for an all-natural, gentle exfoliation. This product is made with salt and essential oils, and that’s it. No ingredients with unpronounceable names that could irritate your skin. Just a clean formula added to your skin care routine that will clear your pores and prevent blemishes.
3. Moisturize Daily
When we wash our skin, we wash away necessary oils that our skin produces to keep itself moisturized and protected. When we don’t replace the moisture, the skin will kick into overproduction, which can cause build-up and, eventually, beard acne.
That’s why it’s a crucial part of skin care to replace the moisture lost in the washing process. A quality facial moisturizer will not just prevent acne, but it will also fight the signs of aging, prevent dry, itchy skin and flakes and leave your skin feeling touchably soft.
4. Use Beard Oil
Beard oil should already be in your beard care toolkit. This product gently moisturizes your beard and the skin underneath and replaces any moisture lost in the washing process.
Daily use prevents dry, itchy skin, and beard dandruff and it can soothe your skin, preventing irritation. Kingsmen Premium beard oil comes in all their most coveted scents, so you won’t just have a soft beard and clear skin, you’ll also smell great. Kingsmen beard oil is all-natural and leaves your mane looking healthy.
5. Don’t Touch Your Face
Our hands are dirty. No matter how often we wash or sanitize those digits, we’re still touching door handles, shopping carts, toilets, taps, and more. At any given moment, there is a good amount of bacteria on your hands. Naturally, when we touch our face, that bacteria can transfer. It can then lead to infection, irritation, and inflammation, causing breakouts and beard acne. As such, Kingsmen, keep those fingers away from your face as much as possible and be sure to wash them often.
6. Keep Bed Linens Clean
Bed linens, towels, washcloths, and masks can all be a haven for bacteria to build up and multiply. It’s crucial to keep any fabric that touches your face clean. When we sleep on a dirty pillowcase, bacteria can transfer to our face and beard, causing irritation and potential breakouts. We recommend washing your bed linens at least once per week or as needed.
Healthy Beard and Skin with Kingsmen Premium Products
Now we know that the answer to, “does facial hair cause acne?” can be yes. But we also know that a beard doesn’t mean we can’t avoid acne breakouts. You now have the tools and knowledge you need to prevent and treat your beard acne so you’re rocking clear skin and glorious whiskers from now on.
Get the tools you need to keep your skin clear and your beard looking awesome: shop the full line of Kingsmen Premium’s beard care products for summer beards, long rugged manes, and even just a little bit of stubble. From natural, quality beard oil to gentle beard wash and clean styling products, Kingsmen Premium has your beard covered.
We’ve also got a line of men’s grooming products that include skin care, so shop today so you can have clearer skin tomorrow.
