Beard Dandruff: What Causes Beardruff and How to Get Rid of It
Nobody wants to look at pictures of dandruff, so we'll skip those. But if you've ever brushed white flakes off a dark shirt, you know the problem. When dandruff shows up in your facial hair, we call it beardruff, and the good news is that a simple routine handles most of it.
What causes beard dandruff?
The skin on your face isn't the same as the skin on your scalp, but it flakes for many of the same reasons:
- Dry skin. Winter air, hot showers and the heater running all night pull moisture out of the skin under your beard. The longer the beard, the more those dry flakes get trapped between the hairs.
- Oil and buildup. Your skin makes natural oil. If it isn't washed away now and then, it builds up with dead skin cells and old product, and the flakes get bigger and greasier.
- The wrong products. Bar soap leaves residue and head shampoo can dry out the skin under your beard. Some guys also react to certain fragrances or dyes.
- Skin conditions. Red, greasy, scaly patches that keep coming back can be seborrheic dermatitis, a common skin condition. That one is a job for a dermatologist (more on that below).
How to get rid of beardruff: wash, brush, moisturize
1. Wash with a beard wash, not soap. A beard wash is made for both the hair and the skin underneath. Our Original Beard Wash uses aloe and lime essential oil to cleanse and soften without the residue soap leaves behind. Work it in down to the skin, then rinse well. Leftover lather dries out skin too.
2. Brush every day. A boar bristle beard brush lifts loose flakes and dead skin cells out of your beard and spreads your skin's natural oil from the roots to the tips, where it belongs.
3. Moisturize after you wash. Dry skin is the most common cause, so put moisture back in. A leave-in like Fresh Mint Beard Saver softens your beard and the skin underneath without a greasy film. Once or twice a week, a deep conditioner like Wonder Beard Intensive Repair helps coarse hair stay soft.
A few other habits help: go easy on very hot showers, rinse product out completely, and don't pile on heavy oils if your skin is already oily.
When to see a dermatologist
If the flakes are thick, greasy or yellow, the skin underneath is red, or a good routine hasn't helped after a few weeks, see a dermatologist. The American Academy of Dermatology has a clear guide to seborrheic dermatitis and to treating dandruff. Beard care products keep a healthy beard comfortable; they aren't a treatment for a skin condition.