How To Get Rid of Beard Dandruff – Causes, Prevention & Treatments

White flakes are nice to look at in the wintry landscape, but absolutely not at all in the hair or beard. Especially not with dark hair. No man needs sheds.

American actress Kirstie Alley once said, “Men are like fish. They flake and are easy to remove.” We like a quote from Acts 9:18 better, which postulates: “And immediately it fell from his eyes like scales, and he regained his sight.” We all have the connections by now understood. The scales have long since fallen from our eyes.

Figuratively, we’re almost all done with that. Unfortunately not so in the case of the scales on our heads. There are so many small scales that cloud our view and trickle down silently like snow to make themselves visibly comfortable on our shoulders. This looks unappetizing in the hair as well as on the clothes and is simply embarrassing for us. In addition, there is usually an excruciating itching. Everything completely uncool and nothing for a real man. So let’s get on with it.

As a beard wearer, you already know that with knowledge, strategy, discipline, patience, good tools, and beard care products, you can achieve a magnificent beard. The same way you go about the dandruff in your beard or on your hair. We want to provide you with the best possible support by providing you with useful basic knowledge and a selection of good care products.

Identify the type of beard dandruff

As with hair dandruff, there are two types of dandruff. Their origins and the means of treating them are quite different. It is therefore important that before doing anything, you manage to clearly identify them. Dry dandruff is generally caused by dryness of the hair and skin.

They’re more noticeable than oily dandruff, but they don’t stick to the skin and tend not to be itchy. They usually appear when the weather is very hot or very cold. On the contrary, oily dandruff tends to stick to the skin and cause severe itching. They are the consequence of excessive sebum production and therefore oily skin.

Men Beard dandruff: what is it?

Well, let’s start at the beginning (it’s much better in that order). Beard dandruff, as the name suggests, is simply little piles of dead skin crawling around, like in your hairline or eyebrows (yes you can get eyebrow dandruff too !).

These very thin strips of skin, often called dander, then come off and gradually rise to the surface of your beard. And the problem is that once they arrive at their destination, these beard dandruff are perfectly visible!

Without forgetting that they will also create heaps of itches , and that you will then scratch your barbouze with passion and thus damage even more your skin which is under (sacred vicious circle!). In short, you have understood it well, beard dandruff, it is better to get rid of it quickly. And if you want to go to bed less stupid tonight, know that there are even more precisely two types of beard dandruff, each with its own remedies!

The first type of beard dandruff concerns that of dry skin. They itch less than those of oily skin, do not stick to the skin and lugge around on the surface of your hair. They appear in fact because of too dry skin (it’s very logical you will say), and if the latter is too often fragile and dry, you get a cocktail of fire to get some.

On the other hand, on the other hand, greasy beard dandruff comes from too much excess sebum. Unlike dry beard dandruff, they are the ones that will make you very itchy, even if the latter will be less visible on the surface of your beubar.

In both cases, dear friend, there are very simple treatments to apply to get rid of these beard dandruff. And I finally present them to you just below. Hallelujah!!!

What are the causes of beard dandruff?

The causes of dandruff on the beard can be varied. These include, for example, dry skin under the beard, fungal infections, intolerance to care products, poor nutrition or other skin diseases such as neurodermatitis. 

Let’s briefly look at the 2 most common causes:

Dry skin: The most common cause of dandruff is dry skin. Reasons for this are typically:

• Too high water temperature when washing the skin of the face
• Blow-drying the beard hair at too high a temperature
• Aggressive care products that attack the skin’s natural protective function
• Dry external conditions

Fungal infections: Even tiny infections caused by fungi can promote dandruff. The growth of the fungus is even favored by the facial hair, as it largely protects the fungus from growth-inhibiting UV radiation. 

Now that you know some of the triggers for dandruff, it’s time for a few tips to get rid of those little flaky nuisances.

Methods to Get Rid of Beard Dandruff

Although hair dandruff is more well known, it is also possible to have dandruff in the beard. This can be quite annoying, especially because they are particularly unsightly and can even cause itching. We therefore offer you various tips and tricks that will allow you to get rid of your beard dandruff.

Anti-dandruff shampoo for beard?

Should you rush to the nearest drugstore and stock up on a year’s supply of Head & Shoulders? No! Ordinary anti-dandruff scalp shampoo is certainly not the right solution for your beard. In the worst case, the scaly problem is even aggravated by the mostly very aggressive shampoos. Anti-dandruff shampoos are specifically designed for your scalp, not your sensitive facial skin.

A better solution here is a (beard) shampoo with purely natural ingredients. According to a study by the American Academy of Dermatology , shampoos with 5% tea tree oil are very suitable here (41% of the study participants saw an improvement after 4 weeks of treatment). This is actually not surprising, because the essential oil is said to have an antifungal effect.

It really helps with beard dandruff

Let’s get to the most important part of this article and the answer on how to successfully get rid of beard dandruff. If you consider these points in your beard care routine, you should see a great improvement in most cases:

Beard oil often works wonders for dry skin. It helps keep the skin under your beard healthy while softening your whiskers. We recommend beard oils that contain a high proportion of care oils such as jojoba, argan, almond or coconut .

This is why these oils help so well against dandruff:

Jojoba oil

• ​Moisturizes
• Hypoallergenic
• Non-toxic
• Helps with skin inflammation

Argan oil

• moisturizes
• Relieving skin irritation and inflammation
• Makes the beard hair nice and supple

Almond oil

• anti-inflammatory
• Rich in moisturizing substances
• Contained linoleic acid ensures that sufficient moisture remains in the skin

Application:

Massaging the beard thoroughly once a day, not sparing the skin, should be sufficient. You should vary the amount of oil depending on the length of your beard. For beards that are only a few weeks old, 2-3 drops are sufficient.

If your beard has already reached the lumberjack stage, you can definitely count on double that. But as always, try it out! When your beard shines like a freshly polished bowling ball, a little fewer drops will do the trick next time.

If you are still looking for a beard oil with a great, masculine note and natural ingredients, I can recommend these two:

• GØLD’s “Massive”
• Beard splendor “Zindorf”

I’ll admit it: I’m a wimp too. Nevertheless, there is no reason to set the water temperature to just below scalding hot. Hot water dries out the skin unnecessarily and thus encourages dandruff to form.

You are on the safe side if you wash your beard hair with lukewarm water and do not overly stress your facial skin and hair.

There are a few good reasons to use beard brushes on your beard. One of them is spreading the sebum from your skin into the beard. This makes it soft and supple. Beard brushes also ensure that dead skin cells are removed from the beard. You will find out how well this works when you clean the brush at the latest, when countless scales have accumulated in the bristles.

Boar bristle brushes are the standard and you basically can’t go wrong with them.

I know this tip sounds trite and totally boring. But it is still worth mentioning as an effective measure against dandruff on the beard. I mentioned diet above as one of the possible causes of dandruff and now I want to go into which foods can promote dandruff formation:

According to Netdoktor, you should avoid alcohol, wheat flour, sugary foods and coffee. The reason for this is that they provide food for the microorganisms on the skin.

Also, try to avoid high-fat foods. These promote the increased production of sebum, which in turn supports yeast growth. On the other hand, you should consider these nutrients in your nutrition plan:

1. When it comes to skin health, the trace element zinc is often mentioned in the same breath. Important sources of zinc are meat (veal and beef liver), fish, seafood, whole grain products and soybeans. Zinc is involved in many biochemical processes such as protein synthesis and cell growth. A lack of zinc can lead to dry skin, brittle nails and hair loss.

2. An adequate supply of vitamins A, E and B7 is also important to maintain a beautiful and healthy complexion. For example, as with zinc, a lack of vitamin A can cause scaly and dry skin. Dairy products and carrots are high in vitamin A. Cabbage, nuts, avocado, and flaxseed are high in vitamin E.

3. Dry skin is often caused by not drinking enough fluids. And no, that doesn’t mean beer. I had to get used to drinking enough water throughout the day. If you’re not used to it, it’s not that easy. But how much is enough?

I won’t come up with the usual standard phrase “drink at least 1.5 liters a day”, because that’s nonsense. Depending on your age, weight and countless other factors, your needs will vary. As a rough guideline for adults: 1ml water per 1 kcal per day ( Federal Ministry of Health AT ).

How to get rid of dry beard dandruff?

Depending on the length of your beard you will use a beard oil or a beard balm. Prefer a beard balm when you have a medium or long beard. While the oil is enough for the shortest beards but also suitable for longer beards.

The ingredients contained in these two treatments make up for the lack of sebum and the rapid drying of your skin. They will be of great help to you in times of extreme cold.

Apply a few drops of beard oil to the palm of your hands, rub and apply to your beard, massaging effectively to penetrate the oil inside the skin. We advise you to apply it on a dry beard, in the morning after washing your face. You can renew the operation if you are subject to severe drying of the skin.

Thanks to the beeswax and shea butter it contains, the beard balm retains water from the skin, forming a protective layer. Your skin is protected and hydrated. To do this, take a small amount in the palm of your hand, rub to make the balm more liquid and apply all over the beard.

How to get rid of oily dandruff?

As we have already seen, oily dandruff appears in the event of overproduction of sebum, which generally occurs when the beard is not sufficiently or badly cleaned. To do this, you must therefore use a beard shampoo and shampoo two to three times a week. 

However, you absolutely should not use hair shampoo on your beard. It is indeed a rather aggressive product that could damage your hair and the skin of your face. Please note that even if you wet your beard, it is not considered cleaning and will not prevent the appearance of beard dandruff. After a few weeks of regular washing, you should therefore get rid of these greasy dandruff.

Exfoliate your skin with a facial scrub once a week. This will allow you to remove all the accumulated dirt (dust, pollution, etc.). Do not repeat the operation too often (1x per week is enough) to avoid damaging your skin.

Seborrheic eczema on the face: What Is It

This skin disease with the unpronounceable name is as annoying as it sounds. To put it simply, it is an inflammatory reaction of the body, presumably after infestation by a yeast fungus.

This disease is often hereditary. Characteristic of seborrheic eczema is the white-yellowish and greasy, shiny layer of scales and, under certain circumstances, itching on the affected areas of the face or scalp.

If you think you might be affected by this ​sh***, your best bet is to see a dermatologist. He can clearly differentiate the fungal infestation from other skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or psoriasis and, if necessary, prescribe the right antifungal or cortisone medication.

Conclusion

There are two types of beard dandruff which both have different origins and cures. However, if you practice good beard care and use healthy, quality products, you should be able to avoid or get rid of them. For dry dandruff, you must moisturize your beard and your skin, especially by using beard oil or balm, while oily dandruff appears when the beard is not washed with a good beard shampoo.

Because beards and dandruff rarely go hand in hand, it’s up to you. Do not hesitate to share with us, below in the comment box, your tips and remedies to overcome it.

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