Beard dandruff: how to stop it

By Prof. Dr. Soner Tatlidede 2022-05-05

Beard dandruff? Some people still think that you cannot have dandruff in beard, but you should know that dandruff is a dermatological problem that affects the scalp skin, but also the face skin covered by facial hair. Dandruff, of course, can represent a big problem for many men, who see how after growing their stubble and taking care of it, their personal image is spoiled because of dandruff. But, does beard dandruff have a solution?

More and more men are becoming interested in beard and moustache transplant in Turkey, but not so many know the real causes, and the best way to stop beard dandruff and its annoying itching. If you can’t get rid of beard dandruff... you shouldn’t miss this article!!

Why do I have dandruff in my beard?

So why does my beard get dandruff? Actually, the causes of dandruff in a beard can be several, from environmental or genetic factors, to problems with food or even psychological disorders. What happens when beard has dandruff is that there is a flaking of the skin that causes the appearance of those scales or white “flakes”; besides, dandruff in hair and beard is usually accompanied by an itching that, if we scratch it, can lead to increased irritation and skin reddening.

Its symptoms and effects are multiple, too. If you look at the mirror and you ask yourself “why my beard has dandruff?”, the following are the reasons behind it.

Cold:

Low temperatures cause the skin to lose moisture and become dry, causing the appearance of scabs and the peeling of the outer layers of the skin.

Stress:

Stress influences the health of our entire body, and also of our beard. There is evidence that stress alters our glands, triggering the appearance of dandruff; combined with a poor diet, lack of vitamins, and sleep deprivation, it can also cause hair weakening and shedding.

Malassezia furfur yeast:

Malassezia furfur is a species of yeast (a type of fungus) that lives naturally on the skin surface of all human beings, feeding on sebum; so, its presence is bigger in oilier areas of the body, such as face or scalp. When, due to various factors, this yeast multiplies too quickly, itching and dandruff appear: Malassezia furfur is the most common cause of dandruff in both scalp and beard, and that’s why sometimes it´s called the beard dandruff fungus.

Inadequate shampoos and soaps:

Using shampoos and soaps designed for head hair on beard hair is a fairly common mistake. Keep in mind that the shampoos that we normally use are too aggressive for face skin, causing thus alterations in the epidermis that, eventually, trigger flaking and the appearance of dandruff.

Dehydration:

A dehydrated skin tends to form scabs and peel off its outer layers of dead cells, which – when it occurs in areas such as scalp or face skin - inevitably leads to the appearance of dandruff.

Sweat:

An excess of sweating makes sweat salts to accumulate on skin and hair, creating a layer that dries out hair and the dermis, causing - as we said before - the appearance of dandruff.

Genes:

Dandruff is not hereditary at all; however, the causes that end up triggering its appearance they can be inherited: dry skin, excessive sweating, or sensitivity to oleic acid, which is the product resulting from the decomposition of sebum in the epidermis by the Malassezia furfur yeast: it is estimated that about half of human beings are born with sensitivity to oleic acid, and therefore they are more likely to suffer from dandruff.

How to stop beard dandruff

So, the question now is how to get rid of beard dandruff, isn´t it? In addition to the bad image and aesthetic problems that dealing with beard dandruff causes, and the discomfort generated by itching, dandruff can also cause alterations both in our own perception about ourselves and in our social life, due to a real rejection that dandruff can provoke in some people, or just because of our fear of that rejection happening.

We should apply a treatment for beard dandruff once we detect the first symptoms; but, how do you get rid of beard dandruff? If you want to know how to cure it, or even how to prevent dandruff in beard, here are some tips and home remedies for dandruff in beard: keep in mind, however, that you will have to be patient and wait a few weeks for them to take effect.

Use a specific beard shampoo: 

One of the best ways for reducing this medical problem if we ask ourselves how to get rid of dandruff on facial beard, is to buy specific shampoos or soaps for beard hygiene - which are less aggressive than those applied to hair – or even a beard dandruff shampoo. Choose the best shampoo for beard dandruff and wash your beard 2 or 3 times a week, letting the shampoo penetrate well and act for a few minutes before rinsing well with warm water, taking care that no residues of shampoo are left in your beard.

Exfoliate your beard:

If you want to know how to get rid of dandruff in your beard, the best thing you can do is to apply an exfoliation process, brushing well your beard to remove dirt and crusts, as well as dead hairs and cells. 

Use essential oils for the beard:

As we mentioned before, hydration is essential to avoid dandruff; therefore, one of the best products for beard dandruff that you can use is to apply specific essential oils for beard, which have moisturising and repairing properties for your face hair. Our recommendation is to use specific oils and lotions, and not a cream for beard dandruff, since these creams can leave residues in beard and thus cause more damages than benefits.

Follow a healthy and balanced diet:

We already explained before that a healthy and balanced diet is very important for beard hair health: try to include in your daily food intake those foods that are rich in vitamins A, C and E, which strengthen hair, stimulate its growth, and regulate the production of skin sebum, preventing the proliferation of Malassezia furfur and the formation of dandruff. Of course, a healthy diet by itself cannot be a cure for beard dandruff... but certainly it can help a lot.

Realising that you have beard dandruff is not pleasant: but don't worry, because there are many people with the same problem, and there are solutions for beard dandruff. Anyway, if you have any hair condition, it is recommended to go to a specialist as soon as possible. Clinicana is not just the best hair transplant clinic, but we are also specialised in dealing with all hair problems. Request now your free consultation, and ask for a free, no obligation estimate for your treatment. We are awaiting you!!