Beard Dandruff: How to Treat Flaky Facial Hair

Are those actually dandruff flakes in my beard? That’s right, beard dandruff is a thing and affects many people with facial hair. Even the most lustrous, well-kept beards out there might experience the itching and flaking of dandruff.

Beard dandruff occurs when the skin under your facial hair is left malnourished and starved of moisture. So while your beard shines in its full glory, the skin underneath may be dry, oily and flaky. Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do to handle such a hairy (get it?) situation. So don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, and we’ll lay out everything in this article, including what beard dandruff is, what causes it, how you can get rid of it, and more.    

While it may sound strange, beard dandruff (or beardruff) can be quickly treated with scientifically formulated dandruff treatments, grooming products, and skin care products (yes we’re talking about shampooing your facial hair). Regular use of a medicated dandruff shampoo, beard balm, beard wash, exfoliant, and moisturizer in your grooming routine can all help to curb the flakes in your beard. 

Talk to your healthcare provider regarding treatments for your individual skin type. The main treatments for beard dandruff and scalp dandruff are anti-dandruff shampoos, creams, and lotions. If non-prescription products and your skincare routine just aren’t cutting it, your healthcare provider may suggest you try one or more treatments, such as antifungal gels, creams, lotions, foams, or shampoos.

Sebaceous glands are found in your hair follicles. The glands can clog, so it is very important to keep those glands healthy by following a skincare routine that involves cleansing and moisturizing. Healthy hair, even beard hair, starts with a healthy microbe environment. 

Seborrheic dermatitis can worsen under mustaches or beards. Shampooing with a dandruff shampoo that has ketoconazole daily can help improve symptoms. Then switch to shampooing once a week or once every two weeks. You can also shave your beard to ease some of the symptoms. You can use a ketoconazole face wash, cleanser, and a beard brush to help promote and maintain your best beard yet. 

Beard grooming is important as well. Taking care of the skin on your head and face are key to promoting healthy skin. Malassezia globosa is the yeast that lives on your skin and feeds on the dead skin cells, which can cause flaking. Having and maintaining a healthy scalp and skin can go a long way. 

You can shampoo your beard hair the way you would wash the hair on your head. Opt for a medicated beard shampoo that’s specifically designed to treat dandruff. Jupiter's Balancing Shampoo uses the safe and effective active ingredient Zinc Pyrithione to get rid of flaking.

Gently massage the shampoo into your beard and make sure it reaches the skin underneath. Wait for a minute or two before rinsing it out, and avoid using hot water as this can dry out and further irritate your skin. 

Next, you need to exfoliate your dry skin. Exfoliation is a process that helps to remove dead skin cells, including dandruff flakes. You can use an exfoliating brush with soft bristles to effectively clear out dead skin. An exfoliating brush will also help to distribute oils from your skin, which makes your beard softer and easier to manage. Before cleaning your beard, make sure to gently massage the skin under your beard with the brush, but don’t scrub too hard since this can make dandruff worse. 

Lastly, moisturizing your beard and the skin underneath is a crucial step to help get rid of dandruff, as it hydrates and protects your skin after shampooing. While most people would assume to use lotion as their moisturizer, it’s actually hard to use on beards and would probably leave a lot of residue. Instead, opt for a gentle conditioner or hydrating oil such as jojoba oil, beard oil, coconut oil, or argan oil. 

Apply conditioner immediately after cleansing by rubbing a few drops between your hands and massage it into the skin under your beard while working it through to the ends. One or two drops should do the trick.