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If you have ever tried to grow a beard, you have experienced beard itch. Some have itchier beards than others. The question is, why do beards itch in the beginning? And what can I do to reduce the irritation and itch? Beard itch can have many causes including poor hygiene, dry skin, ingrown hairs, acne breakouts and excessive grooming of the beards using soaps and other products, which can irritate the skin. Sometimes beard itch can even be a sign of a much deeper issue, such as a fungal or bacterial infection.

Growing facial hair

When you shave, you leave a sharp edge to each hair follicle and once it starts growing, the tougher bristles of the hair scrape against the edges of the follicle – this is what causes an itchy stubble.

Dry skin

Xerosis, can develop when the weather is dry or cold or due to genetic factors, the use of certain medications, and some diseases. Products like shampoos, soaps, and other facial products can also affect the skin’s natural oils, drying your skin and making your beard itch. Dry skin with scaling and skin thickening might be due to ichthyosis. This family of skin conditions includes acquired and genetic types. Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema can also make your skin dry, causing your beard to itch.

Folliculitis

This happens when the hair follicles that contain your beard hairs get inflamed. This inflammation can result from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection or because of parasites. It can also happen when the hair follicle clogs, for example, when there’s an ingrown hair. When you get folliculitis in your beard area, the inflamed follicles usually look red and feel tender or painful to the touch. They can become blisters that leak pus.

Ingrown hair

This happen when a hair that’s been shaved or cut grows back into its follicle instead of out. This causes the follicle to get inflamed and make your beard itch. This is more likely to happen to you if you have tight, curly hair. You’ll notice ingrown hairs when the follicles get red, bumpy, itchy, and sometimes painful around the areas that you’ve shaved.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae

The inflammation that happens when facial hairs growing from their follicles cut your skin inside the follicle or curve back around into your skin as they try to grow out. It usually happens in association with shaving facial hairs and can cause razor bumps. It’s most likely to occur in those with curly hair, and it often affects Black males. Your face may look red, bumpy, and develop pus-filled blisters. Unlike most cases of folliculitis, razor bumps in pseudofolliculitis barbae are caused by noninfectious irritation, not any kind of infection.

Seborrheic dermatitis

This skin condition makes your skin scaly, red, and flaky. It’s also known as dandruff when on the scalp. This condition most commonly affects your scalp, but it can also happen on your face in and around your beard, especially if you have naturally oily skin. Symptoms include yellow, greasy scales and red skin. The flakes may fall off when you rub your beard hair or facial skin.

Tinea barbae

It is a fungal infection in the facial hair region and is caused by a type of fungus called dermatophyte. This fungal infection usually appears as red, inflamed, and crusty skin around your mouth, cheeks, and under your chin. It’s similar to ringworm of the scalp, which is known as tinea capitis.