{"id":1848,"date":"2022-10-25T06:40:17","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T11:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/?p=1848"},"modified":"2022-12-02T11:26:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T17:26:16","slug":"can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Beard Make Allergies Worse? (With Practical Solutions)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You love your beard, but you also suffer from seasonal allergies. Do you have to choose between a snotty nose and facial hair? In most cases, no!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A beard can worsen allergies in rare cases if it is not cleaned properly and becomes unhygienic. However, a beard can also trap allergens before they enter your mouth or nose preventing allergies. Beard cleanliness is the determining factor in whether your beard seems to make your allergies better or worse.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to find out how beards and allergy sufferers can coexist!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#How_do_beards_trap_allergens\" title=\"How do beards trap allergens?\">How do beards trap allergens?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#Do_trapped_allergens_make_allergies_worse\" title=\"Do trapped allergens make allergies worse?\">Do trapped allergens make allergies worse?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#Can_you_be_allergic_to_beard_hair\" title=\"Can you be allergic to beard hair?\">Can you be allergic to beard hair?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#Is_having_a_beard_unhealthy\" title=\"Is having a beard unhealthy?\">Is having a beard unhealthy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#How_to_reduce_the_allergens_in_your_beard\" title=\"How to reduce the allergens in your beard\">How to reduce the allergens in your beard<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#Rinse_often\" title=\"Rinse often\">Rinse often<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#Wash_regularly\" title=\"Wash regularly\">Wash regularly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#Cover_up\" title=\"Cover up\">Cover up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#Should_you_shave_your_beard_if_you_have_allergies\" title=\"Should you shave your beard if you have allergies?\">Should you shave your beard if you have allergies?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse\/#How_can_you_care_for_your_skin_after_shaving_your_beard\" title=\"How can you care for your skin after shaving your beard?\">How can you care for your skin after shaving your beard?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_beards_trap_allergens\"><\/span>How do beards trap allergens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you live where pollen counts are high, you\u2019ve likely seen the yellow sheen covering everything in the spring. If an allergen like pollen can cover a car, can it also cover your beard when you spend time outdoors? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Beards trap allergens by catching small particles like dust, pollen, and dander before they can enter your mouth. In essence, beard hair acts like a filter. The longer and fuller your beard, the better it will be at trapping allergens before they enter your body.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Firefighters in the 18th and 19th centuries <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7278273\/#:~:text=While%20it%20now%20may%20seem,ashes%20from%20the%20firefighter&#039;s%20mouth.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">were required to grow long beards<\/a> to trap and keep smoke from entering the lungs. They would dampen their beards with water and hold the end of the beard between their teeth to act as a smoke and ash filter. This crude process was the precursor to modern-day respirators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_trapped_allergens_make_allergies_worse\"><\/span>Do trapped allergens make allergies worse?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though your beard can help protect you from allergens, it can also potentially worsen your allergies. That\u2019s why beard hygiene is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trapped allergens in large quantities can make allergies worse. Over time, small amounts of trapped allergens can build up immunity, decreasing the allergic response.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research shows that being exposed to minimal amounts of an allergen over time can help the body build immunity against it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aaaai.org\/tools-for-the-public\/conditions-library\/allergies\/allergy-shots-(immunotherapy)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Allergy shots<\/a> and immunizations are prime examples of this concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When an allergen like pollen comes in contact with your beard, it has the potential to enter your body. These small, temporary encounters reduce your body\u2019s sensitivity to the allergen. Once you rinse your beard, the allergen disappears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you were to go for long periods without rinsing or washing your beard, the opposite effect could happen. Your body becomes overloaded with numerous allergens, and this invokes an allergic response.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_be_allergic_to_beard_hair\"><\/span>Can you be allergic to beard hair?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sneezing, coughing, weird facial rashes. If you\u2019re dealing with these issues and don whiskers, could it be your beard hair? Not likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You can\u2019t be allergic to beard hair. Hair strands are made up of keratin, and keratin is not an allergen. The friction of beard hair can result in contact dermatitis, causing a skin rash. However, this type of rash is not related to an allergy, it is simply due to the irritating rub of the hair or razor on the skin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve likely heard of people being allergic to dogs or cats. You may even be one of them. It\u2019s easy to assume that their hair or fur is the problem as it sheds and sticks to everything. The allergen isn\u2019t the actual hair but the protein contained in the dander. Dander is made up of dead skin cells, urine, and sweat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skin rashes are a common symptom of allergies. They can appear red and sometimes feel itchy. You may assume the rash is an allergy to your scruff when located on your face. Thankfully, that\u2019s not very likely. <a href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/razor-bumps-vs-razor-burn\/\" target=\"_blank\">Red, itchy bumps in your beard area<\/a> are caused by friction from your coarse beard or poorly maintained trimming tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_having_a_beard_unhealthy\"><\/span>Is having a beard unhealthy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Several years ago, news headlines villainized beards as filthy, germ-ridden accessories. This uproar caused many men to unnecessarily reach for their razors and shave off the offending petri dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Beards are not unhealthy if they are washed and groomed properly. In fact, they can even improve your health by protecting delicate facial skin from the sun\u2019s rays, blocking allergens and germs from being ingested, and helping build up the immune system.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study that prompted the above-mentioned headlines was designed to see if dogs and humans could use the same magnetic imaging equipment safely. During the study, animal fur and beard hair were tested for microbes. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30062526\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Beard hair did contain more pathogens<\/a> than animal fur, but it wasn\u2019t statistically significant.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beards can offer some protection against sunburn. The fuller and thicker the beard, the more effective it is. Beards can block germs from entering the body, and the germs\u2019 presence in the facial hair for a short time can help out the immune system. Beards can also <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24746610\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reduce the amount of bacterial colonization <\/a>on the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>Fun Fact:<\/strong> In the mid-1800s, Victorian doctors often recommended that men grow big beards to filter air pollution and protect against a sore throat.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_reduce_the_allergens_in_your_beard\"><\/span>How to reduce the allergens in your beard<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To reap the healthy benefits of beards, maintenance is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You can reduce the number of allergens in your beard by following these steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Rinse often<\/li><li>Wash regularly<\/li><li>Cover up<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>How do each of these reduce the allergens? Keep reading to find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rinse_often\"><\/span>Rinse often<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Washing your beard is necessary, but you can overdo it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rinsing with clean water is enough to wash out most allergens and particles. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even using a wet wipe at times of extra grime will do until you can give your beard a proper cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wash_regularly\"><\/span>Wash regularly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A thorough wash a few times a week will dislodge any lurkers and keep your beard clean and sanitized. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to use a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/SheaMoisture-Maracuja-butter-beard-Fluid\/dp\/B07Q6DMRYY?crid=4JWWUGSP3WHN&amp;keywords=gentle+beard+wash&amp;qid=1665610710&amp;qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjI3IiwicXNhIjoiMS40MyIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTAifQ%3D%3D&amp;sprefix=gentle+beard+was%2Caps%2C259&amp;sr=8-24&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=imyts-20&amp;linkId=c309db5b452f66487abe8cf7a688aec2&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/SheaMoisture-Maracuja-butter-beard-Fluid\/dp\/B07Q6DMRYY?crid=4JWWUGSP3WHN&amp;keywords=gentle+beard+wash&amp;qid=1665610710&amp;qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjI3IiwicXNhIjoiMS40MyIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTAifQ%3D%3D&amp;sprefix=gentle+beard+was%2Caps%2C259&amp;sr=8-24&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=imyts-20&amp;linkId=c309db5b452f66487abe8cf7a688aec2&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">gentle beard wash<\/a> without harsh chemicals to avoid contact allergies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cover_up\"><\/span>Cover up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you know you\u2019ll be exposed to a lot of smoke, pollen, or dust, plan ahead and cover up your beard. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will prevent an overload, especially if you\u2019ll be in the environment for an extended period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_you_shave_your_beard_if_you_have_allergies\"><\/span><strong>Should you shave your beard if you have allergies?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though the data says beards aren\u2019t an allergy contributor, there are always exceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You shouldn\u2019t have to shave your beard even if you have allergies as long as you keep your beard clean. However, if your allergies are getting worse after growing a beard, even after taking hygiene precautions, you could try shaving it off to see if symptoms improve.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you work in a profession where you are constantly exposed to allergens, it might be hard to stay on top of cleaning without stripping your beard of necessary oils. A beard-shaving trial might make sense to see if symptoms go away. You can always grow it back if it\u2019s not the culprit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_you_care_for_your_skin_after_shaving_your_beard\"><\/span>How can you care for your skin after shaving your beard?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Freshly shaven skin needs pampering, especially if it hasn\u2019t seen the light of day for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>After shaving your beard, protect your skin by rinsing with cold water, applying aftershave, moisturizing, and using sun protection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that your skin has likely been hidden and not exposed to razors, sunlight, or anything else for the time it&#8217;s been under your beard. It may be sensitive!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You love your beard, but you also suffer from seasonal allergies. Do you have to choose between a snotty nose and facial hair? In most cases, no! A beard can worsen allergies in rare cases if it is not cleaned properly and becomes unhygienic. However, a beard can also trap allergens before they enter your&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1997,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,18],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":11,"label":"Beards"},{"value":18,"label":"General Info"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/can-a-beard-make-allergies-worse_featured-1024x683.png",1024,683,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Joshua Bartlett","author_link":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/author\/joshuaebartlett\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":11,"name":"Beards","slug":"beards","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":11,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":60,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":11,"category_count":60,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Beards","category_nicename":"beards","category_parent":0},{"term_id":18,"name":"General Info","slug":"general-info","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":80,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":18,"category_count":80,"category_description":"","cat_name":"General Info","category_nicename":"general-info","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1848"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}