Beard Dandruff - What Is It & How To Fix

When you were a little boy, we bet you dreamed of the day you could grow your own thick, luscious beard.

We also bet that dream didn’t include beard dandruff - an unsightly problem that many guys experience in their facial hair. 

After all - nobody wants a flake-filled beard. So when your facial hair is plagued with white, what do you do to stop beard dandruff? 

As ever, we’re here to help you out. In today's blog, we're breaking out the causes and solutions to beard dandruff so you can get your face flake-free once and for all. 

What causes beard dandruff?

Beard dandruff is just a facially-located case of seborrheic dermatitis, the technical term for dandruff. Scalp dandruff is mainly caused by an abundance of a microbe in the yeast family, Malassezia globosa, which helps break down sebum from the sebaceous glands. 

The byproduct of this process is oleic acid, which can irritate some people’s skin, causing red itchy skin and the scaly flaking of dandruff. 

Some people just tend to regenerate their skin cells more quickly, which can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells. Not washing your beard enough may also result in oil buildup and dead skin cells.

How can you get rid of beard dandruff?

The most important thing you can do to get rid of beard dandruff fast is to keep your beard healthy. Keep your face clean and moisturized, your beard neat and tidy, and we can’t emphasize this enough, you MUST properly exfoliate. 

Adding a nice all-natural face scrub two or three times a week to your grooming routine will help gently loosen the excess dead skin cells that make up dandruff. 

VITAMAN have an effective all-natural face scrub that will do the job perfectly - made with finely-crushed walnut shells and bamboo powder to gently exfoliate. 

A beard brush is also an excellent addition to your beard care routine. Brushing your beard daily helps remove the flakes and distribute your skin’s oils evenly throughout your beard, making it softer and more manageable. 

Be sure not to brush too hard or scrape the skin too much, as being too rough while brushing your beard might just aggravate dandruff.

Can you use anti-dandruff shampoo on your beard?

You absolutely can use anti-dandruff shampoo on your beard to stop beard dandruff! In fact, you should be using some sort of shampoo on your beard anyway. 

Think of how many times a day you get food, drink or dirt stuck in your beard. Yes, we are also grossed out. So shampoo away!

We’ve also got a natural scalp treatment for dry, itchy, flaky scalps that could also be perfect for your beard. It’s been shown to alleviate the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis, so try it on your beard dandruff and start feeling better already!

Does beard oil help beard dandruff?

Beard oil definitely helps stop beard dandruff. 

Get yourself a good beard oil made with plant-based ingredients to help moisturize and soothe your itchy, irritated face skin that’s been producing beard dandruff and make your beard nice and soft and nourished while also making it stronger. Soft and strong, like a modern man should be!

VITAMAN’s beard oil is made with antimicrobial, hydrating, and soothing coconut oil. It’s pH-balanced to work with the chemistry of your skin. Plus, it has patchouli oil and cinnamon oil, so your beard will smell like heaven. You can see our in-depth guide on using beard oil by checking our article: "How To Use Beard Oil?"

What natural ingredients help prevent beard dandruff?

We’ve already mentioned the healing properties of coconut oil, but the patchouli oil we use in our beard oil isn’t just a wonderful natural scent - it’s a natural anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and a great yeast killer! 

Argan oil is an antioxidant that reduces inflammation, too. Tea tree oil is frequently added to natural dandruff treatments as it, too, has antimicrobial properties. 

You might also want to try a wash with apple cider vinegar, which alters the pH of your skin, stopping the growth of the microbes that lead to dandruff.

We hope you feel guided in your quest for a dandruff-free beard. If your beard dandruff situation seems truly dire, talk to your dermatologist. 

And if you end up deciding to shave your beard and go smooth for a while, check out our guide to the perfect shave before you pick up that razor!