The Best Ways to Prevent (and Fight Back) an Itchy Beard

Written By Shaylynn Marks

An itchy beard can take a perfectly good (and dare I say, godlike) mug and turn it into the face of an unhinged cryptid. We are going to break down how an itchy beard happens, how to stop it, and even how to prevent it from taking control. Fortunately, finding a solid beard itch solution doesn’t consist of adding a dozen expensive creams or anything super bougie to your bathroom counter.

Beard Itch Causes: Why is My Beard So Itchy?

You can’t figure out how to stop beard itch without having an idea of what may be causing it. Beard itch can come from any of the following:

Dry Skin

Tight, flaky skin underneath your beard can get seriously itchy. Dry skin under your beard can be triggered by anything from exposure to cold weather to medical conditions like eczema or even psoriasis. When in doubt, get it checked out by a medical professional.

Product Buildup

Sweat, oil, and dead skin slathered in last night’s beard oil creates a trifecta of evil to the skin under your beard. Washing your beard is so important for this reason. Not only can this cause beard itch, but can quickly lead to other nuisances like beard acne.

Hot Water

We all love a hot and steamy shower. But prolonged, regular use of scorching water can strip the moisture from your skin, leaving it tight and (inevitably) causing dryness.

Irritating Products

Certain fragrances and cheap ingredients in grooming products can bother sensitive skin. Our products are paraben and sulfate-free for that exact reason.

Skin Conditions

Seborrheic dermatitis can cause itching, redness, and white or yellowish flakes around the beard.

Mild dryness and irritation often improve with a better grooming routine. Persistent redness, heavy scaling, sores, or itching that won’t quit may require a trip to the dermatologist.

How to Stop Beard Itch: The Best Ways to Fight Back

Wash Your Beard (Without Nuking Your Skin)

All beards need a good washing, but don’t scrub it like you’re degreasing an engine. Gentle but thorough cleansing helps you get rid of all that everyday grime (sweat, oil, dead skin) that can lurk in your beard and weigh it down.

Here’s a few quick pointers on how to properly wash your beard:

• Use warm water, not blazing hot
• Head hair and beard hair are two separate beasts. Avoid regular shampoo and make sure you use an actual beard shampoo.
• When applying, massage the beard shampoo down to the skin—not just the hair.
• Rinse your beard thoroughly and pat it dry afterwards.

If dryness and sensitivity are already causing problems, our soothing beard shampoo offers a gentler option with aloe, jojoba oil, and chamomile extract. As a bonus for easily irritated skin, it’s also fragrance-free.

Get Some Moisture Back in There

Since the beard shampoo removes all the gunk, your skin can still be left thirsty. After patting your beard dry, adding a few drops of beard oil helps condition and lock in moisture to the beard hairs and the skin underneath.

Cool It with the Hot Showers

A lava-temperature show after a long day is truly amazing, but it’s not so amazing for dry skin. Very hot water worsens dryness, and the Academy of Dermatology recommends solely using warm water when dry or itchy skin is an issue. Don’t worry, you don’t have to become a cold-plunge influencer overnight. Just do yourself a favor and turn that dial down a smidge.

Check Your Grooming Products

Again, fragrances and other ingredients in personal care products can irritate sensitive skin, or even trigger contact dermatitis in some people.

If beard itch suddenly appears after adding something new:

• Stop using the newest product
• Give your skin some time to adjust and settle by introducing new products individually and gradually, if needed.
• Consider fragrance-free options if your skin frequently gets irritated.

Stop Scratching Your Face Off

I get it. It. Freaking. Itches. But scratching irritates the skin even further and keeps you longer trapped in the itch-scratch cycle. If you scratch hard enough, you can even damage your skin.

Pro-tip: Instead of giving into the itch and scratching, the Academy of Dermatology recommends placing a cool, damp cloth over the itchy skin for temporary relief. Afterwards, of course, deal with whatever caused the itch in the first place.

How to Prevent Beard Itch from Coming Back

Once you know how to stop beard itch, prevention mostly comes down to consistency.

Stick with the basics:

• Wash your beard regularly with a soothing beard shampoo
• Avoid excessively hot water
• As needed, moisturize with beard conditioner after washing, then rinse thoroughly
• Get beard oil all the way down to your skin when applying. A beard brush does wonders to help spread the oil evenly.
• Pay closer attention when new products cause any level of irritation or discomfort
• Don’t ignore persistent flakes or redness
  

A simple routine with our Zeus Soothing Beard Shampoo followed with our Zeus Clarifying Beard Oil covers two of the biggest bases: cleaning away buildup without stripping your skin, then putting moisture back where your beard needs it.

Tell Your Beard Itch to Take a Hike

No one should have to spend their day constantly resisting the urge to claw at their face. Take just a few minutes each day to take care of the skin underneath your beard. Just regularly clean it and remember to keep moisture in the mix. Once you stop fighting your beard, it’ll be a lot easier to manage.