Get rid of
flaky skin and dandruff in your beard

Find out how you can treat and prevent dry skin under your beard with NIVEA.

Read Time

6 min

In short:

Get rid of flaky skin and dandruff in your beard
Red, irritated skin
3 things that make beard dandruff worse
How to get rid of beard dandruff
Heal your beard dandruff and skin with NIVEA
2 natural remedies for beard dandruff
How to stop beard dandruff

Get rid of
flaky skin and dandruff in your beard

Your beard is always on show, and it's important to keep it looking and feeling good. But it can take a bit of work to keep it in great condition – especially if you're dealing with beard dandruff.

So, how do you stop beard dandruff? And how do you get rid of beard dandruff for good?

This is our guide on how you can recognise, treat, and prevent beard dandruff from the get-go.

What is beard dandruff?

Beard dandruff is very similar to dandruff that shows up on your scalp. It's a common condition, usually marked by itchy and flaking skin.

If you have beard dandruff, you've probably got a flaky beard too. But there's no need to stress – you can improve it with a few simple changes.

What causes beard dandruff?

There's a microbe that lives on the faces of most people, called Malassezia globosa. It's a kind of fungus that grows and thrives in oily skin areas full of sebaceous glands – like your scalp and your face. If you have particularly oily skin, it can encourage this fungus to grow even more – and the by-products created by the fungus can cause irritation for some people. Over time, all of this build-up can cause a flaky beard because of shedding skin.

Beard dandruff can also be caused by dry skin. How do you know what's behind your beard dandruff? If the skin underneath looks fine, it's probably just dry skin.

But if you have irritated, red, flaky skin under your beard, it may need a little extra care…

What causes beard dandruff?

Red and irritated skin?

If the skin under your beard is red and irritated, it's a good idea to dig a bit deeper, as it could be a type of dermatitis.

What causes beard dandruff?

Dandruff in your eyebrows and beard?

A medical professional can be key in helping you figure out if your dandruff is linked to something like seborrhoeic dermatitis. Symptoms of this condition include red, flaky skin under your beard, but often on other areas too, such as your scalp, hair, eyebrows and beard.

It can even lead to flaking and scaling of skin on oilier areas like the scalp, face, sides of the nose, eyebrows and other parts of your body. Your doctor should be able to prescribe a treatment that will help.

3 things that
make beard dandruff worse

Here are a few things to avoid if you're dealing with a flaky beard.

1) Strong cleansers

If your beard dandruff is caused by dry skin, using a strong cleanser can make things worse, because it dries your skin out even more. Rather choose a gentler cleanser that's designed to lock in moisture.

2) Not washing your face or beard

Just like you wash your hair, you need to wash your face and beard regularly. Otherwise, dirt and debris from outside can build up and cause issues. The oily secretions from your face can also build up and make things even worse.

3) Changes in weather

One skincare routine won't work perfectly all year round, so you may need to experiment to find products that work for you in all the different seasons. For example, you might find that cold winter air dries your skin out, so you'll need moisture-rich products. Those same products might be too hydrating when the summer sun is back, and your skin could get too oily. Adjusting your skin care to match the seasons is a great idea.

How to get rid of
beard dandruff

There are lots of ways and plenty of products that can help you get rid of beard dandruff. The important thing is to be consistent with cleaning and caring for your beard and the skin underneath it.

A solid routine would include all of the following:

1) Exfoliating – this removes the dry skin under your beard. If you have beard dandruff, those little skin flakes are dead skin cells. If you don't wash them away, they can clog your pores and trap even more dirt. By brushing your beard with a beard brush, you can bring all the dead and flaking skin to the surface and rinse it off. This clears the visible dirt and debris so the rest of your products can tackle deeper issues. But because exfoliating can irritate your skin, it's best to do this only 2 or 3 times a week.

2) Cleansing – some people use a shampoo for this step, but it's better to choose a product that's specially designed for your beard hair and skin. Why? Because it will also look after the skin underneath your beard properly. NIVEA MEN Sensitive Pro Menmalist Face & Beard Wash is a great choice to stop your flaky beard in its tracks. Typical dandruff shampoos for your scalp might be too drying for the facial skin under your beard, so go for something that will cleanse and condition the skin on your face.

3) Moisturising – dry skin is behind a lot of beard dandruff cases, so it makes sense to pick skincare ingredients that suit your skin. So after a moisturiser, you might also want to use a beard oil. If you have acne-prone skin, it's a good idea to go for a beard oil that doesn't clog your pores, like Argan Oil or Jojoba Oil.

4) Grooming – this includes using the right shaving techniques and keeping your beard trimmed so you feel confident and put-together in your day-to-day life.

Heal your
beard dandruff and skin with NIVEA

Treat your beard with a bottle of NIVEA MEN Sensitive Pro Menmalist Face & Beard Wash. It's made with 10 essential ingredients that work together to gently wash away dirt and oil without drying your skin out. It's a mild yet effective cleanser – exactly what you need when beard dandruff takes over.

And remember to dry your beard properly after washing to make that fresh feeling last.

NIVEA also caters for different skin types, from ultra-sensitive skin to oily skin; it's worth reading up on some men's skincare to see what suits you best.

Follow that with a great moisturiser. NIVEA MEN Sensitive Pro Menmalist Face Cream adds moisture to your facial skin and beard to keep you looking well-groomed and feeling good.

2 natural remedies for
beard dandruff

Here are two simple and natural remedies you can try.

1. Aloe vera gel

Aloe is known for its healing properties, as it's naturally antiseptic and antioxidant. To use this method, you'll need a tube of aloe vera gel, which you can pick up easily at a pharmacy or health shop. Squeeze some from the tube and coat your beard. Rub the gel in and let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. This should help your flaky beard and soften your skin too.

2. Lemon juice

Thanks to the acidic properties of lemon juice, it can help slough away dead skin – much like an exfoliant – and clear dandruff away.
All you need is 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 cup of warm water. Mix them together well, then gently rub the mixture into your beard. Leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. It's a good idea to do this daily until the dandruff has disappeared.

Be sure to patch test lemon juice before using it, as it's not suitable for all skin types. If it causes any irritation, don't use it.

How to stop beard dandruff
and keep it from coming back

It's a good idea to do all the things listed above to prevent beard dandruff. By putting a great routine in place when you first start growing your beard, you can avoid uncomfortable, itchy skin and get closer to the look you want. Once you've gotten rid of beard dandruff, it's important to keep up your daily washing and moisturising routine and to keep an eye on your skin. If it feels dry or itchy, add a few more drops of moisturiser or beard oil.

Remember that one moisturiser doesn't work for everyone – it may take a bit of trial and error to find what works for you. Plus, weather can have a big impact on your skin and beard, so you may want to boost hydration by adding moisture-rich cleansers, treatments and oils to your routine.

Keeping your beard healthy

There's more to beard maintenance than just regular washing and moisturising. Your lifestyle has a huge impact on your beard too.

Here are a few ways you can keep things looking good.
1. Keep it trimmed
Don't overdo it with the razor and clippers. Let your beard grow in properly and give it time to look good. You might still want to trim it now and then for a more tamed, groomed look.

2. Get your 8 hours
A lack of sleep shows up on your face – and in your beard. Your body works better when you get plenty of rest, and those extra few hours of sleep will show in the condition of your beard.
3. Eat healthy
Get your vitamins and minerals with a balanced diet. Just like sleep, fuelling your body with healthy, nutritious foods is a recipe for success and will show in the appearance of your hair and skin – and a great diet can even help your hair grow faster.

3 big beard benefits

Did you know that growing a beard can actually be good for you? It's a great look, and it also has an impact on other parts of your life.

Beards help to:
1. Keep you warm in winter
2. Block the sun in summer (which can help protect that part of your face from UV rays)
3. Reduce the risk of asthma and allergies by trapping particles – almost like a filter

Three cheers for beards!

Summary

The long and the short of it

Beard dandruff is a common problem, but consistency is key. Just remember to look after your facial skin and your beard hair – they both need moisture to look and feel good.

If you've tried the tips above but still struggle with beard dandruff, it's a good idea to chat to a skincare professional, as there could be an underlying health issue. In many cases, a prescription-strength treatment can work wonders.