Many women won’t want to put up with a
scratchy-faced partner.
But think twice before you tell your man to reach
for a razor, because beards and moustaches
might be beneficial for men’s health.
This is still, it has to be said, an emerging field
of thinking — but here, with tongue half in
bearded cheek, we reveal the health upside of
men’s facial hair...

PROTECTS AGAINST THE SUN
A fuzzy face offers significant protection against
sun damage and skin cancer, according to a
recent study from the University of Southern
Queensland published in the journal Radiation
Protection Dosimetry.
The researchers found that the parts of the face
covered by beards and moustaches on average
had a third less exposure to harmful UV rays
compared with hair-free areas.
The study was conducted in the Outback sun
with mannequins and stick-on beards (1.5in and
3.5 in long), with a clean-shaven mannequin
used as a comparison.
The researchers used dosimetric techniques,
which measure the amount of rays or radiation
absorbed in a given time.
Their results showed the beards appeared to
offer 90 to 95 per cent protection against the
sun, depending on length of hair.
Generally hair offers good protection against the
sun, says Dr Nick Lowe, a leading London-based
dermatologist.
That’s why women have much less sun damage
if their hair covers the back of their necks and
the sides of their faces.
‘It’s also a question of the thickness of hair,’ he
says. ‘It’s similar to an SPF factor — the higher
the hair density and thickness, the higher the
SPF.
‘I frequently see the classic example of this when
I work in southern California.
‘A balding, bearded surfer will have more sun
damage and pre-cancers on their heads than
they will on the top of their faces.’
Another theory is that coarse, curly beard hair
breaks up the sun’s rays, says Iain Sallis, a
consultant trichologist.
‘Light travels in straight lines, but when it hits
curly hair the light waves refract, or break up, so
they hardly ever reach the skin underneath.’
It also depends on how long the beard has been
growing.
Sun damage can also occur when it reflects off
surfaces below the face — such as pale sand or
water — so hair growth on men’s faces will add
to the protection under the chin and neck.
However, Dr Lowe recommends men with facial
hair use a thin sun lotion or spray that isn’t too
greasy over the hair because a lot of beards are
not very dense.

MAY PREVENT ASTHMA ATTACKS
Men whose asthma is triggered by pollen and
dust could find facial hair —– or more
specifically, a big moustache —– helps reduce
their asthma symptoms.
Moustaches that reach the nasal area may stop
allergens going up the nose and being inhaled by
the lungs, says Carol Walker, hair medical expert
and owner of Birmingham Trichology Centre.
Dr Rob Hicks, a London-based GP, thinks it’s
only pollen — which is sticky — that might be
trapped this way, preventing it getting into the
airways.
‘Dust particles are microscopic,’ he says.
Even if moustaches did trap dust, then a
downside, according to Dr Hicks, is that it can
build up and it just takes one wipe or knock
before it goes into the nose.
‘In theory, a moustache could stop things that
trigger asthma entering the airways, but it would
have to be a big one,’ says Dr Felix Chua, a
consultant respiratory physician at the London
Clinic, Harley Street.

SLOWS DOWN AGEING
Over time, facial hair can help keep the skin
young and in a good condition.
The hair stops water leaving the skin — keeping
it moisturised — by protecting it from the wind,
which dries the skin and disturbs the protective
skin barrier, says Dr Lowe.
‘Also, if you put a moisturiser on then it will stay
put under a beard or moustache much better
than on an exposed or shaven skin where it can
be more easily rubbed off.’
The simple presence of hair follicles on the face
also helps, as do the sebaceous glands in the
skin that coat the hair in protective oils.
Anywhere hair follicles and oil glands are present
— including the chin, lower face and sides of the
— makes the skin thicker (and men have more
hair follicles in this area than women do).
‘Thicker skin is more resistant to damage, even
if the man doesn’t have a beard, compared with
women, whose skin tends to be thinner and have
fewer hair follicles,’ says Dr Lowe.

HELPS FIGHT OFF COUGHS
Thick beards that have grown under the chin and
neck will raise the temperature of the neck and
may help battle colds, says Carol Walker.
‘Hair is an insulator that keeps you warm. Long,
full beards that trap the cold air and raise the
temperature of the neck are going to be an
added bonus when you’re under the weather,’
says Carol.
‘When you have a sore throat, the body builds up
temperature to kill the virus.
'It has to run its course, but the warmer you
keep yourself and the more fluids you drink equip
you to fight it better.
‘Hair around the chin and neck adds another
layer of protection.’ Facial hair can act as a
physical barrier to cold temperature, says Dr
Chua.
‘A higher body temperature can help a cough,
though you need to look at the underlying
causes to treat it, too.
‘I’ve had patients who have said that if they
wrap up by using something like a scarf their
cough gets a bit better. It’s possible that a
beard could also do this.’

PREVENTS NASTY SKIN RASHES
Not shaving means no more nasty rashes.
Shaving is usually the main cause of bacterial
infections in the beard area, says Dr Martin
Wade, consultant dermatologist at the London
Skin and Hair Clinic.
‘It can lead to razor rash, ingrown hairs and
conditions such as folliculitis (infection of the
hair follicles that causes spots), so men would
benefit from growing a beard,’ he says.

what about people that their beards refuse to grow.........
.
.
.
Am thinking of how to stop my from growing you are telling me d benefits...any its NOMB

Where is my beard?

Who stole my beard?

Bring it here I want to fix it back.

#teambeardmen

ehhehheehhehe my Beard loves me and I love my beard.thinking of an Osamaish style and skin head. lol

am proud of growing my beards