You’ve probably seen the gross headline this week: There’s feces in your beard!
Maybe you began to question yourself. You thought you had a pretty good hygiene routine, but then reporters shone a light on the little poop particles setting up shop all over your face. Have you been skimping on scrubbing your facial hair? Has your chin smelled like crap this whole time?
The terrifying story originated in Albuquerque, where the local ABC affiliate reported that a Quest Diagnostics microbiologist found “enteric” bacteria in men’s beards that “are the types of things you find in [fecal matter].”
(Here’s a disgusting fact: Fecal matter is everywhere! See 10 Things That Are Germier Than a Toilet Seat.)
Fortunately, there’s no need to freak out, says Jeffrey Benabio, M.D., Physician Director of Healthcare Transformation at Kaiser Permanente.
“Although there is a high ick factor here, it’s not any cause for alarm,” Dr. Benabio says. “The beards didn’t actually contain fecal matter. They just contained the same bacteria that could be found in fecal matter—probably E coli.”
But that’s not as exciting as OMG POOP IN YOUR BEARD!!, which is what the outlets elected to run with this week. “There was no actual study conducted here,” Dr. Benabio says. “It was just a reporter who swabbed some beards and had a microbiologist examine it.”
Some enteric bacteria can be found in your stomach, and therefore in your poop. You can also spot these species on human skin, foods, plants, and nature, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The good news: Microbiologists say the bacteria don’t present any sort of risk to your health. Plus, a recent study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston showed that health care workers with and without beards possessed similar amounts of bacteria—so everyone’s equally dirty!
Instead of worrying about harmless bacteria, focus on eliminating a real facial threat. “Hair on your face—like hair on your head—produces natural oils, and bar soaps are designed to remove oils and dirt,” Dr. Benabio says. “Therefore, they can dry out your beard hairs and skin underneath.”
To avoid dryness, use a moisturizing facial wash that will both cleanse and moisturize your beard and skin. Alternatively, you can use a moisturizing shampoo like Dove Men+Care Fortifying 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner on your beard 2 to 3 times a week, but not your face, Dr. Benabio advises.
Check out more of The Best Beard Products for Men.
