What's beard plague?

What many people commonly call beard plague is not actually beard plague.

Actually, beard itch is an uncommon condition and when it does occur, it usually requires medical treatment. The disease appears after shaving due to staphylococcal bacteria that enter the hair follicles and create small pus-filled blisters, an inflammatory condition that can be contagious and infect large areas of skin. Other symptoms, such as irritation, red bumps and ingrown hairs, are not psoriasis, but conditions that can eventually lead to beard plague.

That said, beard plague is the word most people use to describe their skin complaints. So, for the sake of clarity, we're jumping on the bandwagon and using the word beard rash in its broadest sense, meaning ingrown hairs, itching, redness, bumps and everything else that bothers you after shaving.

What causes shaving rash?

Plague occurs during hair removal and most often during shaving. When you shave, small tears form in the skin where staphylococcal bacteria from your razor blade or skin can penetrate and create small inflammatory conditions inside the skin.

The infection initially appears as small red swellings around the hair follicles and can then develop into very small pimples called pustules (pus-filled blisters), which can later turn into full-blown abscesses if you're very unlucky.

What causes ingrown hairs?

When the hairs need to grow back, the infection can prevent them from breaking out through the skin and they start to grow inwards.

This is what is experienced as ingrown hairs.

If you have very curly hair, ingrown hairs can occur even if you don't shave, simply because the hair can curl in and grow the wrong way.

Who’s to blame?

The bacteria that cause the infection can come from two sources:

1. Your shaving gear: This is especially true if it's not properly cleaned or the razor blade is dull. A razor that has been used for a long time, for example, will both be filled with bacteria from previous shaves and make more cuts in the skin.
2. Your skin: Everyone has mild staphylococcal bacteria in their skin. When we shave, small tears appear in the skin, allowing the bacteria to create small inflammation-like conditions inside the skin.

Does it matter if I shave with the grain or against it?

Does your shaving technique matter? Yes, it does, if not for everyone, then for the vast majority.

Beard plague is most common if you shave against the direction of your hair, as this gives bacteria easier access to your follicles.

Shaving in the wrong direction

Shaving against the direction of hair growth creates a greater risk of irritation and damage to the skin. Shaving against the grain can result in the razor blade cutting the hairs too close to the skin, increasing the risk of the hairs curling inwards and becoming ingrown. In addition, shaving against the hairs can lead to more small tears and cracks in the skin for bacteria to penetrate, most likely leading to inflammation and irritation.

To minimize the risk of beard plague, it is therefore recommended to shave with the direction of hair growth. It's a simple adjustment that can make a significant difference in keeping skin healthy and avoiding annoying breakouts.

Does shaving rash only occur on the face?

Despite the name, beard plague is not limited to the face. The most vulnerable areas are the neck, groin, crotch, buttocks and armpits, depending on where you shave.

That said, beard itch can actually occur in places where you haven't shaved if the hair follicles are particularly susceptible to bacteria.

Can anyone develop shaving rash or is it just me?

Beard plague is a very common and widespread infection, and most men who shave or trim their beards have experienced it.

Is shaving rash infectious?

Shaving rash and sycosis can be transmitted to others through direct or indirect contact. Because everyone has staphylococcus bacteria on their skin, which is the cause of the problem, it’s important that you never share your razor or towel with others and that you maintain good personal hygiene.

How can I avoid shaving rash?

The short answer is to use ShaveSafe. ShaveSafe's products, which include gel, shaving foam and cream, are disinfectant and antibacterial, eliminating the staphylococcus bacteria that causes the problem.

ShaveSafe cleanses both your skin and your razor, which also has the effect of making your razor blades last longer. ShaveSafe aftershave cream stays on the skin and maintains good hygiene, keeping redness and irritation down.

That being said, there are a few things you can do beyond just using products to minimize the chances of getting nuisance beards and beard plague. These are for example:

• Clean your shaving gear thoroughly: bacteria on the gear can cause beard plague.
• Use sharp razor blades: blunt blades make more cuts.
• Avoid dry shaving: Reduces the risk of irritation.
• Apply antiseptic after shaving: Kills bacteria.
• Exfoliate skin regularly: Removes dead skin cells.
• Choose a mild shaving cream: Minimize irritation.

We've put together a little guide on how to get through your daily shave and why some shaving tools make more sense than others.

We have written two articles about this. Click here to find out what precautions you should take to avoid beard plague and read our shaving guide. Or click here if you want to know something special about intimate shaving for men.