If you’ve been seeing white flakes in your beard, cancer must be ruled out.
A dermatologist explains the causes (including cancer) and solutions to white flakes in your beard.
“White flakes in a beard can reflect a dermatitis such as seborrhea (dandruff) or atopic dermatitis (eczema or psoriasis),” begins Dr. Janet Prystowsky, board certified dermatologist in New York, NY, with 30+ years’ experience.
“These are nuisance conditions that can be readily managed with topical steroids and anti-dandruff shampoos.
“Sometimes prescription strength formulations are required depending upon the severity.
“Most people with an itchy, flaky beard have some form of dandruff, eczema or psoriasis.
“If over the counter anti-dandruff shampoos don’t help, and if topical steroids don’t seem to help either, it may be time to see your dermatologist.”
Infections As Cause of Flakes in One’s Beard
Dr. Prystowsky explains, “Infections of the beard hair follicles can cause white flaking and are more serious.
“If suspected, the skin and beard hair should be cultured to determine whether fungus (dermatophytes) or gram positive bacteria (e.g., staph, strep) or gram negative bacteria (e.g., pseudomonas) may be present.
“Infections of the beard usually are best treated in my experience with oral prescription medication targeted for the particular infectious agent.
“Oral drugs work better than topical agents in the beard because the follicles containing the infection are deep, requiring blood delivery of the drug to clear up the infection.”
Cancer As a Cause of White Flecks in Your Beard
“Finally, precancerous and cancerous growths may produce white flakes, and a biopsy may be required to determine definitive treatment,” says Dr. Prystowsky.
These growths would be originating from the skin: skin cancer.
But who’d ever think that cancer might cause what appears to be dandruff in one’s beard?
But cancer is possible, though not the most likely cause.
“White flaking in the beard that does not respond readily to over the counter remedies should be evaluated by a dermatologist,” says Dr. Prystowsky.
In combination with her focus on early skin cancer detection and removal, Dr. Prystowsky provides a wide range of revitalizing and rejuvenating treatments.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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