Many men who proudly sport their beards have noticed tiny white bumps under their beard.
In fact, if you haven’t noticed this with your beard, take a close look. You just might be surprised.
This is a problem that dermatologists are very familiar with.
“The little skin [or white] colored bumps which occur under a beard is known as pseudofolliculitis barbae,” explains Kally Papantoniou, MD, FAAD, with Simply Dermatology in NY.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae: Yes, that’s a mouthful, but don’t let these nine syllables make you think this is a tough problem. It’s actually quite easy to remedy and prevent.
Dr. Kally says that essentially, these white bumps are “caused by ingrown hairs which get trapped under the skin and inflame the dermis, leading to scar-like little bumps which can be cosmetically unpleasing,”
Prevention of White or Flesh Colored Bumps Under the Beard
“To prevent these try an electric shaver, and do not try to get a very close shave, and shave in the direction of hair growth as opposed to going against the grain,” says Dr. Papantoniou, whose patients call her “Dr. Kally.”
These three tactics will tack time onto your morning shave. But this is what you must do to get rid of and prevent those white bumps.
Dr. Kally further explains, “Applying an antibacterial solution as an aftershave may also be helpful.
“Dermatologists may prescribe topical antibiotic solutions which work very well in conjunction with retinoids which help prevent further ingrown hairs and reduce the appearance of discoloration.”
Tips on Beard Growth
• Beard growth is driven by testosterone. But the answer to enhancing the growth is NOT testosterone supplements.
• The best and safest way to increase circulating testosterone is by strength training primarily the largest muscle groups (legs, back, chest).
• Another way to optimize testosterone production is to get seven to eight (not five or six!) hours of sleep a night.
• Keep in mind that genetics play a major role in beard growth, and not all men will be able to grow the beard they want.
• In the meantime, take good care of your beard as recommended above to prevent the little white bumps.
Dr. Papantoniou
is a board certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology.
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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