Beard Burn: What Causes The Irritation & How To Get Rid Of It, From Derms

If you've smooched someone with facial hair, you're likely familiar with the very inconvenient and emotionally conflicting situation that is beard burn. Personally, I'm a fan of some scruff (I don't think I'd even recognize my partner without his full-grown beard). My poor skin, though, doesn't exactly swoon over the scratchy strands. Cuddles and make-out sessions rub my complexion completely raw, resulting in irritation around my chin and nose the next morning. And I'm not alone. 

"Beard burn is a form of irritant contact dermatitis," says Jeremy Fenton, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. "It is caused by one's skin rubbing against the beard of another person. The friction from this contact causes irritation and inflammation in the skin." Beard burn, 'stache rash, whatever cute moniker you want to call it—when the facial hair rubs against your delicate facial skin, it can create an irritated, scratched appearance. 

Unsurprisingly, those with sensitive, dry, highly reactive skin are more susceptible to beard burn. "Those with acne may also be more susceptible because it could cause the acne to get more inflamed," notes Fenton. 

Preventing beard burn really boils down to two action items: Keep both your skin and the person's beard well moisturized. 

Moisture is crucial for optimal barrier function, one of your skin's most important duties—without a strong barrier, your skin isn't as protected from external aggressors, like pollution and bacteria. And, well, stubble. There are myriad ways to hydrate your skin, but if you know you're going to come into contact with a spiky beard, make sure to load on a combination of humectants, emollients, and occlusives to help fortify that barrier. 

Emollient creams are particularly important here, as these help soothe the skin and fill in microcracks in the epidermis with lipids, thus helping to restore skin barrier function. Seek ingredients like ceramides ("Ceramides are fatty molecules that make up the natural skin barrier and help to retain moisture," notes Marisa Garshick, M.D., FAAD), squalane ("squalane is a natural oil produced by the sebaceous glands in your skin. It plays a role in skin hydration and barrier protection," notes board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D.), and certain botanical extracts like colloidal oat. Essentially, you want to lubricate your skin so that it easily slides against those stubbly hairs rather than creating friction. 

While you're dealing with the burn, keep your routine simple and free of potential irritants, like sulfate-laden cleansers and fragrances. You do need a good cleanse at the end of the day to remove grime and particulate matter, but that doesn't mean it has to strip your skin barrier: Opt for gentle cleansers (anything labeled "milky" is a safe bet, I typically find), as these keep your moisture barrier intact. 

We repeat: You want to focus on skin recovery right now, which means you'll want to stow any potential irritants for a bit. Fragrance, retinoids, AHAs—all of these ingredients can ultimately make the irritation worse. 

Many skin care botanicals are known for tempering inflammation and calming the skin. Take aloe, for example, which has renowned anti-inflammatory and wound-healing abilities, or green tea, which constricts blood vessels in the skin and reduces redness. Manuka honey is also beloved for its repairing benefits, and the aforementioned colloidal oat is particularly effective in soothing itch and inflammation, making it a wonder ingredient for highly reactive skin.