Beards are often associated with poorer hygiene. According to The Guardian, John Tregoning, Professor of Vaccine Immunology at Imperial College London, says that perception has existed for decades.
Studies also show, according to The Guardian, that people often perceive bearded men as less clean than men without beards.
What do researchers say?
For many years, researchers have investigated whether beards actually contain more bacteria.
A 1967 study published in Applied Microbiology compared the amount of bacteria found on washed and unwashed faces with and without beards.
The results were surprising. Unwashed, clean-shaven faces had the highest levels of bacteria. They were followed by unwashed faces with beards.
The cleanest were washed, clean-shaven faces.
The study suggests that the most important factor is whether a person washes their face, not whether they have a beard.
A more nuanced picture
More recent research has focused primarily on healthcare workers and surgeons. In these cases, the question is whether beards can increase the risk of infections.
The results are mixed. Some studies show that beards can retain bacteria, while others find no significant differences, The Guardian reports.
At the same time, several studies indicate that the proper use of face masks eliminates most concerns.
Overall, the research shows that bacteria naturally exist on the skin, regardless of whether hair is present.
According to John Tregoning, there is therefore no evidence to support the widespread belief that beards are generally more unhygienic than clean-shaven faces, The Guardian writes.
