Santa has one, as we near St. Patrick’s Day we see beards in the leprechaun pictures and then there are many country acts like half of the Oak Ridge Boys sporting beards. Facial hair is something that often gains a love/hate relationship. Years ago I had a full beard and the not shaving was ok, but it wasn’t always the most comfortable accessory to have. Now I see the report on bacteria in a beard… Let’s file that under things that make you go YUCK!
This is not a new study, but apparently your beard can carry more bacteria than a dog’s fur!
researchers analyzed skin and saliva samples from 18 bearded men, ranging in age from 18 to 76, and samples of fur and saliva from 30 dogs, ranging in breed from schnauzer to German shepherd. The fur samples, by the way, were taken from between the dogs’ shoulder blades, which is apparently a “particularly unhygienic” area where skin infections regularly occur on canines, according to the study. Despite sampling the notoriously germy spots on the pups, the men emerged as the germier group.
The study found that all 18 men exhibited “high microbial counts” on their skin and saliva, but only 23 of the 30 dogs showed that kind of extreme germiness.
Read the detailed study here: Men’s Beards Carry More Bacteria Than Dogs’ Fur, Study Suggests
Now this is in no way a suggestion that beards should disappear at all, but just an awareness that studies prove grooming is a must.
So guys, being a former bearded dude, I won’t leave ya hangin.
Here are some suggested grooming rules when it comes to your face sweater.
