Expert shares how to protect the skin under the beard

With the growing awareness of the importance of skincare and a skincare routine, we invest in a lot of products that include a wide range of sunscreens, vitamin C serums, under-eye creams, essence, toners and many more. From cheeks to forehead, everything is taken care of, but what about the skin under the beard.

We often ignore it and don’t realise how damaged the skin under the beard is until you don’t share. But here are a few ways to protect that skin whilst donning a dapper beard. The first thing they need to do is identify their skin type, whether it's dry, normal, sensitive, oily or combination skin. This will help them to pick the right skincare products for their skin.

If you have acne-prone skin, they should always go for cleansers and moisturizers which are oil-free and 'non-comedogenic,' these will not clog the pores of the skin under their beard. If they have sensitive skin, they should always use mild, 'fragrance-free products, as products containing fragrances can leave skin feeling irritated and dry. They should always avoid skincare products that are labeled 'unscented,' because these contain masking fragrances that can still irritate the beard skin.

We spoke to Dr Ajay Rana to learn some easy tips and hacks on how to take care of that skin.

Men should always wash their face in the morning and before bedtime with a mild cleanser. They should especially focus on their beard skin.

Avoid using soap on the beard skin as they often contain harsh ingredients that can strip the skin of essential natural oils.

Always use a mild, exfoliating face wash to decongest pores and to help treat the causes of folliculitis in the beard area. (Take a dime-sized dollop of the cleanser and rub it all over the beard skin area in circular motion. Then, rinse with cool water and gently pat dry)

Wear sunscreen before stepping out of the house, without any exception. For maximum protection, slather sunscreen 15-20 minutes before going out. Don't forget to apply sunscreen under the beard as well. Beard does a great job of covering their skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

Just like a morning skincare routine, follow a bedtime skincare regimen for the significance of repairing and nourishing the beard skin. At night time, after cleansing the face and beard skin, apply a lightweight retinol serum or night cream. Retinol promotes skin cell turnover, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and gives a youthful complexion.

And voila! That’s all it takes for you to take care of the skin underneath your beard without any fuss and muss.