THE WASHINGTON POST: Are beards really dirtier than toilet seats?

The question:

Is it true that beards are dirtier than toilets?

The science:

No need to reach for the razor just yet. While your facial hair is crawling with microorganisms, it’s very unlikely that your moustache or beard is germier than your commode.

The notion that beards are potential carriers of disease dates back about six decades. In a 1967 study, microbiologist Manuel S. Barbeito and his colleagues sprayed participants’ beards with bacteria and found that the bacteria remained after washing with soap and water.

The idea resurfaced years later — but this time, comparing bacteria in beards to those found in toilets - and has remained pervasive online.

Human skin is crawling with microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. We even have mites living in our eyelashes. “But not all organisms that we find on the skin are bad,” said Shari Lipner, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

“There are bacteria all over our bodies, so there are bacteria in beards, too,” said Kimberly Davis, an associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Microorganisms are not typically a problem unless they are pathogenic and enter the body through cuts, sores or other breaks in the skin. Even then, “our bodies have a remarkable capability to control and eliminate microbes,” Davis said.

Germs in facial hair may be more of a consideration in hospital settings. Surgical masks help protect patients from potential bacteria and other microorganisms from health-care workers’ noses and mouths. But in one small study, researchers investigated how bacteria still may be shed from their faces, particularly when moving their masks.

The researchers reported that there was more bacterial shedding among bearded men than among clean-shaven men both when their masks were at rest as well as when their masks were “wiggled.”

A study of more than 400 male health-care workers found, however, that those with facial hair did not carry more bacteria than their clean-shaven colleagues. Certain types of pathogens that can cause skin and other infections were actually more prevalent among those without facial hair. The researchers theorised that the micro-trauma to the skin from shaving may make clean-shaven men more prone to carrying these organisms.

As for what this means for your romantic life, you can put your mind at ease. “I would not expect that a gentleman with a beard or a moustache places anyone, including their amorous partners, at any kind of increased risk of infection,” said William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases and preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University.

What else you should know:

As with hair and skin, it is important to keep beards and moustaches clean, experts said.

-Wash facial hair daily. Additionally, consider washing again after exercising or eating a messy meal.

-Use a facial cleanser. Cleaners formulated for the face are preferable to ones intended for the hair or body, but choose one that is appropriate for your specific skin type. Consider using antibacterial soap only after working out or playing contact sports, Lipner said.

-Condition regularly. Use a beard conditioner for acne-prone skin, beard oil for normal skin and a fragrance-free moisturiser for sensitive skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

-Avoid touching your facial hair - or your face. You can transmit germs from your hands to your beard, which can lead to skin issues, the AAD said.

The bottom line:

While facial hair can harbour various microorganisms, most are not a problem when beards are kept clean.

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