Why Your Beard Breaks Out Every Time You Try a New Product

Switching your beard routine up is meant to make your beard better; however, for a lot of men, it's the time everything goes downhill. One week you have a beard, the next week you have itchy bumps, red patches, painful pimples or skin that was not there before. Of course, you go back to the latest beard oil, balm, or shave soak that you have floating on your bathroom counter.

This is why you eliminate its use. After a couple of weeks, another product claims to offer greater hydration, a softer beard or healthier hair growth — and you give it another try. It's the same thing again. Your skin has a reaction, your beard gets uncomfortable and you just wonder what is happening if all grooming products just aren't doing right on your face.

As this has happened a myriad times, one thing becomes obvious: The product is not always the issue. In many instances, the breakout will begin BEFORE the bottle is opened. Change in your daily habits, a few overlooked ingredients, or a small habit can easily set up the stage for irritation and each new product gets blamed for it.

If you know what your skin is really responding to, you'll find it easy to add new products to your skin care routine without causing yet another skin eruption to mark the occasion.

Switching Products Too Quickly? Your Skin Never Gets a Chance to Adjust

Changing beards product too rapidly is one of the most typical reasons for switching beards products and breaking out. After two or three days of applying a new beard oil you see a couple of little bumps and say 'this doesn't work, I'll try another one'. When your skin is still in a state of relaxation, yet another formula comes along with a whole new mix of oils, perfumes, and moisturizers.

Your skin does not take well to any constant changes. Each new formula has a slightly different moisture, oil, and residue content on your skin. With the alternations occurring every few days, the skin cannot reach a balance, which makes it much easier to have clogged follicles or irritation to the skin.

Wait 10-14 days before evaluating a new product unless there is a severe burning, swelling or allergic reaction. In that time period, don't add anything new on to your beards. This adjustment period gives your skin's natural oils time to readjust to the product, so you can better determine if it is right for your beard or if your skin had a reaction to something else.

Applying New Products Over Buildup

A lot of guys think that they need to replace one product with another. Yesterday's beard balm, styling wax, sunscreen, sweat and your natural oils are common ingredients that are not removed by a quick rinse under the beard.

When you put a completely different product on top of all that, you're putting a combination that your skin was never meant to endure. Thick residue is capable of clogging hair follicles, harboring bacteria and allowing fresh ingredients to come into contact with already-overburdened skin. If it seems as though it's a response to the new product, it might just be a response to all of the products built up under it.

When switching to another beard oil or beard balm, you should wash your beard with a mild beard cleanser or facial cleansing gel, followed by a 30 to 60 second lukewarm water rinse. In the case of heavy balms, use a light beard wash for 2-3 days prior to using the replacement product.

Because the new beard formula is applied to a clean beard, it has a direct application to the skin, which decreases the risk of clogged pores and unnecessary irritation.

Ingredients Your Skin Can't Tolerate

Having a breakout does not mean that grooming products are bad. In some cases, ingredients just don't align themselves with your skin's tolerance. Things that may be great for one man could be a nightmare for another; the same is true of perfumes, essential oils, lanolin, coconut oil and some preservatives. When each and every product you purchase has completely different ingredients, it may be very difficult to identify the trigger since there are so many different variables.

If you're looking to try something new with your beard, check it against a product with ingredients that you've been using without the hassle. If the first 6-8 ingredients are all different, introduce the product slowly. Always do a patch test by applying just a little of the product behind the ear or behind the jawline for 24-48 hours before applying it all over the beard.

It makes it much easier to determine the sensitivity of the ingredients before they impact the entire beard, and it means you're not stuck with trial and error when picking products.

Using More Product Than Needed

People often think more is better and that's the reason for making the switch to a more expensive beard oil or conditioning balm. Many men opt to double the amount in order to see better results faster. The opposite is normally what occurs.

When there is too much product against the skin, it doesn't sit on the beard hair. The excess allows the oil to combine with sweat, dead skin cells and dirt, making clogged follicles easier to develop. Small bumps start to appear around the cheeks, neck or under the jaw in one or two days.

Apply 2 to 3 drops of beard oil for short beards, 4 to 6 drops for medium length and 6 to 8 drops for longer beards. Gently warm between palms for 10 seconds; massage into skin first and then spread through the beard hair. Applying the right amount provides optimal moisture without leaving any leftover product on the skin's surface, which is one of the main causes of acne after switching.

Changing Too Many Products at Once

You have many new beard products to introduce at the same time. You are attracted to a new beard oil so you want to step up your game with everything. When you buy a new beard, you also get a new beard wash, beard balm, beard conditioner and even a beard styling cream, as you want a fresh routine. After a couple of days, you start to notice an eruption of acne on your face and now you must determine which skincare product is the culprit.

This is one of the main reasons when people change their beards or products, that they have break out episodes that they cannot seem to resolve. If multiple formulas are released at once, all components are suspect! If only one product is causing skin irritation, there is no definite way of knowing which is causing the problem since they were all added simultaneously.

It's better to rotate one product each 10-14 days. If you're changing your beard oil, use the same beard wash, beard balm and beard moisturizer in that time. If your skin is calm, then you can add another product.

When making one change at a time, you will be able to see the effect on your skin. You will be able to figure out which product has caused the irritation and doesn't need to be thrown away, rather than giving up on your entire grooming routine after the skin becomes irritated.

Dirty Grooming Tools Spread Bacteria

The newest beauty product is often blamed for an acne problem that began with a beauty item that you have been using for months. When you brush your beard in the morning, you are spreading that old buildup of skin cells, dried beard oil, and dust back into your beard. The same thing happens with damp bathroom towels that aren't washed regularly. With the shift to a healthy formula, those everyday tools are still coming back with bacteria and residue on the freshly washed skin.

This is particularly apparent if you've purchased a lighter, less oily beard product. With your skin already acclimating itself to the new formula, more bacteria or dirt can make it irritable.

Clean beard brushes or combs with warm water and a soft cleaner once a week. Change or wash your face towel often 2-3 days, and dry it completely between uses. Wash hands before putting on beard wash if hands are constantly coming into contact with the beard during the day. Having clean tools around your beard, just like the product you use, eliminates another secret that can lead to reoccurring breakouts.

Purging or an Allergic Reaction?

Just because you have an acne outbreak doesn't necessarily mean you're damaging your skin with the new product. It's possible that a few small pimples that come up in the first week are just blocked pores as your skin adapts to a new level of hydration. If skin barrier is compromised, due to harsh skin cleansers or over washing, it can also become irritated. But an allergy typically presents differently, with a burning sensation, a rash of skin that is red and swollen, or a lot of itching, just after it has been applied.

Men often stop using products for all three scenarios that might have been effective if they had been used for longer. Be sure to monitor closely following the first 48 to 72 hours after introducing a product. Awards are small and isolated, and tend to fade over time, rather than spreading quickly and causing a great deal of pain. Discontinue use if swelling, continuing burning or a large area of rash occurs and contact medical advice if symptoms persist.

Knowing the difference makes it easier for you to make decisions on skin care based on what you are seeing rather than reacting to every tiny change with another product.

A Damaged Skin Barrier

There are a lot of guys that don't know that healthy skin protects itself very well. That protective barrier is one that is already compromised, which is when problems start.

Frequent shaving around the beard, harsh beard washings several times a day, vigorous beard scrubbing, cold wind and dry indoor heat can dry and sensitize the skin on your face. Any new beard product applied on this already damaged area can result in stinging or triggering of inflammation.

The new product seems to be guilty, but the problem began earlier. Limit your activities for 5-7 days. Only wash your beard once a day with a light beard wash, use warm water not hot water, and apply a light, fragrance free moisturizer before adding any other beard wash. Don't exfoliate in the recovery period. When the barrier is healthy and properly hydrated, it will be much easier to handle using a new beard oil or beard balm.

Consistency Beats Product Hopping

When guys are looking for a magic beard oil, what they really need is consistency. Beard skin will be more receptive to consistent care than an endless trial and error approach. If you change your products weekly and use different amounts daily, skip the products one day, and over cleanse the next to make up for it, your skin will never be stable enough to function normally. Each out-break instils the feeling that if this situation is to persist, another product must help, but in reality, much of the irritation is caused by the cycle itself.

A straightforward, regular program, if followed consistently, will generally give better results than an elaborate rack of products dispensed at random. Allow your skin to get used to it, add in one product at a time, begin with the recommended dose, clean your tools, test for reactions between ingredients and take care of your skin barrier before expecting miracles.

With the lapse of a few weeks, you will be far more aware of products that work for your beard or not. That confidence is not about the latest bottle that's supposed to give you better results, but rather, by being conscious of your skin.

Conclusion

When your beard gets pimples just as soon as you pick up a new beard product, it's all too easy to think you're just unlucky. The truth is, it's typically a combination of a few little habits that leads to recurring irritation, and not necessarily one bad beard oil or balm. The most obvious change may be the product, but it's possible the product isn't the only change your skin is reacting to.

The better way to do it is to consider the whole system of beard care rather than the individual products. Use for 10-14 days on each new product until it is replaced, unless an allergic reaction occurs. Clean shave - the old residue will not be an issue with the new formula. Always check ingredient lists and do a patch test 24-48 hours before use if possible. Do not apply more product than your beard requires, simply because you think that more will work better! Only add one new product at a time, wash your beard brush and towels regularly, be aware of the difference between a temporary adjustment and a true allergic reaction, and allow your skin barrier to heal if it is dry or irritated.

Do not think that it will happen overnight. In the first week, you might feel the skin has become drier and less irritated as the routine becomes regular. Most of the small acne spots that develop from changing every product will subside on the second or third week. After approximately a month of the same procedure, you will have a far better idea of what products are actually effective on your beard and which ones aren't.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting the boundaries of any grooming regimen. Sometimes using various beard products is not enough to help improve acne, painful cysts, severe eczema, fungal infections, or continuous inflammation of the skin. If acne persists after adhering to the regimen for a few weeks, then consult a dermatologist to determine if there is an underlying skin disease.

The great news for all men is that they don't have to buy dozens of beard products, they just need a routine their skin can and will trust. After stopping the endless formula swapping and beginning to add products in a patient way, pesky breakouts after changing formulas are a thing of the past. Your beard is easier to deal with, your skin is calmer and you no longer have to gamble with the new product.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible for changing beard products to actually result in acne?

Yes, but it's not necessarily the product itself. Any sudden ingredient change, using more than one product at a time, or adding a new formula to already irritated skin can cause breakouts. Any gradual transition will be better for your skin.

What is the proper amount of time to test a new beard product?

If itching, swelling, or burning is not severe, then wait 10-14 days prior to judging most beard oils, balms, and conditioners. This time will give your skin a chance to acclimate and to help you recognize if the changes are temporary or if you have an issue.

When should I change over to a new beard oil when I see one or two pimples appear?

Not necessarily. If it's a couple of small pimples (but not too severe or uncomfortable) it doesn't necessarily mean it's not a good product. Watch for several days to see if anything changes on the skin – no other new products involved. If breakout worsens or is accompanied by irritation, discontinue use.

Why does the expensive beard stuff make my skin break out?

Price doesn't determine compatibility. High-quality products may have more potent oils, botanicals or perfumes that work for some skin tones but not for others. It's more crucial to select ingredients that are appropriate for your skin than selecting the most expensive bottle.

Should I change out all of my beard products, or should I change them out one by one?

The better way is to concentrate on one at a time. Changing the product only once every 10 – 14 days will make it much easier to determine if your skin has a reaction to a particular formula rather than suspecting one of several new products.

Do unclean beard brushes make clean beard products seem unclean?

Yes. Oil, dead skin, dust and bacteria get trapped in brushes and combs over time. If you have already begun using a quality beard product, dirty grooming implements can still lead to additional buildup and irritation, obstructing follicles.

When to visit a dermatologist rather than use another product for his beard?

After trying to simplify your routine, if your breakouts become painful, grow to large cysts, spread quickly, cause scarring or persist for a week or more, the next step is to have a professional evaluate it. A dermatologist will be able to tell if it's an acne, an eczema, a fungal infection or any other type of skin disease that requires specific treatment.