When you feel itching in your beard, your mind might automatically dart to, “I have beard lice!” But before you assume this, it’s important to know that having lice in your beard is extremely rare. While it is possible, this is not something that we see regularly.
Because facial hair is coarse and widely spaced, it’s unusual for lice to take this up as their home. They prefer the head because they can live close to the scalp and feed on blood. However, it is possible to get “crabs” or pubic lice in your beard.
While it’s unlikely that you would have head lice in your beard, it does happen on rare occasions. If you believe that this is what you’re dealing with, read on for more information or contact My Hair Helpers for a treatment recommendation.
Why Head Lice are Not Likely to Live in Your Beard
Lice use hair as a ladder to get to the scalp where they can enjoy warmth and food. They feed on blood three times daily, so it’s important that they’re as close to a food source as possible. Lice can use facial hair to crawl up to the head, but they much prefer to live on the head than the face.
That being said, it is possible for lice to live in a beard. It’s still hair, and a warm scalp is not far away. If this is the case, you’ll notice the same symptoms as you would in any head lice infestation – itching and a crawling sensation. If you do notice these signs, schedule an appointment with your doctor, as you might be dealing with pubic lice instead – NOT head lice.
If You Do Have Beard Lice, Where Did They Come From?
If you do get a positive identification for head lice in your beard, you’re probably wondering how they got there. In almost every case, it comes from the kids.
Yes, dads are more likely to get lice in their beards than someone without kids. This is because dads hold their kids, carry them around and hug them. If your child is infected with head lice, you holding them close to your beard can cause them to transfer here.
Now, if you are not around children and you’re experiencing lice symptoms, it’s much more likely to be pubic lice.
How to Get Rid of Beard Lice
You’ll want to treat beard lice in the same way as lice on the head. And, be sure to have everyone else in the household checked for lice. If you have kids and have beard lice, it’s almost certain that you got them from one of the kids.
It’s important that you don’t use harmful chemicals or insecticides on your face, as these can cause skin irritation and rashes. Instead, you’ll want to use an all-natural lice removal product like those from My Hair Helpers. Our products contain safe, effective ingredients that are safe to use on the face.
Another option is to comb out the lice and nits using a lice comb. You can also shave your beard. This should eliminate the problem. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact My Hair Helpers. We’ll make sure that you remove lice from your beard – and your home – in the safest way possible!
