How to Prevent Beard Pimples: Skincare Tips for Bearded Men

Beard pimples are the red, stubborn bumps that pop up under your facial hair – thanks to clogged pores, trapped oils, or ingrown hairs. They're part spot, part sabotage, and they can turn your beard-growing journey into a frustrating grind.

We talk a lot about beard styles, grooming routines, and products – but nothing kills the vibe like a breakout under your beard. It’s itchy, painful, and a total confidence killer.

The good news? Whether you’re rocking sharp stubble or a full Viking beard, you can fight back. With the right habits and products, you can prevent beard acne before it starts.

What are Beard Pimples?

Beard pimples are small, inflamed bumps that develop beneath facial hair, often caused by clogged pores, excess oil, dead skin, and bacteria. When these elements get trapped under the surface – especially in areas where shaving or trimming has irritated the skin—they can lead to breakouts. 

They’re no different to other cases of acne.

In the case of beard acne, however, there’s a complication: lots and lots of hair. The thicker your mane, the more difficult it is to clean the skin. That leads to an accumulation of dirt, debris, and oil that leads to breakout after breakout. 

Soon enough, your pride and joy is a source of daily frustration. A painful and itchy distraction that drives you to contemplate the unthinkable – shaving! 

What Causes Beard Pimples?

Most cases boil down to two main problems: poor hygiene and skin irritation. Here’s a breakdown of the usual suspects:

• Clogged pores from excess oil, dead skin, and sweat
• Ingrown hairs after shaving or trimming
• Poor beard hygiene (not washing or exfoliating regularly)
• Dirty grooming tools spreading bacteria
• Heavy or irritating beard products blocking pores
• Touching your beard too often with unwashed hands
• Friction from clothing or face masks

Don’t feel guilty. If most men are being honest, they don’t clean their grooming tools often enough, or they rub or stroke their beards too much. We’re all responsible for at least one of these causes. Some people simply have oily, acne-prone skin – the beard just increases the risks.

How to Get Rid of Pimples in Your Beard

Give Your Skin a Deep Clean

Most men might rub a bit of shampoo in their beard once in a while. But a deep clean? That doesn’t happen. 

Besides the fact that shampoo turns your beard hair dry and brittle, it isn’t suitable for cleaning your skin. You need to get into the pores, exfoliating the trapped skin and sebum that’s causing your beard acne. 

Start with a good beard shampoo (like Beard Sorcery’s Beard Wash and Restore). It’s designed to open your pores, clean your beard hair, and restore your skin’s natural appearance. The result? Healthier, less acne-prone skin.

Follow up with a good brushing – using a boar hair beard brush. It’ll remove flaky, dry skin and lightly exfoliate your underlying skin. Just don’t be too harsh.

Hydrate Your Skin – Yes, Really

Applying beard oil or a beard balm to acne-prone skin might sound counterintuitive. But if you’re giving your beard a really deep clean, you’ll need to replace some of the lost moisture. 

Also: stripping your skin of moisture can cause it to overproduce oil—making acne worse, not better. Hydration helps balance things out.

Most people can benefit from daily applications. However, if you’re the exception dealing with constant beard pimples, drop that down to 2 or 3 times per week. It’ll help prevent the opposite of beard acne – beardruff. 

Change Your Pillowcases

You wouldn’t press your face into a greasy towel every night—so why sleep on a pillowcase soaked in last week’s sweat, skin cells, and beard oil? Your pillow is basically a bacteria buffet if you’re not changing it regularly. It's no surprise that rubbing your face into this disgusting mess results in a bad case of beard acne. 

Aim to swap out your pillowcases every 2–3 days, especially if you’ve got oily or acne-prone skin. Clean fabric means less chance of clogged pores, fewer beard pimples, and a better night’s sleep (minus the face gunk).

Clean Your Grooming Tools

Rubbing a shaver or beard brush on your skin that’s dirty isn’t helping anyone. In fact, that beard comb you haven’t washed in months is probably dirtier than your phone screen.

Brushes and trimmers accumulate oil, dead skin, and bacteria over time – then you rub it all over your skin with every use.

The solution? Give your grooming tools a thorough cleaning every week using warm water and gentle soap or rubbing alcohol. Clean tools = clean beard = fewer breakouts.

Avoid Scratching or Picking Your Beard

We get it—beard stroking is basically a reflex at this point. But constantly scratching or picking at pimples in your beard spreads bacteria, irritates your skin, and makes everything worse.

Bizarrely, it’s how dry skin can lead to breakouts. Your skin itches from the dryness, which causes scratching – and that introduces bacteria – and bam! You’re dealing with beard pimples.

The answer is to stop the habit and work on hydrating and softening your beard. Sticking with your beard oil schedule will work wonders – as we mentioned before. 

Use a Blemish Serum

If breakouts keep cropping up despite good beard hygiene, a targeted blemish serum can help calm things down. 

Beard Sorcery’s Blemish Serum is designed with bearded skin in mind – it gets to work beneath the hair to clear pores, reduce inflammation, and soothe irritated skin without drying everything out. 

Just a few drops on problem areas after cleansing can make a big difference. It’s a simple step that supports clearer skin, without interfering with your beard care routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you pop pimples under your beard?

It’s not recommended. Popping can introduce more bacteria, worsen inflammation, and potentially cause scarring.

What is the best product for beard pimples?

Look for a blemish serum that targets acne without drying your skin – like Beard Sorcery’s Blemish Serum.

Can beard oil cause pimples?

Yes – if it’s too heavy or not non-comedogenic. Choose lightweight, beard-friendly oils that won’t clog pores.

Why am I getting pimples under my beard?