Kissing is a common way for people to show affection, especially when they are romantically connected. It can also lead to various problems, and that is especially true, apparently, if you have a beard.
Kissing somebody with stubble or a full-on beard can lead to an issue known as ‘beard rash’. That may be more of an inconvenience than anything else but there is now a health warning that is coming from some experts.
Getting caught up in the heat of the moment can lead to some serious problems, and most people don’t even consider the possibility. One doctor is now coming out to warn people publicly about the possibility of skin infections.
Of course, kissing somebody, regardless of whether they have a beard or not can lead to a wide variety of issues. It can lead to sickness, cold sores, and other problems. Kissing a man with a beard can cause more specific issues.
The warning comes from Dr Myro Figura who explained in an Instagram video why you can have issues if you kiss somebody with a beard. He said: “Kissing somebody with a beard can cause an infection? It sure can.
“If not clean, the beard can harbour a lot of bacteria like staph and strep and when kissing the beard can cause breaks in the skin, allowing bacteria to enter and cause an infection called impetigo.”
Impetigo is defined as ‘is a skin infection that’s very contagious but not usually serious’ on the NHS website.
The website continues: “Anyone can get it, but it’s more common in young children. With treatment, impetigo often gets better in a few days.”
It may start out with some blisters or sores but when they burst, they can turn into scabs and crusty patches. You can talk to your doctor to get some help with treatment, and they might tell you to use a hydrogen peroxide cream or an antibiotic cream.
Even though this is not a dire warning because it is not a serious health issue, it does deserve some consideration. The website states that it does get better typically in seven to 10 days after treatment.
This is not the first time that kissing men with beards has been said to be at issue. Dermatologists have also gone online to talk about irritated skin that occurred after they kissed a man with a beard.
The best thing for the man with the beard to do is to clean it regularly to keep bacteria from spreading. The bacteria can exist in the beard in large numbers, so as the beard rubs up against the skin and causes tiny cuts, it can lead to infection.
Then again, you could always shave.