November is Men’s Health Month, with hordes of men growing their best mustaches to raise awareness. If you’ve been living under a rock, you may have missed the fact that facial hair is back in a big way – from Amish-style beards to hip handlebar ‘staches. The more facial hair you have, the more masculine you seem to your female counterparts. Almost 150 years ago, Charles Darwin surmised in his book “The Descent of Man” that the process of sexual selection may have led to beards. However, aside from the fact that your 10-day growth of facial hair attracts the ladies – like flies to honey – here are a few health benefits to having a hirsute face.
#1 – A youthful, cancer-free glow
It seems pretty obvious, but the more facial hair you have, the better protected you are from the sun and the younger your skin looks and feels. Thick beards can block up to 90-95% of UV rays. Although, it is true that wearing a long, thick beard ages your look a bit, the skin underneath stays protected and youthful. You’ll feel comforted by the fact that you can shave it off at any point and get compliments on how young you look.
#2 – Blemish-free skin
We are not talking about hiding existing skin blemishes, but rather the fact that having facial hair can prevent blemishes in the first place. Shaving is hard on your skin and can cause folliculitis, acne, ingrown hairs and rashes. In addition, your razor can cause nicks and then spread nasty bacteria across your face.
#3 – Soft, moisturized skin
Women spend billions of dollars each year on facial moisturizer, while their counterparts have a natural way to retain facial moisture. With a face full of hair, the essential oils produced by your sebaceous glands stay put. Your facial hair also acts as a barrier from wind, cold and other drying environmental conditions.
#4 – Natural allergy protection
It might sound counterintuitive; especially to pet owners with carpets, but having a full face of hair acts as a shield against allergens. Rather than allergy-inducing pollen sailing smoothly through your nasal passages, your lustrous mustache traps them below like a natural air filter.
#5 – Staving off winter colds
When it is cold, there’s nothing like wearing a scarf to make you feel warm and cozy. Your hipster-fabulous neck beard is a natural neck-warmer. Keeping your neck warm can help you stave off the winter cold, but can also help soothe your sore throat by keeping it warm and toasty if you do get sick.
At Hill Country Apothecary, we are committed to men’s health. Interested in learning more? We invite you to join us on December 3rd for a free community event for men and the women who love them. Join us for Tequila + Testosterone, from 7-9pm at our Lakeway store. Have a margarita made with top-shelf tequila, as Kevin Hoffarth of bioFIT Medicine discusses testosterone and how having too little can negatively affect sleep, energy and fat levels, bone mass, and your sex drive.
