Doctor issues grim 'be careful' warning for anyone who kisses bearded men

Developing 'beard rash' when kissing someone with stubble or a beard might not seem like much, but it can come with a health warning.

Now when it comes to kisses and getting all caught up in the heat of the moment, the last thing you want to be thinking about it a nasty skin infection, but that's what one doctor has warned people to be careful about.

While kissing another person can come with a myriad of issues such as cold sores and even sickness bugs, kissing a man with a beard in particular is what's causing issues.

And it might make you think twice about locking lips with someone sporting facial hair...

Kissing a man with a beard can come with health risks (Getty Stock Images)

Dr Myro Figura explained on an Instagram video why kissing someone with a beard can result in issues for our skin. Speaking on his explainer video, 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."

According to the NHS, impetigo 'is a skin infection that's very contagious but not usually serious'.

It continues: "Anyone can get it, but it's more common in young children. With treatment, impetigo often gets better in a few days."

Initially it can start with sores and blisters, which then burst or turn into crusty patches or scabs. Speaking to your GP can help with treatment, and they might prescribe either hydrogen peroxide cream for one area or antibiotic cream or tablets if it's more widespread.

Beards can harbour bacteria which can then be transferred through breaks in the skin, and lead to skin issues like impetigo (Getty stock image)

Whilst it's not a serious health issues, the NHS has warned it's not a quick fix to recover from as the website states: "It often gets better in 7 to 10 days if you get treatment."

Dr Myro's warning isn't the first time kissing men with beards has been raised as an issue, as previously TikTok dermatologist Muneeb Shah, known as the Derm Doctor, responded to a woman sharing pictures of her irritated skin after she kissed a man with a beard.

He urged everyone with a beard to clean it regularly to prevent the spread of bacteria. He added: "Beards carry a tonne of bacteria, and when you rub up against them they create tiny little cuts in the skin, which can lead to infections like impetigo."

Shah's clip urging men to clean their beards sparked a wave of comments with others sharing their experiences. One TikToker said: "Who????? Who doesn't clean their beard??!?"

Someone else wrote: "I didn’t know I could be less into facial hair than I was before, but here I am.”

Another added: "Swear some guys can’t do the bare minimum omg."

A fourth commented: "If he doesn’t clean even his beard, what else is he not cleaning?!"

One other said they'd fallen victim to the same issue, saying in shock: "I THOUGHT IT WAS FRICTION WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME!!!"