I can see where the masks would not fit correctly with all the facial hair. In the health care industry, I do not remember seeing men with facial hair. 

If the masks are not going to be considered preventative measures as per the CDC then men with facial hair should be sure to keep it clean and groomed. 

@deborah agreed

Gas masks are the reason why the military has strict regulations for facial hair. They need to ensure that the mask can suction onto the face properly. 

That's crazy! I never would thought having a beard could effect that. Very interesting. But at the same time it does make sense, facial hair is very course and thick so I definitely can see how it can effect the protection of the mask on the face. 

Earlier in the year when corona virus started hitting the news and people started wearing masks, my fiancé's place of work required them to all wear masks. Now, my fiancé and a few other of his coworkers have beards and they were required to completely shave their facial hair to properly wear their masks. Now, he is the site and safety officer on the job, and it is government so they were able to make it required. Now that jobs and people are starting to lax up on the rules a little, he was able to grow his beard out a little again. But it is crazy how some men were shaving to be able to wear a mask.

You are correct Gaby, Men's facial hair is a problem because the mask does not fit as it should be worn. There must be no gaps in the mask to be better protected

It's crazy to think that at this time last year when this was posted, we really had no idea of what COVID was about to become. This article talks about having the choice to wear a mask if you wanted to. And now we can't go into anywhere without a mask. You would think that by now I would always remember to grab a mask before leaving the house but this weekend alone I left twice without a mask.

@noracrainiectskin-com That's crazy to think a place of work could tell you to shave your beard in order to make sure you're wearing a mask properly. I know as a female if my place of work was telling me I had to cut my hair that I wouldn't be very happy about it. I can only imagine those guys feeling the same, frustrated. 

i remember when the masks first became mandated and i was asking my boyfriend if he had to shave his beard so that he was better protected while wearing the mask at work, but at the time he worked at as a line chef and he had to wear the hair net on it anyway. he told me, at work, he would just put the mask on top and be okay. now im not sure if thats something the cdc would recommend but it worked for him and his job. with all the different types of mask their are, especially the ones that go around the neck it is a little easier for men with beards to still be protected 

@noracrainiectskin-com i think them shaving their beard is definitely a necessary precaution if there is no other way around it, but back then they probably were thinking shaving their beards would be a one and done but here we are a year later... still wearing masks 

I think it has been a good idea to cut down on the facial hair because it caused gaps with the mask. I did not think that 1 year later we would all be wearing masks all the time. I would think that a beard would cause the person to be hot. I know I feel like I can't get a deep breath with the mask on.