Thread: The beard: extra sterile?

I have a theory: the beard acts as a virus/bacteria catcher.

Prior to growing the beard, I was good for some form of illness about once a quarter. And, without fail, a trip to the airport was a certain harbinger of coming down with some form of unidentifiable sneezy coughy sore throat crud.

I grew a goatee about a year ago...haven't been sick since. Not once, and I am travelling far more frequently.

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Originally Posted by Tarkus

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Me too.

Bob

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

either that or you have just toughened up a bit

If your theory is correct it accumulating bacteria would make it septic not sterile

Originally Posted by gugi

If your theory is correct it accumulating bacteria would make it septic not sterile

My suspicion is that microorganisms that would have entered the nose are filtered by the beard--and then washed away every morning and night. Hair is very similar to the mechanisms employed by 'filter feeders' and oil, of course, is 'sticky'.

I grew the goatee as a reward to myself for losing about 30 pounds as a result of a zero-carb diet. Possible this had a positive immunological result as well? I actually find it very frustrating that medicine (aka, the internet) has difficulty answering the direct question of: what can I do to strengthen my immune system?

About 40% of your body mass is something that is not human. Only about 10% of the DNA within that body mass is human. We could not function without the system that has developed as it has.

I could easily make the case that we, human animals, are the cruise ships of the microbiological world, but it's really true, to varying degrees, of all the mobile life on this planet regardless. I can also make the case that we, as sentient-self aware constructions, are probably giving the original designers the fits with our version (biological) of the artificial intelligence problem, but that's a whole 'nother discussion.

Our bodies are amazing that they achieve a balance between viral, fungal and bacteriological activity, and maintain it on a self-sustaining basis. When you get sick, the balance is out of kilter. There are so many active bacteria within, and in your example without, the body, it's astounding. That we don't get sick more often is equally amazing. That this all happens without any conscious mental activity to control the processes is real food for thought.

Our human system could not function if it was truly sterile.

I read an article to that effect. Changes a man's image of what he means when he says "me".

If anything is a filter, its going to be the hairs in your nose so let them grow extra long and never shave them. Also even more important are the micro like hairs coating the mucous membranes of your airway called cilia. Dont shave those either. As far as beard is concerned I suggest shaving that as this is a shaving forum.