Men’s Beards Are Poop-Free

A very interesting study shows that men’s beards are poop-free.

The theory that unshaven men might have poop on their faces made every guy with hair on his face go crazy. The theory was strange, yet curious, but it lacked scientific ground.

However, Adam Roberts, a microbiologist from the University College London, decided to take action and prove it wrong. For almost a year, he and a group of researchers have been searching antibiotics that could tackle the ongoing drug-resistance crisis. Roberts program, “Swab and Send”, implies the submitting of swab samples from around the world.

These samples are tested by the scientists in order to find microbial properties. The research team received various numbers of samples, from computer keyboards to the inside of a toilet in a public bathroom.

So far, Roberts and his group have been able to cut off 20 potential strains capable of eliminating the bacteria. The microbiologist said that the overuse of antibiotics has triggered infectious bacteriae which can cause various diseases. Roberts added that

“humans have used antibiotics pretty indiscriminately since we first discovered them, and we haven’t really found that many”.

However, at some point, Roberts was asked by the BBC to make a small research about the theory on poop in facial hair. He analyzed samples from 20 men’s beards and found around 100 bacteria types.

They put the beard isolates in a culture medium which was firstly inoculated with another bacterial type. Their aim was to see how the two strains combine. To their amazement, 25 percent of beard isolates eliminated the indicator strains. Individuals with beards and their hairy fellows can breathe a sigh of relief now: the scientist did not find any proof of poop bacteria in any beard.

On the contrary, the scientists declared that they could developed new antibiotics. Nonetheless, there is still much research to be conducted in order to see how the antimicrobial isolates function. Roberts’ hope is that the beard bacteria might help in the development of new antibiotics.

This would be a big step in the science area, especially because of the stall since the discovery of the antibiotics in 1950. However, it’s a very long and very expensive process.

Researchers think that it would take more than 10 years and millions of dollars to release that kind of drug on the market. Until then, individuals around the world can relax and feel safe: all men’s beards are poop free. What’s more, after this study they might as well grow them longer.

Photo Credits: Wikimedia