Beards 'help men stay healthy and handsome' - here's how to keep yours in top condition

(Photo: Courtesy)

Beards have been one of style's biggest talking points for a long, long time now.

Opinion has been split on whether ditching the shaving razor in favour of letting it all grow out is a style disaster or a fashionable win.

Many celebrities (and even that boring bloke in accounts you never really talk to) have opted to go for it and it's a trend that doesn't seem like slowing down any time soon.

And it may well continue for a sometime thanks to this latest piece of advice and research, which says beards could well be keeping you healthy and handsome.

A study carried out by the University of Queensland revealed that beards can protect their owners from up to 95% of harmful UV rays, with an ultraviolet protection factor of up to 21.

The study's lead author Professor Parisi explained: "While beards will never be as sun-safe as sunscreen, they certainly are a factor in blocking UV rays."

Backing up the findings in an interview with the Independent, Harley Street dermatologist Dr Adam Freidman explained how fuzzy faces can also help protect against skin cancer and changes in your facial appearance.

"Sun exposure is the primary cause of photo-ageing and skin damage so it makes sense that if your face is covered by a heavy beard, it may well protect your skin from the signs of ageing.

"This means fewer wrinkles and a reduction in age spots commonly found on the face."

However, a beard's protective qualities rely on the thickness of it - the bigger the better, rather than just a bit of five o'clock shadow.

Whether this advice has tempted you to go au naturale or you're already the proud owner of some facial foliage, it's important to take care of it.