Beards may not be as bad as some people think. In fact, a doctor found that it may pave the way for the development of new antibiotics in the future.

In a new experiment, microbiologist Dr. Adam Roberts from the University College London discovered that beards carry bacteria that have antibiotic properties.

Roberts put beard swabs of different men to the test. He was able to detect over 100 different bacterial growths from the specimens. The thing is not all the bacteria were harmful.

Curiously, Roberts observed a microbe that looked as if it was killing other bacteria. He then isolated that microbe and tested it against a type of Escherichia coli that causes urinary tract infections.

This resulted in the microbes killing the bacterium with much efficiency.

While people think that microbes are nothing but hazardous, it is not always the case. Bacteria and fungi actually compete against each other for food and space. During the process, they evolve into one of the greatest weapons against their fellow microbes: antibiotics. One good example is penicillin, which was actually derived from a particular fungal species called Penicillium notatum.

With this, Roberts cautiously says beards may possibly contain antibodies that can fight infection.

In a separate 2014 study, researchers compared the rate of bacterial growth among 408 healthcare workers. The results showed that workers with beards were less likely to harbor two types of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci.

"Overall, colonization is similar in male health care workers with and without facial hair; however, certain bacterial species were more prevalent in workers without facial hair," the authors wrote in the Journal of Hospital Infection.

The reason for the surprising findings is that shaving may cause microtrauma to the skin, which may support bacterial growth.

Beards have gone in and out of the spotlight. In the 1700s, a full beard was a sign of masculinity. When razors were discovered in 1770, however, men became fond of the clean-shaven look. In modern times, beards continue to evolve into different forms – designer stubble in the 1980s, goaties in the 1990s and lately, full-face beards.

Photo : Maria Eklind | Flickr