Not usually. Head lice have adapted to survive and thrive on your head, not your face. They need an environment like your scalp to grow and reproduce.

Head lice tend to live on your head because it’s warmer. Your hair in that area is narrower and grows closer together, so the lice can more easily access their feeding source — blood from your scalp. It’s also generally darker on your scalp, which is another more favorable environment for them.

Very rarely do head lice survive in a beard. However, it’s far more likely that lice in a beard are pubic lice. Pubic lice live in coarser hair and survive in thicker, shorter hair.

Pubic lice are usually transmissible through close, physical contact with another human who has them. Though rarer, it is possible to transmit pubic lice by sharing clothing or bedding with a person who has them.

The first step is receiving a diagnosis for the type of lice in the beard. Usually, that may be pubic lice. Knowing the type of lice is important because the type of treatment can depend on it.

To stop a lice infestation, you must remove adult and young lice and nits (lice eggs). There are special combs to help remove lice and eggs. Some medications are safe for humans but life threatening to lice. They may be available over-the-counter (OTC) or with a prescription.

The medications for head and pubic lice are typically different, so you need to know which type is in your beard.

If you think you have lice in your beard or other facial hair, contact your healthcare professional to help determine the type of lice you have and the right treatment.