Pogonophobia is an extreme fear of beards or any type of facial hair, such as moustaches and goatees. The word itself comes from the Greek word “pogon” meaning beards. This fear can range from a slight distaste to a severe aversion, making it difficult for individuals to function in social situations, at work, or in public. It is considered a specific phobic disorder, which is a type of anxiety disorder.

Pogonophobia - image

What Triggers Pogonophobia?

The fear can manifest in different ways. Individuals with pogonophobia may experience severe anxiety or panic when around people with beards, or even when seeing a photo or video of someone with facial hair. The fear may extend to artificial beards, like those used in costumes. Some people may even fear a simple five o’clock shadow. The fear can be triggered by various factors:

  • Negative Encounters: A past negative experience with someone who had a beard can trigger the fear.
  • Inability to See Faces: The fear can stem from an inability to see a person’s face properly.
  • Misinterpretations: Sometimes it’s a misinterpretation of intent that can cause the fear.
  • Discomfort with the Unknown: A deep-seated discomfort with the unknown can also be a cause.
  • Associations and Stereotypes: Beards may be associated with homelessness, poverty, illness, or with negative ideas about hidden or criminal behaviour. They can also bring to mind stereotypes about certain religions or ethnicities.
  • Family History: Genetics may also play a role, with studies suggesting that 25% to 65% of phobias have a genetic component.
  • Other Phobias: Pogonophobia can overlap with other phobias, such as mysophobia (fear of dirt and germs), Santaphobia (fear of Santa Claus), and trichophobia (fear of hair).
  • Trauma: Abuse or a scary movie involving someone with a beard can create an association with fear, pain or danger.

Symptoms of Pogonophobia

Pogonophobia can manifest both psychologically and physically. Symptoms include:

  • Severe anxiety or panic when encountering people with beards or images of them.
  • Avoidance of situations where one might encounter beards, such as barbershops or shopping centres around holidays.
  • Panic attacks, which may include chills, dizziness, excessive sweating, heart palpitations, nausea, shortness of breath, trembling, and upset stomach.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you suspect you have pogonophobia, a healthcare provider will evaluate the frequency, severity and duration of your symptoms. Diagnosis may involve questions about the duration of the fear, how often it affects daily life, and what happens when you see or think about beards. A diagnosis of pogonophobia is likely if the fear prevents you from functioning at work, school, or social situations, leads you to go out of your way to avoid beards, has lasted for six months or longer, and if you experience panic attacks because of beards. The healthcare provider may also check for other mental health disorders, such as avoidant personality disorder, illness anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder or paranoid personality disorder.

Effective treatments for pogonophobia include:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This type of therapy helps you change negative or false thinking about beards by identifying triggers. You learn techniques like meditation or deep breathing to cope with symptoms.
  • Exposure Therapy: This involves gradually exposing yourself to beards, starting with pictures and potentially moving on to real-life situations. This desensitises you to the object of your fear.
  • Medication: Anti-anxiety medications can help manage symptoms temporarily, but are not effective for long-term management.

Living with Pogonophobia

It’s important to seek help from a healthcare provider if pogonophobia is affecting your daily life. You can also reduce the impact of pogonophobia by avoiding things that worsen anxiety, exercising, eating a healthy diet, and sharing your fears with friends or family. With psychotherapy, many people with phobias can overcome their fear, with about 9 out of 10 people overcoming their fear with exposure therapy.

← Previous
Next →