According to a new study by microbiologists, a average beard can have more dirty bacteria in it than an average toilet.

Experts said that hairy faces might be dirtier than a toilet because the beard tends to collect rancid bacteria. Quest Diagnostics microbiologist John Golobic in New Mexico scanned a number of beards for bacteria and determined that some beards contained normal bacteria while others contained so much rancid bacteria that it can be compared to a toilet. Scientists said that it the level was found to be in the water system, it would have been shut down for disinfecting.

Dr Golobic said, "I'm usually not surprised, and I was surprised by this. There would be a degree of uncleanliness that would be somewhat disturbing."

They said that the key to keeping your beard clean is to use a face scrub to wash the beard and avoid touching and tweaking moustaches. Mr Golobic suggested that keeping the hands away from the face as much as possible in order to keep the beard cleaner. Golobic said a good beard scrubbing and frequent washing of hands can help keep the beards clean.