ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KTRK) -- Your beard could be as dirty as a toilet, research finds.
ABC affiliate KOAT-TV swabbed the beards of several New Mexico men, finding a surprisingly high amount of bacteria -- including some of the same bacteria found in feces -- thriving in the men's beards.
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"I'm usually not surprised, and I was surprised by this," said Quest Diagnostics microbiologist John Golobic, who was commissioned by KOAT to run the tests.
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Golobic added that some of the same bacteria found in the beards could cause a shutdown of a municipal water system.
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If you'd like to keep your facial hair cleaner than a toilet, Golobic recommends washing your hands and thoroughly scrubbing your beard regularly.
"[Also], try to keep your hands away from your face, as much as possible," he added.
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