"Men's Beards Contain More Harmful Bacteria Than Dogs' Fur, Small Study Suggests. A small European study has found that the average man's beard is more replete with human-pathogenic bacteria than the dirtiest part of a dog's fur." 

Full Article : HERE

OK so I now know that  I am better off snogging my dog. 

Good one Jean!!

That I have no doubt about - depending on the beard and the individual's personal hygiene.    I'd not target every man with a beard with the same problem.

I have a husband with a beard...it gets into the shower with him every day I have no doubt some beards are grim but his is very nice thank you !

Yep. My husband shampoos his beard every day which is more than I wash my own hair.
Most of the men in my family have beards, old and young.
When describing something that might be a bit unsavoury we sometimes say “ that would be like kissing a man without a beard “

I am not surprised about that admin.
Just imagine all of the snot, dribble and food that gets caught in some of them, I dread to think where else some of them may have been. I have no worries about some of the shorter ones that are obviously loved and well cared for, but those huge bushy things that clearly need a trim and some TLC! Oh yuk, just horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!