Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – it’s not about the bathrooms or the beards

Since I’m doing some posts about veterans and the military, here’s an issue my husband, a veteran and someone who has cystic acne, shared with me (BTW, if you have acne, try oregano oil capsules, they’ve done a wonder with his skin). Curious how the current Defense Secretary Hegseth is all about addressing things that don’t affect military readiness, but certainly do target people of color.

“Marines with a medical exemption from shaving for painful skin disorders must have their condition reexamined within 90 days, according to a new administrative order that comes after the initiation of a broader Pentagon review on grooming standards. The Marine directive, issued Thursday, also said troops diagnosed with the skin condition known as pseudofolliculitis barbae could be separated from the service if grooming exceptions are needed beyond one year. Under such a scenario, a Marine “may be considered for administrative separation due to incompatibility with Service,” the order stated. A Marine directive issued in 2012 allowed commanding officers to separate Marines with long-term conditions that did not respond to treatment if it affected “good order and discipline.” That directive did not include the one-year timeline. A 2022 directive had ended separations based on temporary or permanent “no shave” medical status. – “Marines take tougher line on shaving waivers in new order issued amid DOD standards review

“A study published in the Journal of Military Medicine in 2021 found little evidence that short beards interfered with the seal of a gas mask. A study in 2018 found that pilots with beards more than a foot long were able to maintain an airtight seal on their masks in a simulated cabin depressurization test.

Medical experts say PFB is improved by not shaving at all or shaving with clippers that don’t give a close shave, which allows the hair to remain above the skin surface after it is cut. Another option is laser hair removal. But for many Marines, the military dermatologist said, this permanent option for what many see as a temporary job is not a viable choice.

An analysis published in the journal Military Medicine also found a link between shaving waivers and delays in promotion that disproportionately affects Black service members.

This latest Marine policy change comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in March ordered a militarywide review of physical fitness and grooming standards.

“We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force,” Hegseth said when announcing the order. The Department of Defense declined a request to comment on the latest guidelines.

But, according to South Carolina-based dermatologist Lauren Ploch, standards that require clean-shaven faces are “rooted in institutional racism” because they single out PFB for strict treatment. She questions why there are not similar rules for other skin conditions like cystic acne or dissecting cellulitis, which affects the scalp. There are regulations for treating these issues, but no specific policies that could lead to a service member’s expulsion.

“If one of these conditions is not a disqualifier, then PFB shouldn’t be either,” Ploch said. – Dermatologists say Marines’ tightened shaving waiver could hurt Black members’ careers