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While scientists have claimed that beards could be hosting bacteria, many feel that beards are beneficial too.

When researchers swabbed the beards of 408 hospital staffers, they found that men without beards tended to get a certain type of bacteria that resisted antibiotics, according to the Independent.

Clean-shaven men are at least three times more likely to be hosting methicillin-resistant staph auerus, or MRSA. The reason is that "micro-abrasions" caused in the skin might be causing bacteria to grow on the faces.

"Overall, colonization is similar in male health care workers with and without facial hair, however, certain bacterial species were more prevalent in workers without facial hair," reads the study.

Hence, bearded men may be immune to harmful infections, even as they hold the key to some interesting biological research.

Dr. Adam Roberts with University College London believes that some bacteria in beards may also be capable of eliminating other types of infections.

The study was published in the Journal of Hospital Infection.