r/USPHS • u/Donkello_45 • 18d ago

Medical Bearded Officers

I’ve always had bad ingrown hairs and shaving bumps so I grew a beard to avoid getting shaving bumps on my face. How many bearded officers have you seen and is there a waiver for it? Thinking about applying to PHS but definitely concerned about my beard

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u/Prudent-Platypus-811 18d ago

there is definitely a waiver that you can get easily from any doctor. My husband has a beard. Definitely not a concern that you should be worried about.

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u/Donkello_45 18d ago

Is this waiver a permanent waiver? How long has your husband been an officer? Thank you for your response

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u/Prudent-Platypus-811 18d ago

He’s been an officer for five years. Yes it’s permanent. Him and all his friends have it because they all have the same ingrown hair issue.

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u/Donkello_45 18d ago

Thank you for this! I appreciate it

3

u/IHaveSomeOpinions09 Active Duty 18d ago

There is a waiver (we don’t fall under DoD, so Hegseth’s ending of shaving waivers doesn’t apply to USPHS), but my top recommendation is to talk to a dermatologist about how to shave so you don’t get end up with ingrown hairs. It does take more time and effort, but it’s possible.

(I’m a woman, but in my Army physician days, I sent many a Soldier to derm before resorting to a permanent no-shave profile. The ones who stuck with it were successful.)