May 04, 2015 08:58 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Beards have never been hotter, however, a new study shows that this trend is a "cause for concern," The Metro reported.

An investigation done by microbiologists from Quest Diagnostics in New Mexico found that some beards can harbor all kinds of bacteria, even those commonly found on toilets.

"I'm usually not surprised, and I was surprised by this," microbiologist John Golobic told Koat News.

For the study, Golobic and colleagues swabbed several beards searching for bacteria. Several of the beards they swabbed contained normal bacteria, but some of the samples showed that the collection of hair that grows on the chin, upper lip, and cheeks carried types of bacteria that were "comparable to toilets."

"Those are the type of things you'd find in [fecal matter]," Golobic added.

The microbiologist said that if these type of bacteria were found in a water system, it "would have to be shut down for disinfecting," The Metro reported. None of the samples, however, contained enough levels of these types of bacteria to cause illness, according to Yahoo News.

"It certainly shows a degree of uncleanliness that would be somewhat disturbing," Golobic said.

The key to keeping beards and facial hair clean is regular handwashing and beard scrubbing, Golobic said. Keeping your hands away from your face as much as possible is also instrumental in keeping the germs away, according to Golobic.

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