According to a new study, men with beards and mustaches--like I used to be, before auctioning off the whiskers for Make-a-Wish two years ago--might be healthier than guys without facial hair.

Researchers in Australia found that beards and mustaches protect the face from the sun and the skin from aging – thanks to 30 percent less exposure to harmful UV rays.

Beards may also trap allergens that cause asthma attacks, protect bearded guys from catching colds and help keep skin from drying out.