EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The Department of the Air Force has updated its medical shaving guidance, changing how long shaving exemptions can last and requiring many service members to be re-evaluated under the new rules.
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For Northwest Florida, the update is relevant locally because Eglin Air Force Base employs thousands of service members who live and work throughout the area.
The updated guidance, issued Dec. 15, affects Airmen and Guardians who receive medical shaving profiles, typically granted for skin conditions that make shaving painful or unsafe. Under the new policy, all shaving profiles issued before March 1, 2025, will expire on Jan. 31, 2026.
Service members with older profiles are expected to schedule an appointment with a military health care provider before that deadline to determine whether a new profile is appropriate.
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The Air Force said the update is designed to bring consistency to how shaving profiles are issued and reviewed. Moving forward, no single shaving profile may last longer than six months, and repeated exemptions will receive closer review.
Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, Airmen and Guardians who accumulate more than 12 months of shaving profiles within a two-year period will be referred to their commander for additional consideration.
The guidance outlines a clearer review process involving medical providers, profile officers, and unit commanders, with commanders holding final approval authority. The policy does not apply to shaving waivers granted for religious reasons.
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The update also includes preventive education and treatment options for those diagnosed with or at risk of developing pseudofolliculitis barbae, a common skin condition linked to shaving.
These options may include changes to shaving habits, medication, referrals to specialists, or laser hair removal when medically appropriate.
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Air Force officials said the revised guidance builds on earlier policy updates made in January 2025 and is intended to balance service member health with grooming standards tied to readiness.
