Razor bumps or Pseudofolliculitis Barbae are nothing but ingrown hair that occur after shaving. They are typically seen in areas where you shave; more commonly in African American men. Some women who shave around their bikini line tend to notice these painful and unsightly bumps. In African Americans, ingrown hair could be present on the neck, cheeks and even on the head. If you have been wondering whether razor bumps ever go away; the answer is that yes they do. However, one needs to be patient. Let us study some ways to get rid of razor bumps quickly.
1. Stop shaving for a few days
The reason why razor bumps or pseudofolliculitis barbae are predominantly an issue faced by African Americans is because of the fact that black hair is naturally curved. When shaved, the hair that grows curves back and pierces the skin causing bumps, redness, infection and pain. The only way to get rid of razor bumps on face is to stop shaving for a few days. If you continue to shave in the already inflamed area, you could develop painful keloid scars. So stop shaving and give the ingrown hair a chance to grow and the skin to heal. This could be the reason why many African Americans choose to keep a beard.
2. Soften the skin prior to shaving
Soak a towel in hot water and squeeze out the excess water. Place the towel on your face and allow the skin absorb the steam. This helps soften the skin and open up pores. You can now gently exfoliate the skin with a loofah or sponge to remove dead and ingrown hair. Do this diligently efore shaving to get rid of razor bumps on the face, neck or head.
3. Change the method of shaving
Many people develop ingrown hair due to improper shaving. First of all; the use of a blunt blade could cut hair improperly giving it an edge that pierces back into the skin. This results in bumps and ingrown hair. It is advisable to change razor blades every few months for this reason. Avoid rotary electric shaver, twin edge razors, chemical depilatories etc as they aggravate razor bumps. Women must also avoid these when shaving along the bikini line. Also-never shave against the direction of the hair growth as this is the common cause of razor bumps. Shave with the grain of the beard/hair and use only one stroke over each area. Do not stretch the skin while shaving. Follow these tips to prevent razor bumps.
4. Use pre-shave solutions
Preshave gels, soaps and solutions soften and lubricate skin and hair so that the razor glides smoothly and without abrading the skin. Edge, Aveeno and prescription foams such as BenzaShave by Dermik are all known to help reduce razor bumps.
5. Use astringent post shaving
After-shave skin care is also of utmost importance to prevent pseudofolliculitis barbae. Moisturize the skin properly with an astringent to prevent bacterial infections. You can also use a non-comedogenic moisturizer suitable for your skin type.
6. Treat the skin with Aloe Vera
Apply aloe vera gel on the shaved areas immediately after shaving to eliminate razor bumps. Aloe soothes the skin; it is anti-inflammatory and cools irritated skin.
7. Heal bumps with mashed garlic
Crush or mash up some garlic and apply the juice on the bumps. Leave it on for a few hours before washing off. The bump will heal quickly with this remedy. Garlic has antiseptic properties which can prevent infections and pus.
8. Use talcum powder
Liberally sprinkle talcum powder immediately after shaving. The magnesium in talc soothes the skin and reduces irritation and inflammation. Ingrown hair resolves quickly when you use this remedy. Many people have been able to completely eliminate razor bumps using this handy little trick.
9. Apply manuka honey
Apply manuka honey on the face, neck or pubic area to get rid of ingrown hair and razor bumps. Manuka honey has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and it also soothes irritated skin. You can also consume this honey to strengthen the body’s natural healing abilities. Women can use this remedy to get rid of razor bumps on vag and along the bikini area.
10. Treat bumps with royal jelly
Applying royal jelly or bee propolis is another proven and effective remedy to get rid of razor bumps.
11. Use aspirin
Crush and dissolve a couple of aspirin tablets in water and apply the paste on the razor bumps. As the paste dries, it will harden. (Avoid using it near the nose as it can irritate the nasal passage if you inhale it). You will experience immediate relief from redness and pain and once you wash off the paste after a few hours, the razor bumps will be markedly smaller and less irritated.
12. Heal with witch hazel
Apply witch hazel on the skin after shaving. Witch hazel contains natural salicytate compounds that help exfoliate the skin and prevent many skin problems like acne, bumps, ingrown hair and razor burn.
13. Apply deodorant
This is a neat little trick for women to avoid razor bumps on the vag. Rub a deodorant stick on the pubic area where you tend to get razor bumps post shaving. This remedy allows the stubborn hair stubs to ‘slide’ out preventing ingrown hair.
14. Exfoliate with salicylic acid
Apply any salicylic acid based product on the skin after exfoliating the shaved areas. You can go in for any acne cream with salicylic acid. Over-the-counter 2% salicylic acid products are also beneficial.
15. Use glycolic acid
Apply glycolic acid based cream on the ingrown hair and razor bumps; leave it on overnight. This helps soften skin and hair. The ingrown hair will come off by morning. The treatment also prevents new razor bumps. Alternatively, use creams such as Vaniqua for treating ingrown hair. Products like Tend Skin used after shaving can prevent razor bumps.
16. Moisturize with Shea butter
It is very important to exfoliate and moisturize the skin completely post shaving. Use shea butter all over shaved areas to moisturize skin and prevent hair from piercing back into the skin.
17. Use prescription medicines
For painful ingrown hair or razor bumps, you could need prescription antibiotic gels like Benzamycin or oral antibiotics to heal infected follicle. Nightly Retin-A treatment or glycolic acid lotions can also give you relief.
18. Try electrolysis/laser hair removal
These are permanent solutions to get rid of razor bumps on face, neck or legs. However, they are typically only suitable for small areas of the body. On larger areas, destroying the sheer number of hair follicles can be painful, costly and time consuming. Women suffering from ingrown hair in the pubic area, armpits and face can get the hair removed permanently at a cosmetologist’s. These days, home-electrolysis kits are also available.
We hope these easy ways to get rid of razor bumps on face, neck, or bikini area help you.