Pseudofolliculitis barbae---more commonly known as ingrown hairs or razor bumps---can be unsightly and uncomfortable. In severe cases, they can lead to several skin problems. People with curly hair are more prone to developing ingrown hairs, which is why African-Americans and Latin-Americans are particularly at risk. Instead of growing straight out through your skin, the hair curls back into the follicle and continues to grow under the skin.
Causes
Your shaving routine can increase your risk of developing this skin condition and make it worse. For instance, you may shave too often, not properly prepare your skin by wetting it and using a pre-shave gel, or you may shave too closely. Stretching the skin during shaving and not moisturizing often enough also play roles.
Side Effects
When hair penetrates the side of the follicle and continues growing under the skin, your immune system reacts to it as if it's a foreign body, explains the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. This reaction causes inflammation and swelling at the site. Eventually, this reaction can lead to hard bumps or keloidal scarring. Some people also find ingrown hairs itchy---scratching can increase scarring and itching.
Treatment
To release an ingrown hair, you must gently scrub the area with warm water and a washcloth or fine buff pad. This helps to remove dead skin cells and soften the skin to more easily reach the hair. After scrubbing, the Mayo Clinic recommends using a sterilized needle to penetrate the skin and release the tip of the ingrown hair.
Preventative Products
According to the AOCD, the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, some doctors may recommend using depilatory creams or shaving powders. These products do not sharpen the tip of the hair, thereby increasing the likelihood of razor bumps. An electric razor is also useful because it does not cut your hair too low. You can also ask a dermatologist for prescription creams such as topical antibiotics and retinoids, which reduce bumps and scarring, reports Brownskin.net.
Caution
If you use a depilatory cream or a shaving powder to prevent or reduce razor bumps, you must wait until your skin has healed. As the AOCD explains, skin with ingrown hairs is more easily irritated than normal skin. Use these products once all bumps have gone away and do a skin test patch first and check for any allergic reaction.
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