Whether you're shaving your legs, your face or anywhere else on your body, you want smooth and flawless results. If you instead end up with irritated, red bumps, you may have a skin condition commonly known as shaving or razor bumps. The show up when the act of shaving forces your hair follicles to curl back into your skin. According to Columbia University, your skin then treats the invading hair as a threat and attacks it, leading to inflamed bumps. You can stop these bumps using a combination of preventative treatment and the right post-shave care.
Step 1
Moisten your skin with lukewarm water. This helps to soften your skin and hair to give you a closer, gentler shaving experience, reports Columbia University's Health Services. Ideally, the university says you should shave after a hot bath or shower.
Step 2
Dab on shaving cream, according to the staff of the Mayo Clinic. Look for a shaving cream that's labeled for sensitive skin and contains moisturizing ingredients like shea butter or aloe vera gel. The cream creates a protective layer over your skin to help prevent or reduce shaving irritation that may prompt red bumps.
Step 3
Wait for at least five minutes, suggests Ohio State University. This gives the shaving product time to soften your hair follicles and soothe your skin.
Step 4
Shave. Use a sharp razor---dull razors may save you money, but don't result in the clean, close shave you need in order to prevent razor bumps. Move the razor in the same direction that your hair points. If you go in the opposite direction, you'll push the hair follicles straight into your skin and make your bumps worse.
Step 5
Splash your face with water to rinse it. Rinse until no shaving cream residue remains. Leaving shaving products on your skin can irritate your skin over time.
Step 6
Pat your face with a towel to dry it. Avoid any temptation to rub your face vigorously, as that may irritate your skin.
Step 7
Smooth on a benzoyl peroxide-based skin cream, suggests The Ohio State University. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical antibacterial agent. The university reports that it will help reduce and prevent red, irritated shaving bumps.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Shaving cream
- Shaving razor
- Towel
- Benzoyl peroxide cream
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