Razor bumps commonly occur when shaving curly or coarse hair. The condition is termed pseudofolliculitis barbae when appearing on the facial area. Still, razor bumps may occur anywhere hair is shaved including armpits, chest and the pubic area. The bumps occur when hair is cut off and begins to grow back underneath the skin, causing an ingrown hair. Inflammation, raised red bumps mimicking acne and pain, are associated with the skin condition. A few simple tricks can help avoid the irritating condition from occurring.
Step 1
Wash the skin with warm water and facial soap or an exfoliating scrub. Massage the skin while cleansing to remove dirt and dead skin. Warm water and massage also makes the skin more pliable and softens hair. Avoid using regular bar soap because it will dry out the skin, suggests Ftmguide.org. Palo Alto Medical Foundation suggests soaking in the bathtub for about three minutes, if shaving public hair.
Step 2
Apply a thin layer of shaving gel or cream. Do not apply too much or the razor blade will easily clog and skip areas. Massage onto the area to soften skin and hair.
Step 3
Use a single blade razor; a double or triple blade razor tends to pull the hair up, but the hair often retracts below the skins surface leading to an ingrown hair. Look for specialty razor blades made specifically to prevent razor bumps. These blades cut the hair slightly longer than a regular blade.
Step 4
Pull the razor blade in direction of the hair growth and shave hair in one swipe. Do not shave the area more than once. Start in one section and work the entire area to avoid multiple strokes over the same section of skin, which often leads to ingrown hairs. Do not pull the skin very taut when shaving, suggests MayoClinic.com. A slight pull is okay, otherwise hair will retract leading to razor bumps. Rinse off the blade after each stroke with warm water.
Step 5
Apply a cool compress to the area after shaving. Create a cool compress using a cold washcloth or gauze soaked in ice water.
Step 6
Use an electric shaver or chemical hair removers to avoid razor bumps. Be aware that topical chemical hair removers may irritate the skin. Test in a small area first before applying to a large area of skin to see if an allergic reaction will occur.
Things You'll Need
- Warm water
- Facial soap or exfoliating facial scrub
- Shaving gel or cream
- Single blade razor
- Washcloth or gauze
- Ice cubes
- Electric shaver
- Chemical hair remover
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