According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, the red bumps caused by ingrown hairs are known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, a form of superficial folliculitis. It's marked by an inflammation of the hair follicles as a result of shorn hairs curling back and penetrating the skin. These red bumps are most commonly seen on a man's face and neck, but they can also occur along the bikini line, on the legs or on any area of the body that's repeatedly shaved, waxed or plucked. To effectively get rid of these "razor" bumps, you need to employ simple skin care techniques.
Step 1
Allow the hair to grow. Most people get rid of razor bumps by simply letting the hair grow, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Three to four weeks is the average time-frame to improve the condition of your skin,
Step 2
Use a glycolic acid lotion on affected skin. According to the National Institutes of Health, topical lotions containing glycolic acid can both treat and prevent razor bumps. Not only does this alpha-hydroxy exfoliate and moisturize the skin, which can reduce the chances of ingrown hairs, but it can also speed the rate of healing in razor bumps.
Step 3
Apply a retinol-based skin cream. The Mayo Clinic advises that skin creams containing retinoids, such as tretinoin or tazarotene, can help with red bumps caused by ingrown hairs. Much like glycolic acid, they promote sloughing of dead skin that can clog the inflamed follicles and lead to red bumps.
Step 4
Pick out hairs growing into the skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you can use a sterilized needle or tweezers to manually extract the tip of the ingrown hair. However, don't pluck it from the skin.
Step 5
Get a prescription antibiotic. Both topical and oral antibiotics can be used to reduce the inflammation and possible infection of the red bumps caused by ingrown hairs, according to both the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology and the Mayo Clinic.
Step 6
Try a corticosteroid. The Mayo Clinic also recommends corticosteroid creams to reduce the inflammation of razor bumps resulting from ingrown hairs. Daily application is necessary for best results. Stop use as soon as the inflammation improves.
Step 7
Run a toothbrush, loofah or dry washcloth over the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology maintains that this action can actually loosen hairs growing into the skin, thereby alleviating the inflammation caused by ingrown hairs.
Tips and Warnings
- Prevention is another way in which you can get rid of red bumps from ingrown hairs. Preventive measures include wetting and heating the skin prior to shaving, applying a shaving gel and using a single-bladed razor. You can also avoid ingrown hairs by shaving in the direction of hair growth and limiting the number of times the blade runs across an area of skin.
- Creams containing retinoids shouldn't be used by women who are pregnant. Talk to a doctor about other options for razor bumps caused by ingrown hairs.
Things You'll Need
- Glycolic acid lotion
- Retinol-based skin cream
- Sterilized needle or tweezers
- Prescription antibiotic
- Corticosteroid
- Toothbrush
- Loofah
- Dry washcloth
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