Razor bumps are known as pseudofolliculitis barbae in medical terms. It is marked by the presence of small bumps or lesions on the skin which develop after shaving the skin. Tiny particles of hair curl back inside and started growing into the skin. These are called as Ingrown hairs which leaves a scar on the affected area.
Easy way to get rid of razor bumps is to stop shaving but it is not possible all the time. Once you start shaving, these bumps recur. Normally razor bumps can get cured by home remedies but if you have severe scarring then you need to take antibiotic cream. You can use alternative methods for removing your hair instead of razor.
Here, the hair grows inward into the skin invading them and there are several methods of treatment available for curing razor bumps.
Symptoms :
Redness of skin is seen on the face and neck after shaving. It is also present in other areas like arms and legs if you regularly shave them. The bumps are nothing but tiny lesions resembling a scar on the place in which hair is removed abruptly.
There may be scarring on the affected skin area. For some people there may be swelling and inflammation apart from the presence of red scar. Actually, the swelling of skin and scarring is the result of body’s defense mechanism to protect the affected skin.
People with curly hair are more prone to get razor bumps scar than others. African Americans are at risk of having razor bumps when compared to people living in other regions.
Causes :
Razor bumps are obviously caused by razors, i.e. usage of blades for shaving.
Treatment :
• Medications and Topical Creams
You should understand first that the process of shaving cuts the hair bluntly from your skin. This gives room for the formation of scar and recurrence of hair growth on the skin. Hence you should not apply pressure while shaving; instead use gentle Strokes for removing the hair. Again you should choose the right razor to avoid getting bumps and redness on your face.
You can apply hydrocortisone cream after shaving which will reduce inflammation and irritation caused by redness and scarring. However you should not overuse it and discontinue it once the scarring has faded away.
Irritating razor bumps can also be treated by glycolic lotion obtained over the counter in any drugstore. Instead of using soap for shaving you can try using shaving cream that contains aloe vera. Try shaving your skin after a warm shower which leaves your skin soft keeping the pores wide open. Soon after shaving you can apply moisturizing lotion or cream which is alcohol free.
Number of products is available at the store for treating razor bumps and redness caused by inflammation of the skin.
• Watch your Shaving Techniques
Do not apply pressure but press gently on the skin with the blade to remove excess of hair. Use the razor in the direction of hair growth. Do not shave on the same area which may worsen the symptoms of scarring. Use a new blade or go for different kind of razor which gives a smooth shaving experience.
You need to prepare the skin prior to shaving so that shaving becomes less painful and pressure-free.
You can also disinfect the area using a good product that contains fatty alcohol to give astringent benefits for killing the bacteria causing inflammation.
• Home Remedies
You can apply salt on the swollen area to pull out the ingrown hair. Some people use sugar scrubs for exfoliating the skin which leaves a silky shine on the surface. Try using the paste of aspirin pill for fighting inflammation which is beneficial in applying on bikini line or face.
Pictures of Razor Bumps :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Razor Bumps
Prevention :
You can prevent razor bumps by letting the beard grow or not shaving. You can also try not to use razor for 3-4 weeks until the bumps have completely cured.
Some people prefer to remove the hair follicles permanently using laser treatment but this may cause discoloration and even scarring.
