Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hair
What are the Symptoms of Razor Bumps
and Ingrown Hairs?
The
symptoms of razor bumps and
ingrowing hair are unsightly red or
darkened, painful ‘bumps' which can
lead to ‘scarring' in severe cases.
What Causes Razor Bumps and Ingrown
Hairs?
This occurs when curly hair grows
out of the skin, curls round and
then grows back into the skin. This
happens if the hair is cut too
short. Normal hair cut too short
will create the same problem. They
result in the medical condition
pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). An
ideal shave cuts the hair flush with
the surface of the skin and avoids
any undue friction and/or irritation
to the surrounding skin. If you
suffer from razor bumps, ingrowing
hair and shaving irritation, the
chances are that you are pulling the
skin too taut during the shave and
the hairs are cut too short. Don't
pull the skin tight and see if it
makes a difference!
People with PFB and razor bumps
often have a great tendency to
develop ingrown or curled under
hairs, which get red, raised and
tender. These bumps often leave
dark marks on the skin for many
months and sometimes even cause
scarring.
Who Tends to Suffer with PFB?
While PFB can occur in all ethnic
groups, it is most common in those
with very curly hair and especially
amongst African Americans.
What Treatments are Available?
Treatment of tough cases of PFB
often requires special shaving
equipment. In fact, some African
American men have opted to wear a
beard rather than be subject to the
pain and embarrassment that often
accompanies severe PFB. Special
razors have been developed that cut
the hair slightly longer than
typical razors. These razors are
available as part of an entire
product line called the Bump Fighter
® Shaving System designed
exclusively to help control PFB. In
addition to these products,
Skin food is also
helpful for many PFB suffers.
For
most people, these over the counter
products provide sufficient control
of shaving related problems. In
fact, there are no prescription
products targeted specifically for
shaving related problems. Vitamin A
related products such as Retin A (tretinoin)
or Differin (adapalene) may be
prescribed in some cases and work by
helping exfoliate skin both on the
surface and around the follicles.
This results in less chance of the
hairs getting caught in the skin and
growing inward.
Shaving related problems usually
respond well to a combination of
proper shaving technique, equipment
and products. For tough or
treatment resistant shaving
problems, it is always best to
consult personally with a
dermatologist.
What Can I do to Help Prevent the
Problem?
In
addition to the
tips on
shaving
, you might find benefit in the
use of certain shaving devices and
products. The products and devices
tend to be specialized towards
serving either those people with
tendencies toward ingrown hairs or
those with a tendency towards razor
bumps and PFB. A large majority of
PFB sufferers and sufferers of
shaving problems generally tend to
be African American. The reason for
this is that very curly hairs are
most inclined to grow inward or curl
around to form razor bumps.
Ingrown hairs and shaving irritation
can be greatly improved by simply
following these
shaving tips
.
No special shaving equipment is
suggested, but experience has shown
that re-usable metal shaving handles
serviced with disposable blade
cartridges tend to provide smooth
shaves with less chance of causing
shaving irritation and ingrown hairs
than electric razors.
Blades should be changed at least
once every ten days, more often if
skin irritation persists.
Disposable razor blades should are
also best avoided when possible.
Shaving gels are important in the
treatment of this condition, as a
good gel will minimize the friction
associated with shaving and reduce
the likelihood of ingrown hairs and
skin irritation.
Products that Can Help
One
product we recommend is
PFB VSH
. This
is a unique, cosmetically elegant
roll-on gel formulated to aid in the
relief of ingrown hairs, razor
burn/bumps resulting from shaving,
waxing, electrolysis and laser hair
removal. PFB VANISH exfoliates skin
cells to "lift ingrown hairs" above
the skin line.
Skin food is
another product that can be applied
daily after shaving. It is
effective at fighting ingrown hairs
and helps calm redness associated
with hair removal.
Please see are other common shaving
related problems:-
Shaving Rash
Razor Burns
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