Did you know that the medical term for razor bumps is pseudofolliculitis barbae? Razor bumps occur when ingrown hairs develop after shaving or using other hair removal techniques, such as waxing or plucking.
Ingrown hairs develop when hair starts to grow back into the skin, instead of up and out. After removing hair by shaving, waxing, or plucking, the hair may curl and turn inward. As the new skin cells grow over the hair, it becomes trapped and causes a bump to form.
Razor bumps usually develop in areas of the body where a person shaves or removes hair. These include the face, head, legs, underarms, and pubic area. So if you have razor bumps, the following tips would be helpful:
1. Use Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that helps exfoliate, or peel, skin cells. It can penetrate oil glands in the skin to unclog pores as well as fight inflammation.
Salicylic acid works to alleviate razor bumps and slough off dead skin cells. This allows the ingrown hair to make its way out of the pore. It also reduces the appearance of the bump. Various products contain salicylic acid, including cleansers, toners, and lotions.
2. Try glycolic acid
Like salicylic acid, glycolic acid helps the skin peel by removing old cells from the surface of the skin. Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid. Razor bumps develop when excess skin cells clog the pores and trap the hair inside. Glycolic acid can help get those cells out of the way and allow the hair to come to the surface. Glycolic acid product helps razor bumps clear up more quickly and give the skin a smoother appearance.
3. Tweeze
If the ingrown hair is visible, it may be helpful to use sterile, pointed tweezers to pull it out. Removing the trapped hair could get rid of the razor bump quickly. A person should sterilize the tweezers with alcohol and cleanse the skin and hands with soap and water before tweezing. If the hair is not visible on the surface of the skin, using tweezers could make the problem worse. The tweezers could injure the skin, causing more irritation and infection.
4. Scrubs
Sometimes, a mechanical or physical scrub can remove dead skin cells that plug the pores and keep hairs trapped inside. These types of skin care scrub may contain sugar, salt, ground up fruit pits, or tiny beads. Scrubs may remove debris and free ingrown hairs by physically sloughing off dead skin cells. Some people may have a skin reaction to the rough texture of scrubs, especially those with sensitive or inflamed skin. If the skin is red, irritated, or sensitive, use scrubs with caution.
5. Gently brush and use warm cloth
Another option for removing dead skin cells and debris clogging the pores is using a soft brush in the areas a person shaves. Some people use a skincare brush or a soft toothbrush. A brush can help guide the hair out of the clogged pore so that it does not become trapped underneath. Brushing the area each day may help remove current razor bumps and prevent new ones from forming. Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the skin can help soften the skin and draw the ingrown hair out, especially when a person pairs this technique with one of the other treatments above. Similarly, a person may wish to steam the area in a hot shower or sauna.