Congratulations! If you are reading this, you have taken the first step to treat razor bumps- also called as razor burn, ingrown hair or psuedofolliculitis barbae. This troublesome skin problem is typically faced by African American men, post shaving. However, according to a recent survey conducted by the International Dermatological Institute, nearly 79% men who shave suffer from some kind of skin infections including razor bumps. These shaving problems not only look ugly; they actually lead to premature aging of the skin. Even women who shave their arms, legs or bikini areas are known to suffer from ingrown hair which can cause severe pain and burning. In this guide, we will study natural remedies to help you get rid of razor bumps painlessly and quickly.
But before that, Razor bumps are very common skin lesions for those who remove unwanted hair on their body by shaving or waxing. They usually develop in areas such as the pubic area, bikini area, bikini line, on vagina or vaginal lips, on neck on face and in armpits Razor bumps can be itchy and painful, but more significantly, they may look very unsightly, especially when they develop on your face. Worse still, they often leave behind hideous scars which may stay on for quite a while. But what causes razor bumps and how can you get rid and prevent them fast or overnight after shaving? What are the best effective treatments and home remedies for razor bump?
What Are Razor Bumps?
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Razor bumps, also called shave bumps, shaving bumps or Pseudofolliculitis Barbae , refers to a persistent irritation of the skin caused by shaving. They are usually characterized by an inflamed skin with usually itchy, painful bumps, pus, discoloration and sometimes keloidal scars.
Razor bumps on neck
Razor bumps can occur in any part of the skin where hair is temporarily removed by shaving, waxing or tweezing. However, they tend to develop more in sensitive skin areas such as the
pubic area, bikini area, bikini line , on vagina or vaginal lips, on face , on neck and in armpits (underarm). Razor bumps are also common on thighs, on legs, and on head, especially along the hairline.
Razor bumps are formed when hairs coil within or curl back to the skin causing your body to perceive them as foreign material. As a result, the body produces an inflammatory response leading to the formation of the bumps. Due to various reasons, including nature of hair and skin, some people are more susceptible to razor bumps than others.
What Causes Razor Bumps After Shaving?
The best way to deal with razor bumps is to understand what causes them and how they develop. This way, you will know exactly what to do in order to prevent the development or treat the already formed razor bumps.
Basically, razor bumps are caused when the shaved hair grows beneath the skin and this can happen in various ways. In some cases, the growing hair gets trapped and grows under the skin partially or wholly to form an ingrown hair , which leads to the development of bumps
Razor bumps are lesions caused by in grown hair
The bump may also arise if the ingrown hair gets infected to form an ingrown hair cyst , which is usually a deep-seated bump. In other cases, it is formed when the growing hair is not trapped within its hair follicle but rather curls and digs back into the nearby part of the skin.
There are various reasons why hair gets trapped and grow beneath the skin. Most of them relate to the way the shaving is carried out while others are influenced by the nature of your hair or skin. Here are common reasons why hair may be trapped and grow under the skin leading to the development of razor bumps:
1. Tugging and Pulling the Hair While Shaving:
When the hair is tugged and pulled during shaving, the hair follicle and the skin around the hair becomes irritated. As a result, it will slightly swell and cover the cut hair under the skin. This may lead to an ingrown hair since the hair may be unable to sprout out of the skin.
Tugging and pulling of hair occurs when you use a blunt razor or a shaver with blunt blades. Some multiple blade shavers may also increase the risk of tugging and pulling as the hair is likely to get trapped between the blades. In addition, lack of proper preparation before shaving for example failure to soften the hair with a shaving cream may cause tugging and pulling.
2. Cutting the Hair Beneath the Skin When Shaving
This is another common reason why razor bumps form. If the hair is cut too close to the skin such that the level goes slightly under the skin, there are chances that the hair may curl within the hair follicle and cause a bump. Another possibility is that the dead skin and skin secretions may accumulate and block the hair within the hair follicle, forcing it to curl within as it grows.
3. Pulling at the Skin While Shaving
Poor shaving methods may also lead to the formation of razor bumps. For example, if you forcefully drag the razor or shaver along the skin as you shave, you certainly pull the ski along with the razor. When you release the razor, the skin pops back over the hairs that you just cut. As a result, they may grow into your skin and cause the development of razor bumps.
Also, if too much pressure is applied on the skin while shaving, it may irritate the skin, especially if the skin is sensitive. As a result, the hair might get trapped in beneath the skin and hence lead to the development of razor bumps
4. Nature of Your Hair
The nature of your hair is another factor that may not only contribute to the development of razor bumps but also influence the severity of the razor bumps. If your hair is curly, it is more likely to coil within the hair follicle or burrow into the nearby skin, causing the razor bumps.
Razor bumps in armpit
Similarly, if your hair texture is hard and course, it is more likely to get tugged and pulled during shaving. As aired explained in an earlier section above, tugging and pulling may lead to the formation of razor bumps.
Probably, this is one of the reasons why some people tend to develop razor bumps more than others. The more cully and coarse the hair, the more likely that bumps will form and that they will be more severe.
5. Nature of Your Skin
The nature of your skin is definitely another factor that may influence the development of razor bumps and how severe they will be. For example, a sensitive skin is likely to be irritated more during shaving. Since, one of the effects of irritating the skin while shaving is the development of bumps, they are likely to be more and severe for sensitive skins.
Fastest Ways To Get Rid of Razor Bumps orBikini Bump
1. Don’t shave for at least 2-to-3 days to give your razor bumps a chance to heal & go away and if you must shave… Use a Depilatory Cream or waxing for hair removal to prevent razor bumps.
2. Apply heat on your razor bumps for 5-to-10 minutes using a hot compress or washrag soaked in hot water to shrink the razor bumps and kill any germs that could make your razor bumps look worse.
3. Put hydrocortisone cream on your razor bumps to get rid of the redness, inflammation and the itching and once your razor bumps fade away in 1-to-3 days… Stop using the hydrocortisone cream because your skin may develop rashes if you use it too much.
4. Wear cotton underwear or breathable clothing because wearing clothes made out of synthetic materials wont allow your skin to breathe and this will also trap in bacteria & sweat making your razor bumps get worse.
5. Don’t pick your razor bumps and don’t rub the areas of your skin with razor bumps because when you do that you just slow down the healing process where your razor bumps eventually fade away.
6. Put cornstarch on your razor bumps for 20 minutes and then rinse it off.
7. You can use a cucumber and milk mask by mixing ½ a pureed cucumber and a ¼ cup of milk and then letting it cool in your refrigerator and then you would apply this to your razor bumps for 10-to-20 minutes and rinse it off.
8. Use razor bump removal products like Razor Bump Relief
that have witch hazel & salicylic acid as the main ingredients.
9. Use aloe vera or Tea Tree Oil
creams & sprays like Tendskin to help you get rid of razor bumps faster.
10. Prevention Is The Best Cure
Conclusion
At the end of the day, razor burns, bumps, and redness associated with shaving can be painful and annoying, but you’ll have to accept and confront these problems if you’re going to continue shaving.
Unless you want to commit to growing out your hair on all parts of your body, then you’re going to have to find effective ways to shave and protect your skin from irritation, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always need to use a razor. There are alternative methods (including using electric razors and getting your hair waxed).
Over time, you’ll find the method that works best for you and your skin.
Razor bumps are a common problem throughout the world (for both men and women), but everyone can learn how to quickly get rid of them. They may occur due to the shaving cream, oils, and soaps you’re using, or because of the interaction of the razor blade with the person’s skin. Regardless of how you get razor burn, it’s painful and unattractive, and it can result in lower self-confidence.
But with this guide of easy, effective, quick tips, you can get rid of razor bumps and prevent them from happening in the first place, then you’ll be on your way to having clear, fresh skin after you shave.