Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTreatmentPreventing Chronic Razor BumpsWhen to See a Dermatologist for Razor Bumps
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Treatment
Preventing Chronic Razor Bumps
When to See a Dermatologist for Razor Bumps
The primary way to get rid of razor bumps is to reduce the chance of hair reentering the skin as it regrows. Razor bumps, medically known aspseudofolliculitis barbae, are hairs in which the end grows under the skin. This creates a bump, also called aningrown hair.
Razor bumps can occur in any area you shave or pluck hairs, including the face, head, underarms, public area, or legs.While they can occur in anyone, they are more common in people with naturally curly hair.
This article will discuss treatments, including medicated creams, shaving cessation, and prevention techniques.
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How to Treat Razor Bumps
Razor bumps can be found anywhere hair is shaved or plucked. Aninflammatory responseoccurs when the sharp tip of the hair pushes against the skin as it tries to grow out. Thehair folliclebegins to curve, which can make the hair tip grow back into the skin.
Razor bumps should heal on their own as you give the hair time to grow out of the skin and the irritation to heal.For that reason, the primary treatment for razor bumps is to reduce the chance of hair reentering the skin as it regrows. The best way is to stop shaving or removing the hair.However, that is not always possible.
Below are seven ways to treat razor bumps:
Preventing and Treating Chronic Razor Bumps
If you are prone to razor bumps, you may need ongoing treatment, modifying your shaving or other hair removal methods, or permanent hair removal.
One tactic is to allow the hair to grow in the affected area rather than removing it. You can grow your beard, allow hair growth on your head, or stop removing the hair on your legs, pubic area, or underarms. However, this is not always the preferred choice.
Risk Factors for Razor BumpsCertain factors can increase your likelihood of developing razor bumps. They include:Having tight, curly hairStretching the skin before shavingShaving against the direction of hair growthUsing a blunt razor bladeDry shavingShaving infrequentlyPluckingHaving ageneticpredisposition, namely being a carrier of the A12T polymorphism gene
Risk Factors for Razor Bumps
Certain factors can increase your likelihood of developing razor bumps. They include:Having tight, curly hairStretching the skin before shavingShaving against the direction of hair growthUsing a blunt razor bladeDry shavingShaving infrequentlyPluckingHaving ageneticpredisposition, namely being a carrier of the A12T polymorphism gene
Certain factors can increase your likelihood of developing razor bumps. They include:
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2024
Razor Maintenance and Type
Use a single-blade razor or an electric razor. Using a razor that has two blades can also increase the chance of razor bumps. The first blade pulls at thehairwhile the second blade cuts it. But the pulled hair can retract into thehair follicleand grow back into the skin, causing a bump.
It’s important to use a razor with a sharp blade. Blunt blades can cause razor bumps. Change blades after five to seven shaves.
How to Treat Razor Burn
Shaving Technique
Modify your shaving technique with these tips:
Training Hair Growth Direction
To make it easier to shave your hair in its direction of growth, take the time each day to train your hair to grow in one direction.Dedicate a new, soft-bristle toothbrush for this task. Each day, gently brush the hair in one direction.
Exfoliation
Exfoliating treatments remove dead skin cells and keep skin softer.Gentle skin scrubs or daily use of products that promote exfoliation, such as those withglycolic acid,salicylic acid,retinoids, oralpha-hydroxy acids, may help.
Chemical peels with glycolic or salicylic acid are a deeper form of exfoliation for occasional use.
Permanent Hair Removal
Laser hair removalmay help if you continue to experience razor bumps. This method destroys hair follicles and reduces the amount of hair and its thickness.
See adermatologist(a specialist treating conditions of the skin, hair, and nails) if razor bumps do not resolve on their own or if they become inflamed or infected. A specialist will be able to determine the best treatment plan and provide prescription medications to alleviate the bumps. If razor bumps happen frequently, adermatologistcan use laser hair removal to prevent future bumps.
A dermatologist may also help in treating or preventing complications of razor bumps, such as:
Summary
The best way to prevent razor bumps is to stop shaving, which will reduce ongoing irritation and creation of new razor bumps. With this, the bumps should heal without treatment.
If you must continue to remove hair in the area, you can change how you keep the hair trimmed and may use topical creams, warm compresses, and other treatments to reduce inflammation.
To prevent razor bumps or treat chronic razor bumps, you can modify how you shave, use exfoliating techniques, or have permanent hair removal.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nussbaum D, Friedman A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae: a review of current treatment options.J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(3):246-250.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250American Academy of Dermatology.Razor bump remedies for men with darker skin tones.Manchanda K, Mohanty S, Rohatgi PC.Misuse of topical corticosteroids over face: a clinical study.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2017;8(3):186-191. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_535_15UpToDate.Pseudofolliculitis barbae.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nussbaum D, Friedman A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae: a review of current treatment options.J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(3):246-250.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250American Academy of Dermatology.Razor bump remedies for men with darker skin tones.Manchanda K, Mohanty S, Rohatgi PC.Misuse of topical corticosteroids over face: a clinical study.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2017;8(3):186-191. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_535_15UpToDate.Pseudofolliculitis barbae.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nussbaum D, Friedman A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae: a review of current treatment options.J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(3):246-250.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250American Academy of Dermatology.Razor bump remedies for men with darker skin tones.Manchanda K, Mohanty S, Rohatgi PC.Misuse of topical corticosteroids over face: a clinical study.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2017;8(3):186-191. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_535_15UpToDate.Pseudofolliculitis barbae.
Nussbaum D, Friedman A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae: a review of current treatment options.J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(3):246-250.
Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250
American Academy of Dermatology.Razor bump remedies for men with darker skin tones.
Manchanda K, Mohanty S, Rohatgi PC.Misuse of topical corticosteroids over face: a clinical study.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2017;8(3):186-191. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_535_15
UpToDate.Pseudofolliculitis barbae.
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