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What Works Best for Razor Bumps and Rashes?

You want that silky smooth shave, but you end up with painful red bumps on your skin. Razor bumps and rashes represent a common affliction; men tend to get them on the face and jaw, where they are called pseudofolliculitis barbae, while women most frequently experience them on the bikini area, where they are called psuedofolliculitis pubis. Changing your shaving technique usually eliminates razor bumps and rashes.

  1. Basics

    • Razor bumps occur when the hair cut by the razor curls downward and grows back into the skin, causing irritation and inflammation. Bumps often turn into rashes when bacteria infects the hair follicle, which may cause itching and pus-filled blisters.

    Treatment

    • Avoid shaving while you have razor bumps, as this will cause more irritation. If you stop shaving for a few weeks, the trapped hairs will usually free themselves. You can also free individual hairs by sterilizing a needle with boiling water, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol and then using the needle to gently lift up ingrown hairs. Applying a corticosteroid or benzoyl peroxide cream to razor bumps and rashes may reduce irritation and inflammation. See your dermatologist or doctor if razor bumps don't disappear within a few weeks.

    Prevention

    • Prevent razor bumps and rashes by shaving after you shower, which allows the warm water to soften the hairs. Use a single-blade or electric razor, shave in the direction your hair grows and don't pull your skin taut while shaving. Always use shaving cream; shaving dry irritates your skin. Avoid repeating strokes in the same area; you'll get a closer shave, but you'll also cause more irritation. In addition, make sure your razor is sharp and clean.

    Other Hair Removal Options

    • Changing your shaving technique to avoid razor bumps is likely to leave you with a more stubbly shave. If you need more complete hair removal, consider laser hair removal treatment, which uses lasers to destroy hair follicles, or waxing, which removes complete hairs instead of clipping them at the skin's surface.

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