Use our Xpert tips to banish those unsightly razor bumps from your face.
Those who suffer from in-grown hair know what a pain that can be! Shaving can lead to these ingrown hairs, also called ‘razor bumps’. Most men have one or two occasionally but the problem starts when they become infected and swollen. Shaving often makes them bleed and the whole area can become really sore. Men who have naturally curly facial hair are more susceptible to ingrown hairs.
Let’s first identify what is an ingrown hair, before advising you on how to go about getting rid of them.
What is an Ingrown Hair?
Ingrown hair occurs at a place from where the hair has been removed, either with the help of tweezers or by shaving. The characteristic sign may be a bump which is itchy, sore and reddened. What happens is, when you shave, cutting the hair makes its ends sharp. If the hairs curl as they grow, that sharp end can re-enter the skin instead of growing outward. The in-growing hair irritates the skin and causes the bump that you see.
Treatments
If you see that an area is affected by ingrown hair, the best solution is to stop shaving till the time they’re completely gone. However, the razor bumps can be unpleasant and unsightly and if a beard doesn’t suit your persona, you can’t just stay without shaving!
If you have just a few bumps, follow the steps written below, to get rid of them:
·Use a small grain facial scrub and gently exfoliate the skin. Dip a washcloth or loofah in warm water and gently scrub the area in circular motion. Don’t scrub too hard, otherwise it will make the skin more irritated.
·Next, use a sterile needle or tweezers to gently tease the hair out of the skin. The warm water should have brought the hair to the surface--don't dig for the hair if you can't easily get at it. Don't pluck the hair out completely if you can avoid doing so; just make sure that the ingrown end is out of the skin. It may take a little time to coax the hair out: be patient, and do not cut the skin.
If the problem persists or worsen in the next few days, consider visiting a dermatologist.
Prevention
Dealing with ingrowing hairs takes a bit of time and patience and prevention is usually better than the cure. There are various products in the market, such as an electronic shaver, that is custom-made to avoid razor bumps. Other tips are:
·Always shave with the direction of the hair growthand use a shaving medium like a cooling shaving gel, which gives really good lubrication.
·It's helpful to use a facial scrubonce or twice a week to remove dead cells and free up trapped hairs.
·Use a moisturiseror an after shave balm daily to keep skin soft and supple and to encourage hairs to grow through without obstruction.
If the Area is infected
The medical term for infected hair follicles is "folliculitis." This can happen on its own or accompany ingrown hair. Mild cases of folliculitis may get better on its own, but often antibiotics are needed. Your doctor may prescribe pills or a cream that you may need to apply to the affected area. If the folliculitis keeps coming back, you may need to stop hair removal on that area for several months to let the skin heal completely.
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