Can Razor Bumps Be Eradicated Using Simple Methods?
Ingrown hairs are a headache for both men and women. Men who shave their beards daily can attest to the fact that ingrown hairs are something that anyone would gladly do without. Not only are they unsightly, but they are painful and can cause bleeding and scarring if shaved over.
Ingrown hairs are also called razor bumps. The medical term is Pseudofolliculitis barbae. While they can occur in any part of the body, they are more common in areas that are shaved on a regular basis such as the face, the legs and the bikini area.
Razor bumps occur when a hair that was previously shaved begins to grow again. It then curls inwards and pierces the skin puncturing it. This area then becomes inflamed, turning red in color if you are Caucasian or darker if you have dark skin. In some cases, the inflammation can advance and cause pus and water to fill the bump. It can then dry up and later cause permanently scarring which in turn can be unsightly.
Razor bumps can also occur in women both on the face and in the bikini area. This is because women who want to wear high cut bikini swim suits must shave their bikini area constantly. In the process, they also incur bikini razor bumps which can also be unsightly.
How can razor bumps be prevented or eradicated completely? One of the first ways to eradicate razor bumps is to use a clean razor and not to reuse it. This is one of the main reasons why people get razor bumps. A razor that is old and blunt does not do a good job at shaving closely, and in the process causes hair to re-grow and curl inwards. So the first line of defense against razor bumps is using a clean new razor all the time.
Proper shaving techniques are also essential in countering razor bumps. When shaving, use short strokes instead of long repeat strokes. Using a sharp high quality single-blade razor has been noted to have more effect than a double-bladed razor. Dull blades are also responsible for razor bumps because they do not shave closely.
Also, do not shave against the direction of the hair growth. Before you shave, it is recommended that you take a warm or hot shower. This smooths the hair follicles and allows for an easier shave. Use shaving gels or shaving crèmes. These have been designed with eradicating razor bumps in mind. Crèmes such as Bikini Zone are cheap and effective especially for the bikini area.
By Anonymous