Pseudofolliculitis Barbae! What the Heck?
Yep! That’s exactly what I said… what the heck does that mean? I really had no idea so I figured I’d look it up and see what in the world that meant.
Well, I figured out what it meant and what it is… It’s a medical term used to describe the irritation caused by shaving! Ahh… I get it now – It’s also known as PFB or the more general term “Razor Bumps”. And yes, both men and women get those due to their shaving habits. The name is derived from “Psuedo” – false or fake, “follicle” – hair, “itis” – irritation or inflammation and “barbae” – of the beard. Now isn’t that a mouth full just to say “razor bumps”! You’ve got to love science…
So, if this is caused by shaving, is it the same for all parts of the body? No, even though WE call all those bumps after shaving “razor bumps”, if they are located in the pubic region, they are referred to as PFP (pseudofolliculitis pubis).
Why does this occur you might ask? Well, I’m glad you did… first, it happens more to people with curly hair. It’s especially a problem for men and women of African and Mediterranean descent but it can happen to anyone! There are basically two distinct types; transfollicular and extrafollicular. Extrafollicular is a hair that has exited the hair follicle through the skin but curls back into the skin causing the bump and irritation. Transfollicular happens as the new hair tries to leave the follicle but because it’s curly, it will curl inside the follicle which causes fluid buildup and inflammation!
What can you do about this? There are a few different things you can do… some easier and cheap others better and more expensive. It’s really going to depend on you. The easiest, especially if it’s on your face, is to just let it grow out. This process can take 3-4 weeks. As the hairs get longer they will no longer curl back into the skin. You should use a cortisone cream daily as the growth occurs. You can also limit the amount of shaving you do. Instead of shaving each day, try it 2 or 3 times a week.
Now, for most women, this is not acceptable! For you, and men that want to stay hair free, laser hair removal may be your answer! The laser will generate heat that attacks the melanin of the hair follicle thus destroying it. With laser hair removal, you can stay hair free and not have to worry about all the “Razor Bumps”! This is the more expensive route to take but it can also be permanent or very near with the right treatments.
Whether you decide to let your hair grow or get laser hair removal, you can eliminate Pseudofolliculitis barbae with either time or money! Don’t let those bumps keep you from the pool or beach this summer, you have the answer to those bumps… now it’s up to you to decide which course of action you are going to take to eliminate them!
Carlos Geventa – Carlos Geventa loves to write… he has numerous interest and like to write about those, his experiences and information that he finds concerning his interest. …
http://ezinearticles.com/?Pseudofolliculitis-Barbae!-What-the-Heck?&id=2260926
Razor Bumps