WHAT ARE RAZOR BUMPS?

Also known as shaving rash, razor bumps is a skin reaction caused by shaving. It’s easily visible and may include symptoms like redness, itching, burning and stinging. It appears as small, tender bumps on the skin and may occur on any area that has been shaved. These may become infected and form pustules, causing further discomfort. These bumps may last a few hours or a few days, depending on the overall skin health. Razor bumps can affect men of all ethnicities, although African men, with their curly hair, are more likely to experience shaving rash than their straight-haired counterparts. 

WHAT CAUSES RAZOR BUMPS?

There can be several contributing factors, all centred around poor shaving technique:

•Shaving without a purpose-made cream, gel or lubricant to protect the skin

•Shaving with a dull blade

•Shaving against the direction of hair growth

•Shaving without a well-considered shaving routine, unique to your face and growth pattern

•Using shaving products containing alcohol before, during or immediately after shaving

Simply put, the process of shaving compromises the skin’s natural protective barrier as the razor blade moves across your skin – this makes it vulnerable to dehydration and inflammation. Additionally, the growth pattern of your hair can also contribute to the creation of razor bumps. With coarse or curly hair, it’s more challenging to achieve a close shave, and the sharp-angled tip of the hair shaft curls back and embeds into the skin, resulting in inflammation. Shaving over razor bumps creates further trauma for already vulnerable skin.

HOW TO TREAT RAZOR BUMPS  

Short of never shaving again or hair ceasing to grow, it’s almost impossible to prevent razor bumps completely. That said, there are effective ways of reducing the incidence of razor bumps and minimizing their recurrence. The best place to start is supple, well-hydrated skin that in turn creates a strong skin barrier. Make use of skin-friendly, reliable and quality products which offer soothing, symptomatic relief to tenderness and inflammation. It’s essential to nourish and rehydrate the skin to fortify the skin barrier. Avoid shaving the area until your razor bumps have subsided and the skin has healed.