What is stopping you from achieving that smooth clean-shaven look? What causes bumps after an attempt to groom your face? nine times out of ten, it is razor bumps. Those blackheads can put a dent on your good looks.
Razor bumps are a common skin condition that occurs as a result of shaving. Razor bumps are ingrown hairs that develop after shaving or using other hair removal techniques, such as waxing or plucking. After removing the hairs, they may curl and turn inward. As the new skin cells grow over the hair, it becomes trapped and causes a bump to form. The medical term for razor bumps is pseudofolliculitis barbae.
The condition is more common in this clime, with more than 1.5million cases annually. It is also more common in men and usually occurs on the face. Symptoms include clusters
of small, red or dark bumps around facial hair follicles. The surrounding skin is often red and inflamed.
Razor bumps are not to be confused with razor burns which is a type of skin irritation that the friction of the razor causes. It tends to cause patches of redness and irritation immediately after shaving. How to deal with that will be one of our next topics, watch out!
For now, let’s talk about how to deal with pseudofolliculitis barbae, a.k.a razor bumps.
Self-care measures such as letting your beard grow, shaving every other day and shaving with an electric razor may help clear this condition or you could just leave it to clear on its own in a couple of months.
You could also try exfoliation or skin peel, a process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a chemical, granular substance, or exfoliation tool. Salicylic and glycolic are chemicals for exfoliation and are available in a variety of OTC (over- the-counter) products. Granular substances or scrubs can remove dead skin cells that plug the pores and keep hairs trapped inside. These types of skincare scrub may contain sugar, salt, ground-up fruit pits, or tiny beads. Be careful with scrubs though as they may cause skin reaction to the rough texture of scrubs, especially if you have sensitive or inflamed skin- so use with caution.
Tweezers are another remedy for razor bumps if, and only if, the ingrown hair is visible and can be pulled out. Removing the trapped hair could get rid of the razor bump quickly, but you should sterilize the tweezers with alcohol and cleanse the skin and hands with soap and water before tweezing.
Another option for removing dead skin cells and debris clogging the pores is using a soft brush on the shaved areas.
Some people use a skincare brush or a soft toothbrush. A brush can help guide the hair out of the clogged pore so that it does not become trapped underneath. Brushing the area each day may help remove current razor bumps and prevent new ones from forming.
Simply applying a warm, wet washcloth to the skin can also help soften the skin and draw the ingrown hair out, especially when a person pairs this technique with one of the other treatments mentioned above. Alternatively, prevention is always better than cure.
Here are some preventive tips for razor bumps:
- Shave less often.
- Use an electric razor.
- Shave only when the skin is very wet, either during or immediately after a shower. Or place a warm, wet towel on the area for 5 minutes before shaving.
- Use a fresh, sharp razor.
- There you have it! Ways to get rid of bumps. If you are looking for ways to alleviate financial bumps, visit our website www.firstbanknigeria.com for more information.
Source: SHUTTERSTOCK
