All About Razor Bumps: 4 Easy Razor Bumps Treatment Options

Razor bumps, also known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, are the ingrown hairs that develop after shaving or using hair removal techniques like plucking or waxing [1]. Ingrown hairs are the ones that grow back inside the skin instead of the usual direction.

There are various kinds of razor bumps treatment options, but it is wise to choose the one most suitable for your skin type. You can have razor bumps on legs, hands, pubic area, underarms, or any area of skin from where you remove hair using a skin razor. Read on to learn about common shaving bumps symptoms and the razor bumps treatment options. 

Razor bumps symptoms 

While the primary symptoms of razor bumps are the red bumps, other symptoms include:

• Pain
• Itching
• Inflammation [2]
• Burning sensation
• Tenderness
• Small papules or round solid bumps
• Pustules which mean blister-like, pus-filled lesions
• Darkening of the particular skin area 

Razor bumps treatment options 

Razor bumps can be of different sizes. They can be white and filled with pus or hard and red. They also take some time to go away. However, you can try the following methods to remove them quickly.

Apply salicylic acid

Razor bumps treatment with salicylic acid helps soothe the bumps and gets rid of dead cells on the skin. In this way, ingrown hair can emerge rather than get trapped under the skin. As a result, bumps become less visible. This acid further helps in treating acne. However, don’t use this product unless your dermatologist recommends it. 

Try Tweezing 

Using a clean and sanitized tweezer to remove hair can be a good solution for ingrown hair that cause razor bumps. If the hair is not visible, this will not be an ideal razor bumps treatment option as it may make the problem worse, causing more infection and irritation. Make sure to not squeeze or pick your bumps as it could cause scarring.

Rub glycolic acid

When your pores are clogged, the hair that is snared under causes razor bumps. Glycolic acid helps eliminate the cells that crowd the pore and let the hair rise to the skin’s upper layer. The glycolic razor bumps treatment method clears up your skin more quickly, making it smoother.

Scrub 

Using scrubs is one of the best methods for razor bumps treatment as it can help clear old and dead skin cells. Scrubs can minimize such cells that clog your skin and free ingrown hair. You can have different kinds of reactions to rough textures of scrubs, especially if you have tender skin. So, if you see pinkness on your skin, do not use scrubs without talking to your dermatologist, or use very light scrubs that won’t harm your skin or worsen the irritation. 

Razor bumps prevention

There are various ways to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of razor bumps:

• Try not to shave every day.
• Use an electric razor [3]
• Apply retinoid products 
• Try other kinds of hair removal techniques suitable to your skin. 
• Prepare your skin before shaving by using appropriate shaving gel and a fresh and sharp razor.
• Start shaving when your skin is moist, like after taking a bath or soak your skin with a wet towel for a few minutes before shaving.
• Avoid skin care products that contain ingredients that cause irritation to your skin.

Keep in mind that using products that are unsuitable for your skin can make the razor bump inflammation worse. 

You may want to try hair removal creams or laser hair removal to reduce the risk of razor bumps. However, creams can also cause irritation, and so can laser treatment on sensitive skin. So, take medical advice before you try these methods. You can consult an online dermatologist on Bajaj Finserv Health in minutes. They can give you the right advice for a variety of conditions, such as razor bumps treatment, dry skin treatment, cold sore treatment, or sunburn treatment, especially during the summer. With guidance from these experts, you can take proper care of your skin health.