As you may know, razor burn, or folliculitis barbae is the medical term for inflammation of the hair follicles. Pseudofolliculitis barbae, or razor bumps, is a prolonged and much more nasty version of razor burn caused by improperly trimmed, sharpened, and/or curved hairs growing back into your skin, causing inflammation and other nasty reactions. Over time, this causes scarring which looks like hard bumps mainly on the beard and neck area, and is commonly a result of using a dull or bad razor. Razor burn is usually isolated to the chin and face, and razor bumps are usually within the beard area. Both result in unsightly spots in noticeable areas, and thankfully I am here to give you a few tips on how to treat this if you get it.
One of the major culprits of razor burn is using products that cause inflammation or are simply too harsh for your skin. Some of the most well known chemicals that are simply too harsh for most people's skin are very common, but you should still avoid them nonetheless if you can. It is understood that it's difficult to avoid these things in most commercial shaving gels and creams, however if you can avoid any or all chemicals such as sodium laurel sulfate, propylene glycol, laurel glycol ether, stearyl alcohol, isobutane, propane, triethanolamine, diazolidinyl, butane, and green and yellow no. 5, you increase your chance of avoiding razor burn, as well as avoid useless and harmful chemicals in your body.
Chemicals such as these are very commonly and increasingly used in many products you can use for shaving or staying clean. They inflame your skin at the site of the hair follicles, and make their way into your body, eventually into organs like the liver. Really. These types of chemicals are stored, transported, and disposed of by your lymph system, which mainly resides in your face, an area that is treated with such chemicals. All in all, it's bad that companies use these things and you should be careful of what you use on your face or head if you notice that you have experienced razor burn at all. With razor burn, these chemicals cause your hair follicles to swell and protrude before you cut, causing the appearance of unsightly bumps that are usually a result of a combination of these byproducts. It is no wonder that people develop problems with razor burn or razor bumps when a lot of these products are considered 'safe', however everybody reacts differently and some can be potentially poisonous.
Another cause of razor burn is using traditional razors. Using any type of razor by definition can cause redness or irritation to the skin if it is dull or dirty, or the skin is not properly lubricated. Using a traditional razor is the major cause of razor bumps, especially one with a dull blade. I cannot stress the importance in carefully using a new, sharp blade, and using a good lubricant for shaving, my favorite is baby oil. Usually razor burn is a result of poor hygiene or ignorance to these key elements. Your skin is an organ just like the rest of the organs in your body, and you have to treat it well, you cant do that with harsh products you can use in shaving.
Chronic razor bumps
If you have a problem with chronic razor burn or razor bumps, consider doing away with any commercial brand shaving or post-shaving products containing any of the aforementioned chemicals, and avoid any commercial brands of soap with perfumes or added scents. Making sure your skin is healthy will help toward curing razor burn and avoiding razor bumps. Look into healthier soap brands like Dr. Bronners Castille Soap, Avalon Organics, or my suggestion is to give an ayurvedic soap such as Chandrika a try (my personal favorite). These soaps, as with any vegetable glycerin based soap, will actually assist in healing from razor burn while calming and soothing reddened skin. It may be a little harsh at first in places like your urethra (ouch), so be careful! Your skin will be cleaner and clearer, trust me.
Treat razor bumps after shaving
After shaving, try a gentle moisturizing gel or lotion after shaving such as aloe vera, or alcohol-free witch hazel, will ensure that you will be avoid razor burn and have no chance of developing razor bumps. If problems persist, consider changing your diet to include more vegetables and fruits. Sometimes diet can be a big factor in razor burn problems, but it is usually due to harsh chemicals used in shaving and my opinion is to preferably go with an electric razor for these reasons. Do not ever pick at razor bumps or razor burn, this is the absolute opposite of what will help.
If your condition has worsened and changed to razor bumps over time, you need to let the affected area grow out, no exceptions. The constant use of any razor will only aggravate the area, and not following the tips outlined here is a large part of why they develop. Wait at least a week, maybe even ten days, and get into the habit of taking a shower with a lot of steam, opening your pores. This will help to 'work from the inside out' of this problem. After your skin and the surrounding hair has returned to a more natural state and has the chance to heal from being improperly shaved, you can then start using the tips outlined in this article. And of course, DO NOT EVER USE DEPILATORIES ON YOUR FACE!
I feel it is important to preach prevention as much as it is to spread information within this site, and with razor burn or razor bumps, it is certainly no different. The only caveat to this problem is that it is typically due to bad grooming habits. If you couple positive information with treatment, you have the total package of knowledge, and you can pass these kinds of tips on to your friends. Hope this helps!