Swobidu Health

Posts Tagged ‘pseudofolliculitis barbae’

We always associate razor bumps with men especially men of color because they are most vulnerable. These are annoying dark pimples and bumps that are common in the areas where we regularly shave namely the chin, cheek and around the bikini area. their clinical term is pseudofolliculitis barbae and they are a result of hair which has been shaved re-growing, curling then re-entering the skin causing painful pimples. These can sometimes become infected and inflammed causing a considerable degree of discomfort. Women too have their share of challenges from these annoying pimples but there are ways in which they can be eradicated.

Sometimes, chemical imbalances in some women can result in hair growing in unusual places such as under the chin. this is more common than we realize. for some, this is just a matter of plucking the few unruly hairs with a pair of tweezers and they’re done. for others this is a much more serious problem because the hair regrows with a vengeance. It then curls and pierces the skin again causing redness and irritation. The reason this irritation occurs is because the body does not recognize this re-entry of its own hair as its own and fights the culprit the same way it would fight a foreign object. that results in the inflammation and painful pus that is usually characteristic of razor bumps in women.

There are a few steps a woman can take to tackle this problem:

Take a nice warm bath before shaving
This is recommended because it results in the hair becoming smooth and soft. The skin is also softer after a warm shower and it then responds better to shaving. this works well whether the area being shaved is under the chin or in the bikini area.

What type of razor are you using?
One of the reasons why razor bumps appear is because of reusing a razor. a good majority of women reuse their razor at least 6 times before they replace it. this is unhygienic and a major reason for painful bumps. this is because an old razor has already lost its edge and does not cut close therefore the hairs that have been chopped off still retain a sharp rugged edge which then regrows and re-enters the body. It is recommended that you purchase new razors and avoid reusing razors as much as possible.

Also, use stainless steel, tempered steel razors which have one blade. It is eroneously thought that double razors or triple razors do a better job. this is controversial and has never been adequately proven.

Gels and cremes
Use shaving and cremes when shaving. there are many excellent shaving cremes and gels at your local pharmacy store such as Walgreens and CVS. there are also others that are high end but the mid-prized brands can do just fine.

Laser treatment
If you have extra money to spare and you need hair permanently removed, there is no better way to do this than with laser treatment. While this costs more than shaving, it is nevertheless the best way if you want to get rid of unwanted hair permanently.