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How to prevent shaving rash
Do not pull on the skin. Hairs are more likely to ingrow
if the skin is pulled while you are shaving.
Shave in the direction of the growth of the hairs. If the
hairs naturally grow downwards, pull the razor downwards.
Avoid a close shave. The aim is to shave the hairs just
above the skin. Use an
electric razor or an ordinary single-blade razor. Double-blade or triple-blade
razors give too close a shave.
Prepare your skin before shaving, by using a good shaving
gel, oil or foam, and thoroughly wet the face.
Check your razor is in good condition. If using a
disposable razor, make sure you use a new one each time. If it is electrical or
blade, check it is clean.
How to deal with shaving rash. Curing shaving rash is
tedious and will leave you with stubble for a few weeks.
Analyse the problem. Look at the area with the help of a
magnifying mirror. You may be able to see the hairs curling inwards. Look for tiny yellow pustules, and redness and inflammation around the hair
follicles or the tips of the ingrowing hairs – this could mean infection with
staphylococci bacteria.
If you can see them, try to get the tips of the ingrowing hairs out
of the skin. Soak a towel in hot water and put it on the skin for a few
minutes to soften the hairs. Then very carefully, using clean tweezers, pull the
end of the hair out of the bump. Do not pull the whole hair out of the skin –
just the loose end. Then with small scissors cut off the end of the hair that is
curling back, quite close to the skin.
Stop shaving. Grow a beard and cut off the hair close to
the skin with nail scissors. As the hair grows, it should grow slightly
straighter, and not grow back into the skin. If the problem is in the pubic
area, stop shaving and remove the hair after a few weeks with a depilatory cream.
If the rash is infected, dab on a mild
antiseptic such as tea tree oil. The infection may clear up on its own if you
stop shaving. If it does not improve after a few days, see your doctor again;
you might have a fungal infection.
Exfoliants remove the dead cells from the surface of the
skin. They will not prevent the hairs turning in, but they may help to flatten
the bumps. So if the bumps are slow to settle, exfoliants might be worth trying.
Do not use them if your skin is inflamed or infected. There are various types of
exfoliants. Facial scrubs usually contain tiny particles of pumice. Alpha
hydroxy acids (fruit acids), in creams and face washes, have an exfoliant
action.
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