Ingrown hairs

Ingrown hairs (sometimes called razor bumps) are a phenomenon that normally arises when shaving or waxing. What happens is that the hair curls round once it has reached the surface of the skin and starts to grow inwards instead. One of the reasons for the hair to turn inwards can be that dead skin cells block the hair's path.

Ingrown hairs are a form of inflamed hair follicles that don't make anyone happy, where curved hairs go into the skin. That's because when the hairs are cut off and then grow back, they run into trouble in the form of a tough layer of dead skin cells on top of your skin. As the strands do not come out any further, they are forced back into their follicles or double up or grow into other follicles. The skin on your face interprets the hair as a foreign object and you get a troublesome inflammation. The result can show up (at best) as redness or itching but can also (at worst) become a pus-filled pimple. This can be largely avoided by using a safety razor and being careful to stretch the skin when shaving. The reason why the safety razor is such a better option is because the blades are generally sharper and the razor gets so close that the outer layer of dead skin cells is included. This allows the beard to grow back without resistance.

Another tip for dealing with ingrown hairs is to be sure to exfoliate the skin. Use a chemical peel (for example, with products containing AHA acids) before shaving from time to time, as this effectively removes dead skin cells while lifting the ingrown hairs. The shave is also closer to the skin as it doesn't have to go through all the layers of old, unclean skin. A good chemical peel is Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant. An example of a good after shave balm product for those who have problems with ingrown hairs and razor bumps is Benjamin Barber Post Shave Gel.

Many of the problems caused by shaving are, of course, preventable and often result from shaving incorrectly or neglecting to keep the skin moist or prepare it. If you shave without applying enough shaving cream/soap or oil, the risk of your skin becoming irritated naturally increases. Everyone knows what happens when you cheat on the base. Dry shaving is never okay and can eventually cause real problems for your skin.

In the meantime - if you get serious problems, let your skin rest for a period of time away from all shaving tools and growing a beard. At least until your face has recovered from the discomfort.

4 TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT RAZOR BUMPS

1) Direkt efter rakningen bör du använda en after shave balm med en lätt syra, exempelvis Lernberger Stafsing S.O.S Barrier Repair Cream eller Benjamin Barber Post Shave Gel som är ett multifunktionellt gelbalsam specifikt utformat för att motverkar inåtväxande hårstrån och återställa huden efter rakning. Gelen lindrar sveda, motverkar röda prickar och stärker hudens barriärfunktion.

2) The day after a shave, you should use a peel/scrub that removes dead skin cells while stimulating and softening the skin. The softer the skin, the easier it is for the blade to find its way through the outer layers of the skin.

3) By shaving with a safety razor, you can avoid razor bumps altogether. A safety razor shaves extremely close to the skin, taking the top layer of dead skin cells with it, allowing the growing hairs to easily penetrate the skin.

4) Ingrown hair can be prevented by using good products that soften the skin and hair while having an anti-inflammatory effect.