Shaving is a necessity for most people; women want smooth legs and underarms and even men with beards trim and maintain them. Almost everyone has experienced razor burn at some point; there is always some risk of getting razor burn with each shave. However, it’s much easier to prevent its appearance than to cover it up or wait for it to heal.
Preventing Razor Burn
There are several steps that should be taken before, during and after shaving to help reduce the risk of getting razor bumps.
- Use a clean, sharp razor. Dull razor blades pull hair out instead of cutting, which irritates the skin
- Use shaving cream or gel on warm wet skin. Never shave dry; shaving sloughs off a layer of dead skin and shaving over dry skin will irritate it
- Allow gel or cream to sit for about 30 seconds before shaving. This will soften the skin and hair, making shaving easier and more effective
After shaving, apply a gentle lotion or razor burn ointment to dried skin. In addition to keeping skin soft, the lotion will help reduce the chances of razor burn appearing due to irritation by clothing or other external irritants.
Covering Razor Bumps
If razor bumps should appear after shaving, there are many ways to hide or cover them up. Since the red bumps can be unsightly, covering them up has the dual function of preventing them from further skin irritation and concealing their existence.
- Wearing long socks, pants or thick colored tights will help conceal razor burn on legs. Colored tights are also a great way to add pop to an outfit; in addition, their thickness keeps razor bumps from become more inflamed.
- For razor burn on armpits, a T-shirt or long sleeved shirt is a simple cover-up.
- Razor burn on the face and neck are the most difficult to cover. Wearing a scarf or collared shirt can help conceal razor burn, but in some cases it may be beneficial to purchase a tinted concealer or healing ointment
Treating Razor Burn
After razor burn has appeared, there are a few options for treating it. One is to simply let it heal on its own; however, shaving over the bumps can irritate them further and become painful. Keeping that in mind, there are several ways to speed the healing process along and reduce the appearance of razor bumps in the process.
- Aloe vera is helpful in healing and reducing the redness of razor burn; it will also help soothe the itching that sometimes accompanies razor bumps.
- Companies like Sephora offer razor burn ointments for men that will help heal razor burn on the face and neck quickly
- Placing a washcloth soaked in cold water can help reduce itching and redness of razor burn shortly after it appears
Never pop razor bumps; although they sometimes look like pimples, they are not. Razor burn is a surface irritation of the skin and popping the bumps can open the skin to bacterial infections. The best treatment is to leave them alone or buy a medicated ointment for them.
Razor burn is a common problem for anyone who shaves, whether it’s their legs or their face. In many cases, the bumps are painful and can be embarrassing. Knowing how to prevent and treat razor burn is a simple way to avoid having to deal with the irritation that accompanies it.
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