What do razor bumps look like?

What should you look for?

• Raised spots around hairs can resemble an acne breakout. Some spots are larger, and some have pus at the top.
• On white skin, bumps often look red. On black or brown skin, redness can be harder to see; look for raised spots that differ in colour from the surrounding skin.
• A trapped hair is sometimes visible on close inspection, but not every bump has an obvious hair.
• Bumps can itch or feel sore, and shaving over them can make them bleed.
• After the inflammation settles, dark marks can remain. These are called post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Some bumps also leave scars, including raised scars.

Where do razor bumps appear?

The beard and neck, especially beneath the jawline, are common sites. Razor bumps also appear on shaved legs, armpits, the chest, back and pubic area. Anyone can get them, but coarse or curly hair makes ingrown hairs more likely. Waxing, plucking and threading can cause ingrown hairs too, so switching away from a razor does not automatically solve the problem. The medical name is pseudofolliculitis: inflammation caused by hairs becoming trapped beneath the skin or growing back into it.1245

Is it razor bumps, razor burn or folliculitis?

Appearance alone cannot reliably separate these problems. Razor bumps are not primarily an infection, but infection and ingrown hairs can occur together. A clinician can examine the area if the cause is unclear. In the genital area, clustered fluid filled blisters or sores need medical assessment rather than an assumption that shaving caused them.1367

What should you do next?

Stop shaving, waxing or tweezing the affected area if you can. Inflammation usually takes about four to six weeks to settle after stopping the hair removal that caused it. Do not scratch, pick or squeeze the bumps, because that can damage skin and lead to infection.23

Warm water softens the hair before shaving, so the razor does not have to treat preparation as someone else's department.4

If you need to keep shaving:

1. 1Soften the hair at the end of a shower or with a warm, damp washcloth, then apply moisturizing shaving cream.
2. 2Shave in the direction of hair growth without stretching the skin. Use short strokes and avoid repeated passes over the same area.
3. 3Avoid an extra close shave. Leaving at least 1 mm of stubble helps reduce ingrown hairs.
4. 4Rinse the razor after each stroke. Replace a disposable razor after five to seven shaves and store it somewhere dry.
5. 5After shaving, hold a cool, wet cloth against the skin to reduce irritation.

An electric razor is an alternative to wet shaving, even if your bathroom has already committed to the traditional equipment. There is no single shaving technique that works for everyone; adjust the method rather than repeatedly chasing a closer finish.23

When should you see a doctor?

See a doctor if a bump or the surrounding area becomes very painful, hot or swollen, or if you have a high temperature, chills or feel very unwell. See a dermatologist if bumps persist despite changing your shaving habits, cause scarring or keep returning when you cannot stop shaving. Treatment can include prescription creams for inflammation or antibiotics when infection is present.247