What is the medical term for razor burn rash?

Razor burn, razor bumps or folliculitis?

Pseudofolliculitis barbae commonly affects the beard and neck, especially with tightly curled hair, but also occurs on shaved legs, armpits and the pubic area. It can affect women as well as men. The word 'barbae' refers to the beard. Infected beard follicles are called folliculitis barbae, and infection can occur alongside ingrown hair inflammation.45

What should you do about the rash?

For a blotchy razor burn rash, pause shaving until the skin clears. Apply a cool, damp washcloth and a moisturizing lotion to soothe the area. Avoid products containing fragrance, alcohol or other irritants. Razor burn usually starts within minutes of shaving and lasts a few hours to a few days; it often clears without treatment. Sensitive skin is more prone to razor burn.1

For folliculitis, warm rather than cool compresses can provide relief. Apply a warm compress for 15 to 20 minutes, at least three to four times daily. When shaving causes the infection, stop shaving for 30 days. Keep the area clean and reduce friction from clothing. Avoid scratching the bumps because opening them can worsen infection.236

Ingrown hair bumps take longer to settle than ordinary razor burn: pseudofolliculitis barbae generally subsides about four to six weeks after stopping the hair removal that caused it. If stopping is impractical, reducing shaving frequency or switching to an electric shaver can help. Persistent bumps can leave dark marks or scars.4

How should you shave once the skin clears?

Shaving cream helps the blade glide over skin, which is a modest job description for a bathroom product.1

1. 1Wet your skin and hair to soften them, then apply moisturizing shaving cream.
2. 2If you frequently get irritation or ingrown hairs, use a single or double blade razor rather than one with multiple blades.
3. 3Shave in the direction of hair growth using short strokes. Do not stretch the skin or repeatedly shave the same patch.
4. 4Rinse the razor after each swipe. Change the blade after five to seven shaves.
5. 5Apply moisturizer immediately after shaving while the skin is still damp.

Moisturizer traps water in the skin, a less dramatic job than the bathroom shelf tends to suggest.7

When should you see a doctor?

Contact a healthcare professional if follicle bumps worsen, keep returning or last longer than two or three days. A razor burn rash that does not clear within a few days also needs assessment. Large red pustules in the beard area can occur with a severe, potentially scarring infection called sycosis barbae; stop shaving and see a dermatologist.23

A clinician can usually distinguish these conditions by examining the skin; tests can identify bacteria or fungi when infection is suspected. Treatment depends on the cause. Infection can require antibiotics or antifungal medicine, while ingrown hair inflammation has different treatment options. Tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide are sometimes used for razor bumps but can irritate skin. Most treatments for pseudofolliculitis barbae rely largely on clinical experience rather than strong research evidence.35