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Curly hair looks cute on a little boy. When he gets old enough to shave, however, those same curls can become a curse, causing uncomfortable, unsightly ingrown hairs.
Curly-haired men, particularly African Americans, get curls on the cheeks and neck as well as on the head. The hair sometimes just curls right back on itself. When the tip of the hair re-enters the skin, it's called an ingrown hair.
Ingrown hairs are also known as razor bumps, because they're usually aggravated by shaving. Another term for them is pseudofolliculitis barbae. Pseudo means false; the bumps appear to be infections of the oil gland or hair follicle (folliculitis), but they aren't. The skin does, however, become irritated at the point the hair actually curls into the skin.
Women are not immune to this shaving malady. It happens sometimes after shaving the places a skimpy bikini won't cover.
The solution for both men and women: Stop shaving altogether. Short of that, following are a few other home remedies to consider:
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Shaving with the grain can help stop ingrown hairs. |
Go with the grain. Shave in the direction your hair grows. Facial hair grows downward on the cheeks, straight out on the chin, downward below the jawbone, and upward along the lower neck, usually below the Adam's apple.
Hang up your razor for a day or two. Particularly if your razor bumps have become infected, you will do more damage if you shave over them. Giving the skin a break from the razor, and washing the affected areas with an antibacterial soap in the meantime, will usually end the inflammation.
Shave more often. Shaving more frequently, but with a lighter touch, can help prevent ingrown hairs. This applies especially to young men whose beards are just coming in.
Lift them out. Before shaving, take a straight pin, a pair of tweezers, or a beard pick and carefully lift out any ingrown hairs. Don't pick or dig at them, which can damage the skin further and open the door to infection.
Get ready to shave. To lessen the trauma from shaving, prepare your beard and your skin before you pick up that razor. Make sure your skin is softened with warm water or towels and is wet from tap water or the shower. Never apply foam or soap to a dry surface.
Avoid electric. Electric shavers sometimes cause the hair to go in all sorts of directions -- up and down, back and forth, round and round. That's no help at all when you're trying to shave with the grain.
Train your whiskers. Shave in the exact same direction (using the directions given in the first remedy) every day, and don't press too hard. After a few weeks, your whiskers will be growing out straight. Well, at least they won't be so curly.
Change your blade. If you're using a double- or triple-track razor, you're probably shaving too close for the good of your skin. Switch to a single-track, disposable razor or, better still, an old-fashioned safety razor, so you can adjust the closeness of your shave.
Sharpen up. A dull razor blade will make the problem worse. Use a new razor blade every time you shave.
Change your collar. Avoid wearing shirts with stiff, high collars that rub against the skin of your neck. The neck is the site of most ingrown hairs and razor bumps, so try not to wear clothing that will aggravate the problem.
For more information about ingrown hairs and how to combat them, try the following links:
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Timothy Gower is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in many publications, including Reader's Digest, Prevention, Men's Health, Better Homes and Gardens, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. The author of four books, Gower is also a contributing editor for Health magazine.
Alice Lesch Kelly is a health writer based in Boston. Her work has been published in magazines such as Shape, Fit Pregnancy, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, Eating Well, and Health. She is the co-author of three books on women's health.
Linnea Lundgren has more than 12 years experience researching, writing, and editing for newspapers and magazines. She is the author of four books, including Living Well With Allergies.
Michele Price Mann is a freelance writer who has written for such publications as Weight Watchers and Southern Living magazines. Formerly assistant health and fitness editor at Cooking Light magazine, her professional passion is learning and writing about health.
ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS:
Ivan Oransky, M.D., is the deputy editor of The Scientist. He is author or co-author of four books, including The Common Symptom Answer Guide, and has written for publications including the Boston Globe, The Lancet, and USA Today. He holds appointments as a clinical assistant professor of medicine and as adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
David J. Hufford, Ph.D., is university professor and chair of the Medical Humanities Department at Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine. He also is a professor in the departments of Neural and Behavioral Sciences and Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Hufford serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine and Explore.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
