Shaving. It’s something that all of us guys have to do. Some men like the process, others find it annoying, and some don’t really care either way. No matter your thoughts on it, there’s simply no getting out of cleaning up those hairs all over your face. However, once you get done and really look in the mirror, you might notice a white bump after shaving. What is this and how can you deal with it?
These white spots are often the result of irritation from your shave, and they’re no fun at all. White bumps, razor bumps, whatever you want to call them — this irritation can often hurt or just be a plain old nuisance, but no matter your reaction to it, it’s important to know just what it is and what you can do to deal with it.
Seeing your face littered with pimples after shaving is never any fun, and if you’ve been struggling with this and want tips on how to stop it, keep on reading.
What Causes Them?
As mentioned above, white bumps on your skin often pop up as a result of razor irritation. However, what exactly does that mean?
When you shave, there’s friction that’s created from cutting the hairs away from your skin. When this happens, it’s possible for hair follicles to become damaged. Damaged hair follicles can easily lead to an infection, and when an infection happens, these white bumps start to pop up.
There are a few different kinds of pimples/bumps that can pop up as a result of this, with the most common being folliculitis. Folliculitis pops up on areas of your face where you’ve previously shaved, and when it does, it takes the form of small, itchy, and white bumps that are filled with pus.
These little bumps will surround hair follicles on your face, and it’s possible for them to either curst over or break open with blood/puss.
What You Can Do To Get Rid of Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a pretty common issue that lots of guys face, and while this means that you have a high chance of experiencing it at one point or another, it also means that there are a lot of different remedies out there for dealing with the stuff.
In most cases, folliculitis will heal up on its own. Most guys only get a mild case of it, and in these situations, you really don’t have to do anything all that special. You can try using some homemade remedies such as aloe vera, witch hazel, lemon juice, and a hot compress if you’d like, but these aren’t necessary if you don’t want to bother with them.
Additionally, you can also try taking a warm wet washcloth and applying it to the bumps several times each day in order to help calm them down. Do this with some antibacterial soap, and you should be free of the buggers in no time at all.
If none of these things work, we recommend picking up some hydrocortisone cream or any lotion that’s based on oatmeal. Applying either of these things to your face will offer extreme relief against the rash you’re currently dealing with, and in most cases, will help to get rid of it in no time at all.
Taking Precautionary Steps
It’s good to know how to deal with folliculitis and other razor irritation once you have it, but wouldn’t it be nice to know what steps you can take to ensure that you don’t have to deal with the stuff in the first place?
If you’re a guy that shaves on a pretty regular basis, you might notice that you have to battle folliculitis more regularly than other men that don’t shave every day or every other one. Constantly shaving obviously causes for more irritation, but that doesn’t mean you’re entirely out of luck.
When shaving, try to ensure that you’re using a clean and sharp blade every time you go to clean up your face. In addition to this, it’s also worth trying out an electric shaver if you haven’t jumped on that bandwagon just yet. I recommend that you click here to read my reviews of the top electric shavers that can be purchased on Amazon.
It’s also important to keep the shaved area of your face as clean as you can, and this can be achieved by regularly washing it or rubbing it down with antibacterial toner. You’ll also want to make sure you keep your face clear of areas that are extremely high in bacteria, such as public pools and hot tubs.
Should you try all of these precautionary steps and still have no luck, you may want to consider looking into other methods of hair removal. Plenty of guys have had luck with the likes of laser hair removal, and if your folliculitis is getting to the point where you can’t take it any longer, this might be something worth checking out.
What To Do If You Don’t Start Seeing Any Improvement
Every guy responds to folliculitis in a different manner, so don’t be alarmed right away if you try a handful of recommended strategies for removing it and don’t see any immediate results. This is often a system of trial and error — testing out different methods to see what works for your body and what doesn’t.
With that said, if you find yourself trying just about everything that’s out there and aren’t seeing any sort of improvement at all, it may be time to get ahold of your doctor and see what your next steps should be. There are medications available that are designed to treat folliculitis if it needs more strength targeted against it, and while this shouldn’t be your very first move, it is worth keeping in mind if nothing else seems to be working for you.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with a white bump after shaving (folliculitis) is never a good time, but knowing how to safely and properly deal with it can make things ever so slightly better. Between preventative measures and homemade remedies for dealing with the rash, there are many options available to you for healing your skin and making it as healthy as possible.
