Shaving rash

Shaving rash is a common problem for men with curly hair, or for women who shave their bikini-line pubic hair. (Pubic hair is naturally more curly than head hair.) The medical term is ‘pseudofolliculitis barbae’ or ‘sycosis barbae’; it is a syndrome also called ‘barber’s itch’ or ‘razor lumps’.

Normally, the weight of each individual hair straightens it slightly. When you shave, a remnant of hair is left in the hair follicle. As this starts to grow out of the follicle, it may immediately curve round into the surrounding skin, because there is nothing to keep it straight. The ingrowing hair irritates the skin and can cause a lumpy reaction, especially in black skin (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2002;46:2[2 Suppl]:S113–9). The next time you shave, you will nick the tops of the lumps, worsening the inflammation and perhaps allowing an infection to occur.

How to prevent shaving rash

Do not pull on the skin. Hairs are most likely to ingrow if you pull the skin while you are shaving, to get a close shave. This makes the hairs pop out of the follicle. Afterwards, the cut tip retracts into the follicle and then turns into the wall of the follicle.

Shave in the direction of the growth of the hairs. If the hairs naturally grow downwards, pull the razor downwards.

Avoid a close shave. The aim is to shave the hairs just above the skin, when they have already emerged from the hair follicle. Use an electric razor or an ordinary single-blade razor. Double-blade or triple-blade razors give too close a shave.

Prepare your skin before shaving, by using a good shaving gel, oil or foam, and thoroughly wet it into the hairs.

Check your razor is in good condition. If it is the disposable type, make sure you use a new one each time. If it is electrical or blade, check it is clean.

How to deal with shaving rash. Curing shaving rash is tedious and will leave you with stubble for a few weeks.

Analyse the problem. Inspect the area with the help of a magnifying mirror. You may be able to see the hairs curling inwards. Have a good look for tiny yellow pustules, and redness and inflammation around the hair follicles or the tips of the ingrowing hairs – this could mean infection with staphylococci bacteria.

If you can see them, try to get the tips of the ingrowing hairs out of the skin. Soak a towel in hot water and put it on the skin for a few minutes to soften the hairs. Then very carefully, using clean tweezers, pull the end of the hair out of the bump. Do not pull the whole hair out of the skin – just the loose end. Then with small scissors cut off the end of the hair that is curling back, quite close to the skin.

Stop shaving. Grow a beard and cut off the hair close to the skin with nail scissors (designer stubble look). You might like to know about a report that women are more attracted to men with stubble, rating them as tough, mature, dominant, masculine and the best romantic partners, according to University of Northumbria research (Daily Telegraph, 29-Jun-08). As the hair grows, it should grow slightly straighter, and not grow back into the skin. If the problem is in the pubic area, stop shaving and remove the hair after a few weeks with a depilatory cream if you wish.

If you think the rash is infected, dab on a mild antiseptic such as tea tree oil. The infection may clear up on its own if you stop shaving. If it does not improve after a few days, see your doctor again; you might have a fungal infection.

Exfoliants remove the dead cells from the surface of the skin. They will not prevent the hairs turning in, but they may help to flatten the bumps. So if the bumps are slow to settle, exfoliants might be worth trying. Do not use them if your skin is inflamed or infected. There are various types of exfoliants. Facial scrubs usually contain tiny particles of pumice. Alpha hydroxy acids (fruit acids), in creams and face washes, have an exfoliant action. Alpha hydroxy acid creams are often labelled as ‘anti-ageing’; check the ingredients label.

Dr Phil Hammond extols the joy of hair in his Expert guide to Hairiness

Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated: Thursday, June 10th 2010

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Comments on this article

Posted by faizaan on 07/07/2010 at 01:02:54 am

my shaving hair is getting white day by day...i do shave two times in a week and every weak i find, my shaving hair whitness is rapidly increasin...please suggest something...thanks

Posted by shai on 06/07/2010 at 07:30:30 pm

how do i get rid of the ugly marks left behind... black dots!! but at the same time the hair still grows and the bumbs still occour even if i dont shave...

Posted by Optional on 02/07/2010 at 01:02:42 am

This wedsite Rocks I love this wedsirtes it knows what I'm talking about, it has the information what I need :)

Posted by Optional on 30/06/2010 at 06:22:53 am

Hi, I am having a problem with shaving my legs. I can use body washes and gels for my under arms and pubic area and it doesn't affect my skin in any way. But when i shave my legs they go extremely itchy and dry straight after i get out of the shower and it gets very irritating and hard to sleep. I used shaving gels at first on my legs but that just made it worse, now i can only shave with water over my legs. It has been bothering me for a few years now and is leaving scarring on my legs. What should I do?

Posted by karen on 29/06/2010 at 03:42:15 pm

to optional who posted 28 6 2010.hello your posting about a girl who died of stepptochochyl infection after shaving her pubic hair.deaths through in fections are extreamly rare but you can get infections,spots,shaving rash ect.maybe the best method for you especially to put your mind at rest would be to trim your pubic hair first and then strip wax to remove your publc hair.there is plenty of advice if you scroll down this page on how to avoid shaving rash on your pubic area.well i hope your mind is now at rest about shaving.good luck,karen xx

Posted by Optional on 28/06/2010 at 10:40:37 am

I have Type 1 diabetes and have seen reports of a girl who died from a strepptochochyl infection after shaving her bikini line. Does anyone know if this applies to any kind of hair removal process down there? I got a rash last time from shaving.

Posted by dawn on 24/06/2010 at 05:08:03 pm

girls if you dont want pubic hair but want to avoid shaving rash do what i do shave just once and after 5 days start to trim.you cannot beat designer stubble.

Posted by dave on 16/06/2010 at 01:50:32 pm

very helpfull information

Posted by karenl on 11/06/2010 at 06:25:10 am

to anonymous hi.to me your shaving rash is caused by two factors a sensative pubic area and thick pubic stubble.never use a electric razor as this causes rougher stubble to grow back.second do what i do shave your vaginal area twice a week using amixture of shaving foam and babyoil after you have your pubic stubble rub a mixture of aftershavebalm and babyoil on your shaved spot also rub babyoil on your shaved pubic area before you have sex as this stops friction between your bauld spot and your boyfriends pubichair.better still get your boyfriend to shave his and you rub babyoil on hisshaved spot there will be no rubbing or friction durring sex and no rash....keep it bauld girl....karen

Posted by karen on 11/06/2010 at 05:35:05 am

to sweet as sugar to stop you getting a rash on your face caused by your boyfriends stubble rub a little baby oil on your face this stops friction when kissing yours karen

Posted by karen on 11/06/2010 at 05:18:41 am

to the boy who has scars on his genitals the best way to get rid of scars or fade them at least is to rub creams on them that contain vitamin e good luck with your girlfriend.

Posted by Optionalkaren on 10/06/2010 at 03:45:06 pm

to meg the best way to shave your pubichair with out getting shavingrash is to use amixture of shavingfoam and babyoil after that when shaved rub shavingbalm and babyoil on your clean bauld spot this will stop rashes goodluck meg ....karen

Posted by KT on 10/06/2010 at 07:49:25 am

I had the same problem with my armpits last year. So I just left them without shaving until it went back to normal again. It took like 2-3 weeks. You are going to tell me you can't leave it that long, but it was during last summer and I was on holiday so I had all the worries about having hairy armpits, but to be honest, I'd rather leave them to heal and have hair than be going around with bumps! And as for shaving rash, after you have shaved you should apply some talcum powder, I never get a rash or bumps or anything, especially when I shave my pubic hair.

Posted by NGOZI on 08/06/2010 at 12:12:50 pm

NICE, BUT I HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT MY ARMPIT LIKE RAZOR BUMPS AND WHAT CAN I USE IT

Posted by Optionalkaren on 08/06/2010 at 07:25:10 am

shaving or waxing your pubic hair is a lot cleaner than having pubic hair . especially in summer and durring agirls period my vagina is and feels alot cleaner and sweats less since i started shaving 2years ago bauld is best.

Posted by depressed boy on 01/06/2010 at 05:54:20 am

hi,the skin above my upper lip an my chin looks really dark due to shaving.its not hair.it looks like hair from far but when you get closer its just the skin that is extremely dark.due to this,when i take photos,my chin n upper lip are extremely dark as if i have a beard even though im clean shaven.im really depressed.please help me.

Posted by Optionalname on 19/05/2010 at 05:17:06 pm

Grrrrr..... every time i shave my face now i get like a rash of huge pimples along ONE side of my face not the right side, only the left side. its real weird to cause htey arn't like normal pimples, they are huge beg red raised blotches that only leak blood plasma when squeezes. can't figure out why only one side has started reacting like it does, i have been shaving for 4 years now and only just last week has this happened, i mean what gives?

Posted by Optional on 18/04/2010 at 06:09:22 am

when i once shaved my genitals i got a rash just like this, although when the rash went away i was left with little tiny scars. my new girlfriend doesn't believe that the scars are from that but in fact herpes or something and now she wont have sex with me. the scars are located right above the penis on the flat surface and also some on the shaft. is there any way i can get rid these scars?

Posted by Optional on 31/03/2010 at 04:21:11 am

I have had terrible problems shaving now for 6 years due to oily skin. I have tried nearly everything to help balnce and cure this. I recently tried a 2 part duo shaving kit from a UK business called ULLTRA and have to say after a few days I was able to get a much better shave, maybe its just luck but for me worth the try.

Posted by Meg on 20/03/2010 at 09:20:49 am

I shave 'downstairs', but it gets itchy, red and irritated. Stubble comes back the next day and it's really annoying. I've tried hair removal cream but it didn't remove all of the hair properly and was hard to use. I've considered waxing but I'm a wimp and scared of the pain, and I've also heard that waxing causes rashes in some people. What should I do, to get a smooth 'downstairs' without the irritation and razor burn?

Posted by Optional on 20/03/2010 at 06:25:32 am

Hi, I'm a 24 year old female and I've been having skin rash in my legs for quite sometimes. I went to a dermatologist, he suggest that i use Eucerine but it didn't help much. I have marks in my legs that i cannot wear shorts due to that. Any suggestions on how i can get rid of these marks? they're embarassing, HELP

Posted by Optional on 14/03/2010 at 09:02:24 am

ive been to the doctors got antibiotics and cream , but i have a terrible shaving rash between my legs and due to the moist area doesnt heal to well any advice on getting it to heal a little quicker

Posted by Optional on 07/03/2010 at 05:23:52 pm

I used to (and still do) get a really itchy red infected rash on my thighs and most of the top half of my legs when i shave them, no matter what i do. My beautician who i use just for bikini waxes has seen a lot of it before, its very common in those with sensitive skin and strong dark hair (as i have). Try waxing instead.. i only wax now and have never had any problems. It's more painful but lasts much longer and in the end less painful as theres no itchiness or pain when touching thighs.

Posted by Alex on 07/02/2010 at 07:51:00 pm

Beard trimmers are the way forward! A good trimmer will get hairs almost down to the skin but leave enough not to cause a rash or ingrowing hairs. I used to use an electric shaver and had a face full of rash and white heads. for the last 3 years I have not shaved down to the skin by using the trimmers and no more nasty rashes!

Posted by sweet like sugar on 03/02/2010 at 12:34:00 pm

How do I prevent stubble rash on my chin from kissing guy's??

Posted by Anonymous on 02/02/2010 at 02:22:00 pm

every time i shave my pubic hair, the hairs grow straight back the next day and this is sore to touch as well as it being sore when i try to shave soon after, i also suffer from little red spots in some areas which irritate and itch. how do i stop this because nothing seems to work :( ?

Posted by M.F. on 31/01/2010 at 09:02:00 am

This helps a lot.. I would also try (like it said) along the "grain" of the hairs or even a bit sideways. Use a shaving cream too, helps very much. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had this problem aha.

Posted by Help please on 25/01/2010 at 09:13:00 pm

Hey iv just started shaving my bikini area and I always get a rash with red bumps andit is do itchy. If hurts slot to itch it and it geeks like a harsh stubble now! I'm 2 imbarassed to tell anyone so please help thanks

Posted by Fred on 08/01/2010 at 08:05:00 pm

my problem is the rash becomes more evident when not shaving for a while, then when shave it is really noticeable. in the days after the shave it fades very well, only to re-emerge after about 5 days of no shaving, or immediately after a shave.

Posted by tina on 08/01/2010 at 05:48:00 am

Well im a young teenager that shaves her back ! afta i do that my back has got red rash ( kind of looks like pimples ) but i dnt knw what it is anyways its been 2 months now since i have shaved and its still there , and when i shave my legs i get those stuff on my thighs ! i use water and razor and soap ! please can someone help me ! its on my arms , thighs & back :( please help me i cnt even show my arms anything !:(