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Become A FanHow to Get a Close Shave Without Irritation Arm yourself with tools and strategies to whisk away unwanted stubble without razor bumps or ingrown hairs.
You like being smooth and stubble-free, but redness and
razor burn can be a high price to pay for "bare-able"
skin. Luckily, there are easy ways to treat that
irritation � and to avoid it altogether by thinking ahead
and employing some smart strategies. Here, experts share
their insider tips to help you avoid redness and
irritation every time.
Assess the condition of your skin. Avoid shaving areas afflicted by red, irritated bumps from
a previous session. "You'll cut the tops off the bumps and
irritate them even more,� says Jessica Wu, MD, assistant
clinical professor of dermatology at the University of
Southern California Medical School. Leaving them alone will
help you avoid a cycle of pain, especially for tender areas
such as the underarms.
Give it time. Give your skin and hair some time to soften in the shower
with the help of heat and moisture. Ample lather from
shaving cream will also help hydrate your skin and
lubricate the area, which minimizes trauma from the razor,
says Mona Gohara, MD, an assistant clinical professor of
dermatology at Yale University.
Make as few passes as possible. You might often have been advised to shave in the direction
of hair growth, but this doesn't actually help you get a
close shave. You can go against the direction of growth,
but try to make as few passes with your razor as possible.
Treat any irritated skin. If you notice irritation anywhere, apply a gel or lotion
that contains aloe vera or calendula, which can help calm
the skin. You can also use an over-the-counter cortisone
cream to treat redness and irritation. If conditions are
particularly bad, you might find immediate relief by
putting cool washcloth compresses over the area, says
Dr. Wu.
Prevent ingrown hairs with benzoyl peroxide. If you're prone to ingrown hairs, use a product that
contains benzoyl peroxide, which can help skin stay clear.
"It has antiseptic properties and prevents hair follicles
from becoming inflamed," says Doris Day, MD, a clinical
assistant professor of dermatology at New York University
Medical School.
Don't pick at ingrown hairs or scabs from nicks and bumps. "People think ingrown hairs have to come out, but when you
squeeze you'll only traumatize the hair follicle," Dr. Day
says. Instead, apply a small dab of over-the-counter
cortisone cream to the inflamed area every day for a couple
of days � but not longer than two weeks, as cortisone creams will thin the skin over time, Dr. Gohara says. In time, your body will expel the ingrown hair naturally. If the skin remains irritated, or the cortisone doesn't treat it, see a dermatologist.
Consider laser hair removal. If you're the right candidate (i.e., you have dark-colored
hair, light skin and no suntan), laser hair removal could
be a great investment. Even people with darker skin tones
who have been told that the procedure might produce dark
spots should weigh the benefits and look for skilled
providers. "You just have to make sure that the provider
has performed laser hair removal on dark-skinned people
before," Dr. Gohara says. "If you're in the right hands,
they can properly remove the hair without discoloration.