Dear Michelle,

The barber disease at the back of my head back is bothering me, what do you recommend I do?

Trevor

Hi Trevor,

Hi Trevor,

Those unsightly things at the back of your head are called Pseudofolliculitis barbae, but it can also happen on other parts of the body where hair is shaved or plucked, especially areas where hair is curly and the skin is sensitive. There are many home remedies that claim to get rid of ingrown hairs, but some are more effective than others. Here are 8 of the best remedies to help reduce razor bumps.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a traditional remedy for helping soothe irritated skin. If you have an aloe vera plant at home, then snip off the tip of a leaf and squeeze the gel inside directly onto the skin to get rid of razor burn. You can also buy aloe vera gel, but be careful to choose a brand that contains no artificial colors or fragrances.

Hot Compress

You can make a hot compress by soaking cotton wool in hot water and pressing it gently against your skin. The heat opens up your pores, allowing the trapped hair to become free.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a natural antiseptic that helps reduce inflammation in the skin. Apply it directly to your razor bumps to help reduce the redness and irritation.

Hydrocortisone Cream

Hydrocortisone cream has an anti-inflammatory effect similar to that of witch hazel, but is much stronger. It is sold in most pharmacies as a treatment for swollen and irritated skin. Apply a small amount of cream to help reduce razor bumps.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is naturally acidic and so helps to stop bacteria from colonising ingrown hair follicles.

Apply lemon juice to razor burn to help reduce redness and prevent infection.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial agent. Pure tea tree oil is very strong, so always dilute it with a little water before applying it to your skin.

White Tea

It might sound crazy, but ordinary white tea bags can help to get rid of razor burn. Tea contains tannic acid, which helps to reduce inflammation. Simply wet the tea bag and press it against the affected skin to reduce redness and swelling.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

The best way to get rid of razor bumps for good is to change the way you shave. You need to use the correct shaving cream and aftershave oil to prevent irritation as well as the correct razor to get the cleanest shave without cutting into your skin.

PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT

Existing razor bumps can often be treated by removal of the ingrown hair. Extrafollicular hairs can usually be pulled gently from under the skin, with tweezers. Complete removal of the hair from its follicle is not recommended.

Glycolic acid-based peels are an effective and well-tolerated therapy performed at Body Studio. Skincare which resulted in significantly fewer lesions on the face and neck of clients troubled with razor bumps. Salicylic peels are also effective. Retin A is a potent treatment that helps even out any scarring after a few months. Exfoliating the skin before and between shaves using an ingrown hair brush or bump brush effectively frees trapped hair and teases it away from the skin before the hair has a chance to embed itself. Tea tree oil, or any liquor-based, post-shaving astringent will help keep razor knocks from getting tainted.

Permanent removal of the hair follicle is the only definitive treatment for razor bumps,a series of treatments is recommended for desired result.

SUNSCREEN AND ITS BENEFITS

Dear Michelle,

Carnival is coming up and I want to know what’s the best type of sunscreen to use for extra protection.

Rebecca

Hi Rebecca,

Sunscreen application is one of the most neglected regimens in skincare and is one of the most important. Sunscreens help shield you from the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays in two ways. Some work by scattering the light, reflecting it away from your body. Others absorb the UV rays before they reach your skin. You’ll want a sunscreen with broad spectrum or multi spectrum protection for both UVB and UVA. Ingredients with broad spectrum protection include benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), sulisobenzone, salicylates, titanium dioxide , zinc oxide, avobenzone (Parsol 1789) and ecamsule (Mexoryl SX).

Use SPF 15 or higher for UVB protection. The SPF factor rates how effective the sunscreen is in preventing sunburn caused by UVB rays. If you’d normally burn in 10 minutes, SPF 15 multiplies that by a factor of 10, meaning you could go 150 minutes before burning.

The higher the SPF, the longer it can stay without being reapplied.

So when it comes to UVA protection, you need to pay attention to the ingredients.

Look for a sunscreen that contains at least one of the following: ecamsule, avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, sulisobenzone, or zinc oxide. Any of those should do the trick.

Also remember to get a sunscreen that’s resistant to water and sweat because after all, it’s Carnival.