Questions and Answers

Hair Bumps: What Are They?

Hair bumps are often referred to as ingrown hairs or razor bumps. The terms are often used interchangeably and while a hair bump can be referred to as a razor bumps both are somewhat different from ingrown hairs defined here.

Wikipedia gives a detailed overview of pseudofolliculitis barbae or hair bumps in this article. Once again let us quickly differentiate between hair bumps and ingrown hair.

Hair bumps or razor bumps occur anywhere on the face or body where shaving or other types of hair removal has occurred. Due to several special hair bumps causes the hair can curl back into the follicle prompting an infection which results in pimple like reactions on the surface of the skin. The reactions or pimples can be pustules (with fluid inside or papules, elevated without the pus).

When the hair grows out of the skin’s surface and grows back into the skin this scenario is referred to as extrafollicular.

In the case of ingrown hair, the shaved hair will not have had an opportunity to break the surface of the skin. Due the its curly nature it would have curled and continued to grow under the skin, again causing infection and the resulting hair bumps. This scenario is referred to as transfollicular.

Here is another brief description of hair bumps at Wikianswers.

Hair Bumps On Armpits Anyone?

Here is a recent question and our answer that we provided on Yahoo Answers.

How Do I Eliminate Hair Bumps Under Armpits?

Exfoliation will help to “prevent” razor bumps (do not exfoliate if bumps are present however, as this will further aggravate your skin). What this does is to help remove hardened plugs of proteins that form in the pores. These plugs cause hair to grow under the skin.

Take note that you should at all costs try to stay away from multiple blade razors as these will only serve to promote ingrown hairs (this is because you are shaving too close to the skin and this will cause the hair to grow under the skin when it regrows). They also give the hairs sharpened tips making it easier to grow through the pores of the skin.

Try using an electric razor if you can afford to. If you must use blades, try exfoliating and moisturizing the area before shaving (at least 24 hours before). When shaving, guide the razor in the direction of the hair growth. Not against it.

You can followup up with a proven product like Tendskin. If your underarms are discolored use a lightening cream only after you have overcome the problems with the bumps.

You can seek alternatives to shaving like depilatories, electrolysis or laser hair removal if the solution presented does not work.

All in all if you follow a routine of exfoliation, moisturizing, use of single blade or electric razors and shaving with the hair instead of against it and the application of a product like Tendskin, all should be made well.