Dave Waggner is the Educator Guru at Skin Script and here are his words of wisdom about in-grown hairs or pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) which is a type of inflammation of the follicle lining affecting the beard area due to infection with the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
PFB is due to shaving, particularly close shaving—because the cut hair may retract beneath the skin surface. It can also occur in skin folds and scars. It occurs mainly in people with curly hair because the curl of the hair means that the sharp pointed end of a recently shaved hair comes out from the skin and re-enters the skin close by causing a foreign body inflammatory reaction. The follicles can easily become infected, causing PFB. So you get ingrown hairs and razor burn, those irritating red bumps on your face.
So WTH(eck) Dave, how do we fix it?
Dave’s advice is to let the beard grow for 30 days to eliminate ingrown hairs (I know we are currently in summer and that is harder to do but maybe a good idea for crazy No Shave November?) .
When ready to shave again, take the following precautions:
- Ensure the skin is well moisturized.
- A good scrub like Skin Script Retinol 2% Exfoliating Scrub/Mask will exfoliate the surface skin cells and reduces the likelihood of new inflamed spots.
- Aim to have a 5 o’clock shadow immediately after shaving. Shave less frequently, e.g. every other day.
- Either use a single blade disposable razor, or use electric hair clippers or a razor with an attachment that leaves the cut hairs long.
- Shave in the direction of the follicle, not against it. Do not stretch the skin.
- Sterilize metal hair clippers and electric razors using boiling water, and plastic items should be soaked in antiseptic solution.
Treating PFB from a Skin Script perspective:
Retail products: Raspberry Refining cleanser or Green Tea Citrus Cleanser, Cucumber Hydration Toner, Retinol 2% Exfoliating Scrub/Mask, Clarifying Toner Pads, appropriate weighted moisturizer, Blemish Spot Treatment (as needed) and of course, Sheer Protection SPF 30. All of these products are available at Raspberry Moon. Just Contact Us to order what you need.
Professional treatment: Need some help getting started in the right direction? Raspberry Moon offers an Ingrown Hair Facial Treatment that will begin to address these issues. Depending on the severity of the PFB we may need to do a series of Glycolic Acid Peels. Book a Man of the Hour Facial for your service and we will go over your skin issues and tailor a treatment to you.
From Skin Script:
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
From me: Ditto on the above statement and use some common sense people! Everyone is responsible for their own actions. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. If you have reaction, stop what you are doing. I hope this information is helpful.
