Razor burn
As razor bumps (medical pseudofolliculitis barbae ) is referred to redness and irritation that arise on the shaved skin and mostly burn and itch; there are also reddish razor pimples that can last for several days. Most people develop razor burn when the skin is not treated at all or treated with the wrong care products after wet shaving . But razor burn can also occur after a dry shave. The razor burn becomes medically relevant if it does not subside after a short time, but instead there is a long-term inflammation of the hair follicles. This mainly occurs when the cut hair does not grow outwards, but (at least temporarily) continues to grow under the skin - this problem particularly affects people with naturally curly and strong hair.
Razor burn
Razor burn is a burning (possibly also itchy) skin irritation / irritation that can be traced back to the shaving and that is caused by the removal of the upper layers of skin during the shaving process. The background is usually an inadequate shaving technique or unsuitable aids.
Shaving bumps
Razor burn is often confused with razor bumps, which have other diseases and thus other causes. To be mentioned here are v. a. pseudofolliculitis barbae and folliculitis barbae.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is an inflammatory disease of the beard area with a high prevalence in men of subequatorial African descent and to a much lesser extent in Indo-Europeans. However, it can affect both men and women of all ethnicities. Without exception, they are reported to be related to shaving, and the latest evidence suggests a strong genetic component in patients with persistent PFB.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a chronic inflammatory and potentially disfiguring disease that is most common in both African American and Hispanic men and women who have tightly curled hair and who shave or pluck their hair frequently. The etiology is diverse. The shape of the hair follicle, hair cuticle and the direction of hair growth play a role in the inflammatory response once the hair is shaved or plucked and ready to grow. This reaction often leads to painful, itchy, and sometimes hyperpigmented papules in the beard distribution. The result is an unsightly cosmetic appearance that is often emotionally stressful for those affected. The diagnosis is made clinically. At present, prevention and early intervention are the main pillars of therapy. Many treatment options are available; however, none is entirely healing.
Folliculitis barbae is a common disease of both infectious and non-infectious etiology. Most often it represents superficial folliculitis, with fine pustules appearing at the opening of the hair follicles in the beard area, which are often associated with shaving. known as Bockhart impetigo and usually due to an infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. If left untreated, the infection and inflammation can progress and lead to a deeper-seated infection called sycosis barbae. Perifollicular nodules, also called boils, can appear, and when these are multiple and united, a deep-seated, communicating, pustulating plaque called a carbuncle develops, often with an associated systemic disorder. However, it cannot be assumed that such an appearance, which can result in an incision and drainage, is solely due to a staph infection. A diagnosis of tinea barbae should be considered and investigated, particularly in connection with close animal contact or lack of response to antibiotic treatment. Immediate treatment with antifungal drugs, and often systemic steroids, is required once the diagnosis is made. This will help reduce any exacerbation of the profound destruction resulting from the immune response to the fungal infection known as kerion that would be aggravated by surgery.
treatment
If razor burn occurs, shaving should be stopped until the skin has recovered. The razor burn lasts up to a week. A visit to the dermatologist is advisable for complaints that extend beyond this period - it is no longer a temporary irritation of the skin and hair follicles, but an infection with pathogens . This is treated as barbae pseudofolliculitis (ICD 704.8).
prevention
It is advisable to get the skin used to shaving , i. H. After the very first shave, you should shave the affected areas regularly and not allow long breaks. Wet shaving against the direction of growth of the hair (e.g. on the cheek from bottom to top) is particularly critical for razor burn , while shaving in the direction of growth causes significantly less skin irritation .
Above all, the use of fuzzy or inferior blades, too often used single-blade razors or improperly removed razors, which irritate the skin much more than sharp blades, should be avoided. Pressing the blade onto the skin must also be avoided, especially since this is not necessary if the blade is sufficiently sharp to cut through the hair.
Applying lotion to your beard or neck (both wet and dry) before you shave can also help prevent razor burn.
Care products
Shaving foam or gel are used as care products during shaving, which make the skin supple and straighten the hair. With dry shaving, a pre-shave aftershave can be applied before shaving to cleanse and relax the skin.
To avoid skin irritation, a skin-friendly aftershave or an alcohol-free lotion that does not cause a burning sensation should be applied after shaving . Baby skin care products can also be used for sensitive skin .
If hair follicles tend to become inflamed, aftershave lotions with a high alcohol content are often used for disinfection. This is preferred especially for thicker (older) skin. Accordingly, there is a wide range of care products on the market, from mild cleaning to powerful disinfection. However, alcohol only has a sufficiently disinfectant effect at a concentration of 80–90%.
Web links
- Detailed article on the history of shaving Per Archive org. restored.
- Detailed article on razor burn, as well as consideration of methods for prevention and treatment
Individual evidence
- ↑ K. Rodan, K. Fields, TJ Falla: Efficacy and Tolerability of a Twice-Daily, Three-Step Men's Skincare Regimen in Improving Overall Skin Quality and Reducing Shave-Related Irritation. In: Skinmed. Volume 15, No. 5, Oct 2017, pp. 349–355.
- ^ J. Gray, AJ McMichael: Pseudofolliculitis barbae: Understanding the condition and the role of facial grooming. In: Int J Cosmet Sci. Volume 38, Suppl 1, Jun 2016, pp. 24-27.
- ^ PK Perry, FE Cook-Bolden, Z. Rahman, E. Jones, SC Taylor: Defining pseudofolliculitis barbae. In: J Am Acad Dermatol. Volume 46, 2002, pp. 113-119.
- ↑ D. Wall, M. Fraher, B. O'Connell, R. Watson, C. Timon, LF Stassen, L. Barnes: Infection of the Beard area. In: Ir Med J. Volume 107, No. 7, Jul-Aug 2014, pp. 219-221.
- ^ HE Morton: The relationship of concentration and germicidal efficiency of ethyl alcohol. In: Ann NY Acad. Sci. Volume 53, 1950, pp. 191-196.
- ^ Y. Ali, MJ Dolan, EJ Fendler, EL Larson: Alcohols. In: SS Block (Ed.): Disinfection, sterilization, and preservation. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia 2001, ISBN 0-683-30740-1 , pp. 229-254.
