As many women know, in addition to the occasional nicks and cuts incurred during shaving, it isn’t unusual to also have an aftermath of uncomfortable and unattractive razor bumps (red, inflamed blemishes), particularly along the bikini line. Hair follicles are attached to oil glands, and both are attached to nerve endings. Shaving can easily irritate the skin, the hair follicle, and the oil gland, causing a rashlike breakout of annoying bumps. Ingrown hairs can also present a dilemma. Ingrown hairs are curly, wiry hairs that turn, curl, and dig into the adjacent skin as they grow out, or hairs that grow back in the wrong direction, causing a bump that can become infected.
As widespread a beauty problem as this can be, for women and men alike, the lack of products addressing the issue is surprising. One of the more effective products for this problem are those formulated with aspirin in a glycerin base without alcohol. Aspirin, or acetyl salicylic acid, is a potent anti-inflammatory when taken orally yet has the same properties when applied topically. Unfortunately, it is hard to find products of this kind that are formulated without alcohol (alcohol would only add to the redness and irritation, making matters worse, not better). So why not consider formulating this yourself? You can easily mix together two aspirin tablets, a tablespoon of water, and a teaspoon of glycerin (you can buy this at the pharmacy) in a small cup or bottle. Once the aspirin is dissolved you can use it like a toner over the areas you’ve just shaved. This works for the face (for men), bikini line, legs, and underarms. You can apply your moisturizer after the aspirin solution is absorbed into the skin. If that sounds like too much effort, consider the aspirin-based Skin Relief Treatment I created for my Paula’s Choice line. It has a toner-like consistency and works beautifully to soothe redness and razor bumps.
If you find the bumps do not respond well to the aspirin, try occasionally using an over-the-counter cortisone cream to reduce the redness and irritation. However, if the bumps get infected you will need to disinfect them with an over-the-counter antibiotic like Neosporin, Polysporin, or Bacitracin. All three are excellent for quick relief from small topical infections.