Hairless without the Burns and Bumps

Warmer days are here again and that means, the swimming season is just around the corner. As early as now, many women hit the gym to shape and tone because they would love to look their best in their bikinis. Their desire to have a smooth, hairless skin also heightens at this time of the year that they find themselves reaching more frequently for a razor. While shaving is the fastest and cheapest way to remove unwanted hairs, more often than not, razor burns is a common side effect. That is why you have to be careful when you shave, lest you want to get razor burns or razor bumps or even both!

Razor burns or razor bumps? What's the difference? Razor burn is a rash while razor bumps are ingrown hairs. According to dermatologist Jami Miller, MD, of the Vanderbilt University department of medicine in Nashville, Tenn, "Razor bumps are caused when hair grows back and loses its track out of the skin. It curls under the skin surface until it finds a way out." If you take precautions when you shave, you can prevent both from happening.

To prevent razor burns, you need to use a sharp razor and press it gently on your skin. While shaving, use a thick shaving cream made for sensitive. Allow for the shaving cream to soak for a few minutes on your skin for best results. Shave in the same direction your hair grows. To allow for even more cutting, rinse the blades between strokes. Moisturize with a hypoallergenic and fragrance free moisturize after you dry off.

Razor bumps can be prevented by shaving in the right direction, exfoliating the skin gently on the days you don’t shave, using a clean razor always and choosing the right razor. Miller says it is best to stick with single or double blades, not three or more.

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