Love a clean shaven look but not keen on shaving rash? Let’s talk about Pseudofolliculitis barabe. This type of shaving rash comes with ingrown hairs, bumps on the skin and can be painful. It starts with a genetic propensity towards ingrown hairs combined with a suboptimal - often over enthusiastic shaving technique leading to ingrown hairs. Your body thinks of ingrown hairs as foreign bodies and tries to attack them using the immune system. This rash can be really prone to bleeding when you shave. As the rash resolves you can get post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, to make matters worse.
How to Prevent Shaving Rash
Learn to reject the close shave. Ideally the hairs of your face should be left just above the skin (or >1mm) when they have already emerged from the hair follicle. An electric razor or an ordinary single-blade razor is better for this. Double-blade or triple-blade razors can give too close a shave.
With that in mind, don’t stretch the skin when you’re shaving for a closer shave. Ingrown hairs are more common after pulling your skin while you are shaving, to get a close shave. It’s because when you stop pulling, the cut hair retracts back into the follicle but seems to turn inward into the wall of the follicle where it can get stuck. Shave in the natural direction or “with the grain” of the hairs. If the hairs naturally grow upwards, pull the razor upwards and if the hairs naturally grow downwards, pull the razor downwards, etc
Prepare your skin before shaving, by applying shaving gel, oil or foam to wet skin.
How to manage shaving rash
Get ready to embrace a bit (or a lot) of stubble for up to a few weeks while it gets sorted. An electric razor can be set to cut the hairs giving you a nice, handsome stubble like look.
If you have pustules, redness and inflammation around the hair follicles (the tips of the ingrowing hairs) that could be a bacterial or fungal infection. Not sure? Your pharmacist or doctor should be able to help identify this issue.
Do not try to get the tips of the ingrowing hairs out of the skin by scratching, picking or squeezing ingrown hairs. This can make the problem worse. Instead try washing with a soap free cleanser and warm water using a circular motion for several minutes to dislodge the hair tips.
Skincare for people with shaving rash:
1.) Hydroxy Cleanser
With the benefit of Salicylic acid and Glycolic acids, this gentle, soap free foaming cleanser is just the ticket for cleansing and helping gently dislodge the ingrown hairs without irritating the skin.
Hydroxy Cleanser
Our Hydroxy Cleanser is a soap-free, pH-balanced cleanser that provides gentle yet effective cleansing for your skin. Lightly foaming, it removes dirt, excess oils, and impurities without drying or irritating, making it perfect for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Designed with a neutral to acidic pH, it’s ideal for sensitive skin types, including those with acne, aging skin and pigmentation. This cleanser helps preserve hydration, supports the skin’s microbiome, and normalises skin pH, creating the perfect base for your skincare routine. Free from harsh soaps, astringents, and irritants, Hydroxy Cleanser leaves skin feeling fresh, balanced, and ready for any treatment.
Featuring
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Gentle, soap free syndets to leave your skin feeling clean and soft
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A pH of 4.5-5 to maintain the skin barrier
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Perfect for daily use for normal/oily skin
2.) Smooth Serum
Exfoliants like glycolic acid remove the dead cells from the surface of the skin and have been shown to help in the management in pseudofolliculitis barbae.
Smooth Serum is a night treatment formulated with 3% Glycolic acid, 1% Lactic acid, and 1% Gluconolactone. This gentle AHA blend supports the appearance of skin texture and surface renewal, helping maintain the look of even skin tone. Caution: Not recommended for very sensitive skin or skin prone to rosacea.
Smooth Serum
Key features:
3.) Ultimate A/ A+
Vitamin A helps with skin cell turnover and can help with the plugging of the hair follicles that is at the heart of this condition. Prescription retinoids can sting and burn. Retinal is the most effective and most well tolerated retinoid available, although it has never been directly studied for shaving rash.
Ultimate A Night Cream contains 0.06% Retinal, the most gentle and effective form of Vitamin A, paired with Niacinamide to help maintain skin barrier function and support brighter, firmer and more even looking skin tone and texture. Well suited even for the most irritable skin. Usage: Apply at night after cleansing (and serum if being used) as part of your evening skincare routine.
Ultimate A
Key features:
Building on the proven performance of Ultimate A, Ultimate A+ Night Cream is designed for those looking to refine texture and tone or support skin prone to congestion. With 0.1% Retinal (the next-generation form of Vitamin A), Niacinamide, and 2% Glycolic Acid, this formula delivers visible improvements while remaining gentle and well tolerated. This unique combination supports smoother-looking skin, helps refine the appearance of pores and uneven tone, and promotes a more hydrated, balanced complexion. Featuring: Potent yet gentle formulation suitable for daily use Helps improve the appearance of uneven tone and texture Supports firmer, more supple-looking skin Formulated with evidence-based ingredients known to enhance skin clarity Note: Retinal is not suitable for use during pregnancy.
Ultimate A+
4.) Hydroxy Overnight Mask
Salicylic acid is keratolytic acid and anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial. It has been successfully used to treat shaving rash.
Our Hydroxy Overnight Mask is your go-to for clearer, glowing skin! With 5% salicylic acid and 10% urea, it’s a powerful yet gentle way to take on blemishes and keep skin hydrated. In oiler skin, Salicylic acid gently exfoliates for a smooth finish, while urea deeply moisturises. Use it as a spot treatment, or apply it once a week for an all-over refresh. Just cleanse, apply, and let this overnight mask work its magic while you sleep—wake up to softer, clearer, and radiant skin ready to take on the day!
Hydroxy Overnight Mask
Featuring;
- Gentle exfoliators for a weekly skin refresh
- Convenient size means you can keep it on hand to tackle blemishes when and wherever they happen
5.) Steroid creams
Skin irritation and inflammation often respond really well to 1% topical corticosteroids. You can get these over the counter from the pharmacy.
6.) Benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide has antibacterial properties plus it can be keratolytic, helping remove dead skin cells that plug the pores and anti-inflammatory. It can burn and sting, making the issue worse and it can bleach your clothes and pillowcase so beware!
If it keeps coming back and a beard isn’t your thing, maybe try laser hair removal?
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8261811/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6585396/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24076193/
https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pseudofolliculitis-barbae-prevention-and-treatment
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1529-8019.2007.00124.x
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1396-0296.2004.04016.x