How To Get Rid Of Razor Bumps: Quick Derm-Approved Tips + Products Recs

Razor bumps are a cruel joke. You go through all this effort shaving your legs or face so the skin is smooth and soft, and next thing you know, angry little red bumps start popping up. What gives? But here's the good news: You can easily treat them. And the great news: With the right techniques and tools, you might be able to prevent them altogether.

"Razor bumps are essentially ingrown hairs in areas where you shave," says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. "When you shave, the free edge of the hair is cut below the surface of the skin. When the free edge of the hair becomes trapped within the skin, it will grow on itself and curl under the skin rather than growing freely to the surface."

This develops into pimple-like red spots. It may feel sore and inflamed. And in more severe cases, it might become infected, which will look like a large, puss-filled cyst. In either case, these might last a while—around two weeks.

If you are someone who feels you develop them more frequently than your friends, well, it might be your shaving technique (more on that later), or it could be something out of your control: your hair texture.

Those with curly, thick strands can be more prone to shaving bumps. "Curly hair is more likely not to grow out cleanly through the surface of the skin," says Zeichner.

For smaller, less irritable bumps, you'll find you're almost treating these like you would acne. You can start by spot-treating them. First up: Chemical exfoliators, such as AHAs or BHAs, may be useful.

"It helps dry out the angry bump and exfoliate dead cells from the surface of the skin to open the blocked pore," says Zeichner.

Even if it's on your body, feel free to simply use your favorite acne face treatment and gently apply it to the inflamed bumps.

If it's a larger area of razor bumps, though, a proper body exfoliant is likely more economical.

After the product formula dries, rub on something soothing to help the redness and puffiness go down.

If it's on the infected end of the spectrum, you'll need to apply a topical first aid ointment: Curoxen is a natural antibacterial formula Regularly clean and reapply until it heals.

Let's start with the razor. Ask yourself: How old is mine? If you have to think about it, it's likely too old. Make sure to swap them out every five to 10 shaves, notes board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D.

As for the preparation, shave after your shower: "When the skin and the hairs are soft and well hydrated," says Zeichner.

Shaving is a form of physical exfoliation, as you're scraping off dead skin cells along with hair. So it's essential to moisturize after.

This is the most effective route to take for hair removal. According to board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., laser hair removal treatments emit light of a wavelength that is absorbed by melanin and the root of the hair. "That light energy is converted to heat, which permanently damages and destroys hair follicles," she says. 

Lasers (be it in office or using at home tools) offer a more permanent solution to hair removal. However, these sessions can be costly and require multiple appointments.

Waxing is an excellent alternative to shaving. It involves applying wax on the skin that adheres itself to the hair follicle, which is then ripped out. There is still a risk of developing ingrown hairs with waxing, but that risk is reduced with time.

Sugaring paste is made from 100% natural ingredients—sugar, lemon, and water. The gloop is able to penetrate the hair follicle and adhere to individual hairs before removing them at the root. 

While the phrases are often used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference. Like we've noted previously, razor bumps are just the colloquial term for in grown hairs that arise from shaving.

Razor burn, on the other hand, is generally what we refer to as what occurs immediately following shaving—that stinging, inflamed, hot rash that comes up from post shower.