Shaving Bumps
Razor bumps and ingrown hairs — reduced by treating the hair at the follicle.
Shaving bumps — also called razor bumps or pseudofolliculitis barbae — are red or dark, sometimes sore bumps that appear after shaving, most often on the beard area and neck. They happen when shaved hairs curl back into the skin. At Feonix Aesthetics in Coventry, laser hair removal is used to reduce the hair growth behind them, after a laser consultation and patch test.
What it is
Pseudofolliculitis barbae is inflammation caused by ingrown hairs. After a close shave, a sharp hair tip can curl back and re-enter the skin, or grow sideways under it. The skin reacts with small, firm bumps that can be red, itchy or tender, sometimes with a visible hair trapped underneath. Over time, repeated bumps can leave dark marks or small scars.
It is most common on the jaw, chin and neck in people who shave the beard area, but it can affect any shaved area, including the bikini line and underarms.
Treatments for Shaving Bumps (Pseudofolliculitis Barbae)
More about Shaving Bumps (Pseudofolliculitis Barbae)
Why it happens
Curly or coarse hair is much more likely to curl back into the skin, which is why shaving bumps are particularly common in people with tightly curled hair. Close shaving, shaving against the grain, stretching the skin while shaving and dull blades all make it worse. Waxing and plucking can also lead to ingrown hairs.
How we assess it at Feonix
At a laser consultation we look at the affected area, your hair and skin type, and any marks or scarring already present, and take your medical history. A patch test checks how your skin responds before a course begins. If the bumps look infected or there is another skin condition involved, we will tell you, as that needs to be addressed first.
What treatment can and cannot do
Laser hair removal targets the hair follicle at the root, so fewer hairs grow back to be shaved and the cycle of ingrown hairs is reduced. It is carried out over a course of sessions, because hair grows in cycles.
Laser reduces hair growth over time rather than removing every hair, and results vary with hair colour, skin type and hormones; very fair, grey or white hair does not respond. Existing dark marks may take time to fade. We explain the expected course and realistic outcome at your consultation.
Common questions about shaving bumps
What causes shaving bumps?
Shaved hairs curling back into the skin, or growing sideways under it, after a close shave. Curly or coarse hair, shaving against the grain and dull blades all make them more likely.
How can I reduce them at home?
Shaving less closely, shaving with the grain using a sharp blade, avoiding stretching the skin, and gentle exfoliation can all help. Letting the beard grow for a while often lets the bumps settle. If they keep coming back, laser hair removal is an option to discuss.
How does laser help?
By reducing hair growth at the follicle, laser means fewer hairs grow back to be shaved and to curl into the skin. It works over a course of sessions and reduces, rather than removes, every hair.
Is laser suitable for darker skin?
Laser hair removal at Feonix is offered across skin tones, with settings chosen for your skin. Suitability is confirmed at your laser consultation and patch test.
How do I start?
Book a laser consultation at our Coventry clinic (15 Little Park Street). We assess the area, carry out a patch test and explain whether a course is suitable for you. Clients come to us from across the Midlands.
How we decide what’s right
Every plan starts with a consultation. We assess your suitability, discuss your goals and review your medical history before recommending anything — and we will tell you if a treatment isn’t right for you. If a prescription-only treatment may be appropriate, this will be discussed and assessed by an appropriately qualified prescriber before anything is prescribed.
£50, held as credit for 12 months against any treatment or product.
Fewer shaving bumps
Shaving bumps come from hairs growing back into the skin. Book a laser consultation at Feonix Aesthetics and we will assess the area and explain whether laser hair removal is suitable for you.