Hi everyone. Since I started DE shaving my facial and neck area has been 95% better as far as ingrowns/razor burn/ etc. However I have had continued problems with my nape area of my neck and scalp with these bumps that are non consistent in any way. Sometimes they are hard lumps that don't come to a head and sometime they do. Sometimes I will go months with none and then out of nowhere I will get 4 or 5 at once. I have been to dermatologist about it and have been told its folliculitis. Antibiotics clear it up but I am looking for more of a prevention then a remedy. I seem to have some success by using only cool/cold water when washing hair and scalp and also the use of Clear Poreformance shampoo. I know everyone points to that I get my hair cut short on my neck but I get the same things up on my scalp as well where my hair is never cut short. I seem to get them on the outer areas of my neck ( below the ear ) as well every once and a while that are harder and larger then the usual ingrown type bump. I am just looking for anyone that has had this sort of experience, knows what it could be , or has suggestions for treating and more importantly preventing. Thank in advance.
The diffusely red areas on your neck (first couple pics) look like folliculitis, but the more defined ones on your throat look very much like shaving bumps. They almost head up - release them with a needle (or a little squeeze) and they will let out blood-tinged serum. This will also allow the trapped hair to release and they can heal. They will eventually do this on their own, but may become infected first. If you open them hit them with triple antibiotic, or easier but more painful, a little alcohol-based aftershave. Might try Thayers Witch Hazel (not the alcohol free version) on the neck every day and see if it doesn't help and prevent reoccurrence of the folliculitis. Can't hurt!
Rather than "pop" the bigger bumps (which, at least in theory, could lead to infection and scarring), I'd try some gentle exfoliation twice a week to take care of them first.
I'm with Rich on the exfoliating. I do it twice a week, sometimes three times. It really clears up my face and back of my neck when I do it. I get those bumps on the back of my neck when my barber uses a straight on it. I get those bumps on the front of my neck too, but not as bad since switching to a DE razor. Good luck man, I know they suck.
There are many options. The first place you can look is Wal Mart or Target. They have all sorts of stuff there. The first thing that comes to mind is Clear-a-Sil. There are also non name brand things there.
My husband, stingraysrock, tends to get ingrown hairs on the "soul-patch" area, sometimes on the base of the neck and occasionally on the back of the neck. We address it if I can clearly see a hair jutting out of it. If I can see a hair, I pluck it. Gross, yes, but you can generally see the puss at the end of the follicle and then it heals. If I cannot detect a hair, we leave it and it goes away. There is a thread around here somewhere of the carnage that once was the "below-the-bottom lip" area of his face. Painful during, but smooth after.
Exfoliation is very important...if you can see the hair ingrown, remove it from turning in but dont pull it...Barc makes a good product for this issue (alcohol free) Tend to Skin is also a product that works well but this does contain alcohol and some guys do not like to use alcohol on their skin but the reality of it is alcohol based products clear up a good percentage of these issues with razor bumps and ingrowns.
I have since started using a exfoliating facial scrub twice a week as well as using TSD witch hazel and the ingrown hairs where I shave have been non existent. However these large firm lumps on the nape of my back and scalp have not been solved. I do not think they are ingrown hair as there is never a hair visible and there is really no head to the bump just a hard lump. Any more suggestions?
Started to use a product called:" Shea Moisture Shave" as a preshave, wash. It's a Facial Wash, & Scrub. It says it helps organically with ingrown hair, razor bumps, etc. priced reasonably, as good as any preshave I've used.
I sometimes get these bumps on the back of my neck also. Years ago my grandmother told me to crush up an aspirin. Mix the aspirin with just enough water to make a paste. Put the paste on the bumps. The next morning they're gone. I haven't a clue what makes this work but it does for me.
I have the same issues as Ryan. Back of the neck when barber uses a straight and my neck. Since I'm very prone to ingrown hairs, I do not go for BBS shaves. The closer the shave greater the change for an ingrown hair. I typically only do 1 WTG pass+ touch up. Also, not stretching the skin helps and witch hazel + aqua vela seems to work well for post shave. Some guys are just prone to ingrown hairs, I think it's typically coarse curly hair. One of my buddies has never had an ingrown hair in his life, lucky guy right?
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) helps with inflammation & is also an exfoliant that helps with ingrown hairs. (A new/sanitized toothbrush can also help with ingrowns by mechanical exfoliation. Just use a light touch to avoid causing more irritation.) Your grandmother was a wise lady. There are a lot of pricey products on the market aimed at preventing ingrown hairs & the active ingredient is....acetylsalicylic acid
Do you sleep on your back? It might sound silly, but men who are prone to neck irritation & ingrowns may benefit from more frequent pillowcase changes. Overnight the pillowcase (& sheets) absorb sebum, sweat & sloughed-off skin cells --all of which can exacerbate neck irritation/ingrowns. (I've done make up for several women who tend to get breakouts on one side of the face. It's often the side they sleep on). You're right that coarse, curly hair is particularly prone to having ingrowns. In fact the tigher the curl pattern, the more prone to ingrown hairs. Young adults, particularly those with oily skin, also seem to be particularly prone to ingrown hairs on the face & body.
This is exactly me, tight curly hair, young adult, and oily skin. I'm the ingrown hair trifecta! Time to change my sheets and pillow case.