Razor Bumps on Throat

It is only natural to proceed onto the throat after removing hair from the beard region of the face. The curves and unevenness of the skin often creates a few obstacles for a shaver. For those who are not careful or try to rush through the process – they stand to meet an unsightly rash of lumps and bulges on the throat. These are called razor bumps and they appear when the skin becomes irritated after a fresh shave.

Appearance

After shaving, razor bumps tend to appear clustered and often concentrated in the mid-section on the throat. In darker shades of skin, the bumps are brownish to purple in color. A wider range of colorful irritation may appear on fair skin. For instance, some men suffer a red-looking rash with a few prominent razor bumps that stretch across the throat and underneath the chin.

Sometimes, larger razor bumps appear – displaying a darker red color, where the center of the bump is an even deeper shape of red. Usually, this indicates that the skin has been scraped too hard with a razor. In the worse cases, the razor bumps are purple with the centers forming a scab or filled with pus – a sign of infection.

In the end, if razor bumps are left untreated or become a recurring issue – papules may form, which can lead to scarring, secondary infection, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and keloids.

Causes

Razor bumps are the result of an inflammatory response that the immune system showcases when contact with a foreign body takes place. Usually, ingrown facial hair is to blame, but most often – it is the way that people shave that causes this condition. If you have sensitive skin or curly hair, you are also placed at a higher risk for suffering razor bumps after shaving. More specific causes of razor bumps are listed below:

a) Frequency:

When shaving with a razor, an unsanitary blade is sure to cause irritation and possibly an infection – especially if you nick or scrape too close to the skin. Avoid razor bumps by changing your blades often and limiting each to only three uses each.

b) Angle of Shaving:

When it comes to shaving, the angle at which you approach the skin can determine whether or not you will face a bout of razor bumps. It is suggested to choose a 30-degree angle for disposable razor shaves and a 45-degree angle when using an electric razor.

c) Condition of Your Blades:

The risk of razor bumps increases when you use razor blades or other equipment that is outdated, old, unsanitary, or used by another. There are some people who have ignored the signs of rust to not only suffer razor bumps, but also infection at the site of shaving.

d) Shaving Infected Areas:

If you have already developed a case of razor bumps, it is recommended to refrain from shaving until the infected region has healed. It will be hard to resist a clean shave, but if you continue to run a sharp blade across your hair bumps – the condition will only become worse.