Why Wearing a Beard Also Requires Proper Skin Care

A man wearing a beard used to be a way of presenting the main antagonist of a story, as beards tend to give a person impressions of an aggressive and uncaring behavior. In later years however, the negativity associated with beards wore out, as modern dermatological research revealed that frequent and close shaving can cause certain skin issues. Nevertheless, since shaving is regarded as a more hygienic practice, dermatologists and shaving device innovators came up with skin care remedies and measures for addressing skin irritations caused by constant shaving.

Tight shaves to achieve a clean, neat looking face can subject the skin to stress. While most men shave as frequently as possible to give their facial skin a smooth, clean-shaven appearance, the constant scraping of a razor against the skin can affect the lipid dermal layers. This causes irritation that in some cases lead to acne breakouts.

Tight shaves can also cause the growth of in-grown hairs and razor bumps, the two most common form of skin irritations caused by constant shaving.

What are In-Grown Hairs and Razor Bumps?

In-grown hairs are exactly what the terminology describes it to be, hair strands that have been cut off frequently, the strand takes on an inward rather than outward trajectory. Instead of growing out, the hair strands curve inward to grow under the skin and in the same follicle.

Razor bumps are similar but instead of growing back into its own follicle, the hair strands grow into another hair follicle.

Although there are remedies for removing them, the process involved can be painful as it involves plucking out each abnormal hair growth. To make the plucking process less painful, applying heat compress, or salycylic acid, lemon juice, aloe vera or tea tree oil can help soothe the affected areas.

What Dermatologists Recommend to Avoid Skin Irritations Caused by Shaving

Actually, dermatologists do not recommend a specific type of shaving tool as the right device to use in removing facial hair growths. What dermatologists recommend is the right way of shaving, which starts by washing one’s face with warm water.

Also known as wet shaving, this method prepares the facial skin by opening up the pores. Depending on the type of skin, a dermatologist may also recommend the use of hypoallergenic shaving cream. The latter will act as priming oil that lubricates the skin before carrying on with the shaving process.

To prevent in-grown hair strands or razor bumps from developing, know the direction by which the hair strands grow. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, train the hair strands to go and grow toward a single direction. Moreover, use a single razor shaving device and shave downwards, instead of using a multi-headed, multi directional shaving tool. Doing so can help prevent the hair from growing in, whilst allowing the strands to grow healthily in one direction.

It might interest readers to know that some websites offers a compilation of reviews and feedback on what most male consumers regard as safety razors. Since sporting a beard has become increasingly popular, the website also contains guides and reviews about beard care kits.