Good and comprehensive clinical guidelines are often hard to come by, and those for this next condition is no exception.
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1. Counselling Conundrum: a real question from a patient
2. Concise Conclusion: a straight-forward patient-friendly answer
3. Quick Wrap-up
Clearly, there are nuances that may not be captured in this format. The goal here is to provide you with helpful counselling tips which often draw from multiple sources or those which are not commonly accessed by busy healthcare providers serving the community.
Counselling Conundrum: "When I shave I keep getting razor bumps. I'm a police officer and need to be clean shaven for work, so it's not an option for me not to shave. I already use shave gel before I shave, and aftershave moisturizing cream. Is there anything else I can do?"
Concise Conclusion: The best thing to try first in this case would be a weak steroid for the skin, like hydrocortisone 0.5 %. Since you cannot stop shaving, you can also add an antimicrobial like benzoyl peroxide, and you should also try to switch to an electric razor or even hair removal creams, as this may minimize irritation. Another thing that may help is to wash your beard area with a rough washcloth in circles to remove hairs that may be stuck.
Quick Wrap-up: Keep in mind not shaving is usually the best cure, and it can take up to 6 months to improve. When you can't stop shaving, treatment is warranted. If topical low-potency corticosteroids/antibacterials don't work, a visit to to their PCP is necessary (topical retinoids or laser hair removal may be warranted).
Dive Deeper
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