Re: What do you shave with?......I'm talking faces
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: UKDslayer</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Captain Moroni</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For you guys that shave everyday what do you use and what have you found to be the most comfortable/least painful?
For the last couple of years I have used a Gillette Fusion and its OK but I get the damn bumps. I find myself putting it off longer than I would like because it is painful.
Is there a better way out there or do I just live with it? </div></div>
OK, time for professional input - those bumps are called "pseudofolliculitis barbae" ; and derms all across the country noted a huge increase in this condition with the onset of the "multi-blade" razors - the first being the Mach three, and we were all talking about it amongst ourselves before any papers came out on it.
The reason, well the actual mechanism is the first blade, and sometime second blade in the new Quadra track is intended to pull the hair slightly from the base of the hair follicle, raising the hair to a higher level than it was, so the second and third blades cut it in a way the hair is cut shorter assuming the hair compliantly retracts back in its old path. The problem, is that once some hairs are "pulled" from the base of their follicle, the don't always go straight back where they were they, the base of the follicle is angry, scarred, and now distorted, causing that hair to regrow at a different angle than it previous did. The result is instead of that hair growing straight along its prior path, say a 10 degree angle, it now is growing at a 30 or 45 degree angle, hence not coming out of the skin first, but plowing into a portion of skin, usually the higher layer of the dermis, where there isn't a "follicular opening" (where the hair should be growing/coming out of). The dermis sees that newly angled hair at a place it shouldn't be, and recognizes that hair as a foreign body - something that doesn't belong there, which stimulates an inflammatory response - white bloods cells (including neutrophils = pustules) attacking the area and release inflammtory chemicals, where the hair shouldn't be and thus creating "the red bumps".
So what can be done about it? Most dermatologists, right off the bat, are going to recommend going electric, or going back to the single or double blade and shaving in the direction of hair growth instead of against it, which yes, doesn't give a close shave. (That super sharp single blade mentioned above actually is great, but there is a learning curve that usually involves some bloodletting.) There are other options, depending on severity, I have personally seen good results with. First, there is an OTC product that your pharmacist can order called "Aqua Glycolic Facial Cleanser" that can be used as a shave gel (about $16 last I heard), it takes a good 2 weeks to see improvement. Aveeno shave is probably the best "cheaper" product, but does not work quite as well as Aqua Glycolic IMHO. Or, you doctor can even prescribe a low dose of an oral antibiotic such as minocycline or doxycycline that are taken on a continual basis, or a topical clindamycin (there is a foam that works great for the beard area called Evoclin). These antibiotics aren't to killed bacteria, but have the property of being anti-inflammatory of the skin, thus minimizing the red bumps.
I have seen Family doc's & PCP's prescribe topical steroids for the face - do NOT use those.
Now back to your regular channel... </div></div>
Thanks for the info. I think I will give the strait razor/single razor thing a try
