Daily Perricone

Many men with brown skin find themselves plagued by ingrown hairs and razor bumps, especially after shaving. It is estimated that approximately 60 percent of black men have a condition called pseudofolliculitis barbae – a very fancy term used to explain the inflammation that occurs when curly hairs work their way back into the skin and produce shaving bumps. Just about any man with skin that has a significant melanin content is at risk for developing razor bumps.

CASE STUDY:  Joe

A young man named Joe arrived at my office deeply concerned about the dark spots, redness and irritation that had developed all over his face and neck as a result of shaving. He had already been seen by a dermatologist who had given him the traditional medication for the condition, which is Retin-A.

As a result of my own research, I knew that Retin-A had little effect on razor bumps, and since it can produce inflammation in some skin types, Retin-A tends to further irritae the skin around the bumps.

I had conduct a small, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with my patients and found that the best solution for razor bumps was alpha hydroxy acids. The men in my test group experienced a 60% reduction in the bumps caused by ingrown hairs over the course of four weeks. In addition, I discovered that if they used glycolic acid cream, these men could shave daily without any further problems. Alpha hydroxy acids are acidic substances, most often derived from foods, that have been used for years to enhance the appearance of the skin. Lactic acid, the acid in milk, for example, is an alpha hydroxy acid. There are many creams containing alpha hydroxy acids on the market. These gentle acids help the skin to eliminate dead surface cells and heal inflammation.

So I prescribed a regimen of alpha hydroxy acid lotion twice daily for Joe, as well as a topical alpha hydroxy acid solution to calm the inflamed skin on his face and neck. Over a period of eight weeks he reported that he could shave more comfortably and that many of his dark spots had disappeared. He was also delighted to find that the few lines he had accumulated in his 36 years had faded, along with his razor bumps.

As an active researcher, I welcome your comments and suggestions.