Shaving Problems

[Jb82270]

I have a problem with my face after shaving.  I have really course facial hair.  This problem only happens on my cheeks, not my chin or mustache.  A day or two after shaving I notice that I have anywhere from 10-20 small spots on my cheeks that look like blackheads, but are not.  The longer I go without shaving the more obvious these small black spots are.  Some of them get irritated immediately, some don't for months.  I break the skin to dig out what ends up being facial hair.  It almost seems that the hair died before making it through the skin.  The hair isn't near as "tough" and "firm" as my normal facial hair.  Instead, it is "mushy" and when rolled with the fingers, it just disentegrates.  I have the occasional ingrown hair, but this issue with these "dead hairs" is continous.  I am bad about picking at my face so I have created scars.  I have quit using 3 and 4 blade razors...and now use the disposables.  I also tried the Magic Shave depilatory cream.  Nothing seems to be helping.  Any idea on what this is and how to prevent??

[vexalstoic]

Switching to a mild shaving cream like Aveeno Therapeutic Shaving Gel or Vanicream Shaving Gel should help. Also, make sure you use a good post shave soother like Clinique Post Shave Soother. It has Salicylic acid that should help with the breakouts.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the description of your symptoms it sounds like blackheads.It is a yellowish or blackish bump or plug on the skin and is a type of acne vulgaris. It is caused by excess oils that have accumulated in the sebaceous gland's duct.

Cleanse the area thoroughly and apply a good mild exfoliating scrub on that. Apply a medicated cream or gel containing resorcinol, salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. This helps is soaking the oil and helps in peeling away the blackheads.If benzoyl peroxide leaves your skin dry, apply an oil-free moisturizer after 10 mins of applying benzoyl peroxide.

If the symptoms still persist then pls consult a dermatologist and get folliculitis ruled out.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.