How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Razor & Bikini Bumps
It is no secret that just about everybody shaves in order to remove the unwanted facial or body hair that they are constantly growing. However, along with shaving comes the very real risk of ending up with razor bumps, which is often times more commonly referred to as razor rash. This is going to be especially true if you suffer from sensitive skin and are prone to getting ingrown hairs.
If this is you, then you know that these particular side effects of shaving are anything but pleasant and can even cause you to experience chronic discomfort. If you do shave your unwanted hairs that grow all over your body, then you probably already know that the most common places to get razor burn is going to be on your neck, legs, and arms.
The cause of razor bumps and essentially razor burn is going to be when your shaved hair retracts downwards into your skin, which then allow that particular hair follicle to become infected by bacteria. This is going to be what results in the small inflamed rashes that you can experience after shaving in a certain area. With razor bumps, it is going to be that same infected ingrown hair that is going to become inflamed and become itchy, unpleasant to look at, and even painful. The best thing you can do if you are suffering from razor bumps and rashes is going to be to try and get those unsightly discomforts removed from your skin as quickly as you are able to.
Razor Bumps
When it comes to razor bumps, they are known in medical terminology as Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, and much more commonly as razor rash, bikini bumps, and shaving bumps. While they do come in different names, the end result is going to be the exact same, they are going to cause you the same type of pain and discomfort. This condition is going to only occur after you have shaved when:
- The hairs in the area that you shaved have curled back around and have reentered your skin from a different direction.
- The hair that you shaved remains inside its hair follicle and does not ever come out of your skin (this is actually how an ingrown hair is going to be caused).
Because of this, you will notice that a small and red bump is going to form on the skin in the area that you have recently shaved. This extremely annoying condition is going to be a direct result of your body presuming that there is an abnormal hair growth occurring and is considered to be a microbial invasion. In response to this microbial invasion, your body is going to respond defensively. Here is exactly what you should do and what you should not do whenever you get razor burn, and remember, the absolute least that you will want to do is to try and keep this already irritating condition from getting even worse.
- Pat your skin dry in the area that is causing you discomfort with a dry towel. Be sure that you never rub the area as that is a sure-fire way to only increase the amount of irritation that your skin is going through, hence resulting in much more discomfort.
- Be sure that you do not squeeze any of your razor bumps, as this too is going to be cause for even more discomfort, an infection, and even an ingrown hair.
- Never scratch the area that is irritated. If you do, you can potentially break open your skin which will possibly cause an infection -causing bacteria to be able to enter.
- Visit a certified dermatologist if the condition does not go away on its own or gets even worse over time.
Just keep in mind that there are going to be some people who are much more prone to getting razor burn and ingrown hair than others will be. If you notice that you are still experiencing razor burn even though you are making your best effort to keep them away while you are shaving, you will need to deal with the discomfort that they cause in an effective manner. This is exactly where tea tree oil is able to help prevent and treat any razor burn that you may experience.
Can Tea Tree Oil Help with Razor Burn?
Tea tree oil is derived from the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree, which is more commonly referred to as the tea tree. Tea tree oil is going to consist of very powerful active compounds that are known as terpenes and are popular for the strong deterrents that they provide against bacteria and other types of microbes. On top of that, they are also going to set your white blood cells into motion in order help fight off any kinds of invading germs. Because of the powerful antimicrobial properties that tea tree oil is able to provide, it makes it a great candidate for the treatment of most bacteria related skin conditions, as well as in warding off any potential infections.
All of the very potent terpenes contained in tea tree oil are going to include terpinen-4-ol, which is the main reason that tea tree oil is so effective when it comes to fighting off various bacteria and other viruses, even if they have built up a resistance to the more traditional types of antibiotics. They are going to help guard you against infections and even promote healing, meaning that tea tree oil is going to be one of the smartest choices that you will ever make if you are looking for an all-natural treatment for all of your minor skin problems.
Using Tea Tree Oil to Treat Razor Bumps
When it comes to treating razor bumps and razor burn, tea tree oil’s antibiotic and all-natural healing capabilities are going to pretty much make it the perfect option no matter how severe your particular razor burn may be. it is not only going to be able to soothe any irritation that you may be feeling, but it will also help to decrease the amount of swelling and even speed up the entire healing process as well.
Just a word of caution however, using pure and concentrated tea tree oil for razor bumps is not necessarily going to be the best option for you. This is due in part to tea tree oil being very strong and able to cause you to experience allergies or even some other side effects as well, especially if you are naturally sensitive to any other essential oil. With that being said, be sure that you first try experimenting with tea tree oil in smaller amounts so that you are able to gauge how your body reacts and then go from there.
Also, you are going to want to be sure to speak with your doctor about your plans for experimenting with tea tree oil for razor burn as well. When your doctor knows what you are planning on doing, they will be able to give you all of the information that you will need to succeed, as well as to guide you in your initial uses of the tea tree oil as well. The last thing that you want to happen is to try using tea tree oil for the very first time on your razor burn and have it cause some type of allergic reaction that you will need to try to explain to your doctor anyways. Remember, safety should always come first.
