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Pseudofolliculitis Barbae Specialist

Yetunde Sannoh, MD -  - Internist

Total Wellness Healthcare Clinic

Yetunde Sannoh, MD

Internist & Aesthetic Specialist located in Upper Marlboro, MD & Waldorf, MD

Pseudofolliculitis barbae is more commonly known as razor bumps - the red, bumpy rash that can appear after shaving. Dr. Sannoh of Total Wellness located in Upper Marlboro and Waldorf, Maryland, specializes in aesthetic medicine, and she can provide laser treatment solutions for razor bumps. Dr. Sannoh is a board-certified internist with more than 10 years of experience who believes that everyone should receive the highest quality of primary and outpatient care. If you’ve had razor bumps, you know how irritating they can be, but you don’t have to endure them any longer. Call the clinic or book an appointment online now.

Pseudofolliculitis Barbae

What is pseudofolliculitis barbae?

It’s a very long name for a relatively common skin condition better known as razor bumps, or barber’s itch. Many men have problems with razor bumps at some point in their lives. Razor bumps most frequently affect African-American men, with up to 85% of the population experiencing this condition during their lives.

When you shave, the hairs that are trying to regrow come up against blockages such as dead skin cells in the surface of your skin. When the hairs can’t grow through the blockage, they curl back into the hair follicle, causing itchy, raised bumps that can then become inflamed and sore.

A specialist like Dr. Sannoh can help you with tailored treatments for your uncomfortable razor bumps.

Do women get razor bumps too?

Pseudofolliculitis barbae can affect any area of shaved skin and may also occur after plucking, waxing, and treatment with hair removal creams. That means anyone who removes excess body hair by any of these methods could find they have a case of razor bumps. Women commonly experience razor bumps in the bikini line area.

What are the symptoms of razor bumps?

The appearance of small red bumps on parts of your body that you’ve been shaving is the characteristic symptom of pseudofolliculitis barbae. The face is the most common place in which men experience razor bumps because of the frequency with which they shave this area. Women are more likely to have razor bumps in the armpits, groin area, and on the legs.

The bumps may be itchy and painful, and your skin may start to darken in color. They can be solid lumps or may turn into pustules, which are small blisters filled with pus.

Do I need to see a doctor for razor bumps?

You should see Dr. Sannoh if you think you are suffering from razor bumps because tinea barbae, a fungal infection that occurs in bearded areas, causes similar symptoms but needs to be treated differently than razor bumps.

Chronic pseudofolliculitis barbae can lead to scarring or permanently lumpy skin, and in some cases may cause abscesses that will need surgical treatment. Therefore, it’s always best to get them treated promptly so you can avoid these problems.

At Total Wellness, Dr. Sannoh uses laser treatments to destroy the root of the hair and prevent regrowth, providing a solution to the problem of pseudofolliculitis barbae. Call the clinic now or use the online booking form to make an appointment.