Overview
Pseudofolliculitis barbae is commonly known as razor bumps or shaving bumps, and it is a more severe form of the condition known as razor burn. Razor bumps tend to affect men with curved or curly facial hair; when the facial hair is cut off at the surface during shaving, it may curl back into the skin as it grows out, causing a small, tender bump. The bumps are not infected (if the bump becomes infected, it is called folliculitis barbae), but they are irritated. Treatment of razor bumps involves allowing the inflammation to settle down, which may simply involve not shaving for a while to allow the bumps to go away. Your doctor may also be able to prescribe a cream to help the inflammation. A "close shave" increases the risk of getting razor bumps, so if you are prone to this condition you should minimize frequency of shaving and avoid close shaving. Allowing razor bumps to go untreated may result in scarring, which is difficult to treat.
