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Help! My Barber Gave Me an Infection

Friday, March 15, 2019 — updated on October 01, 2020 - 5 min read

Close up of a man’s hair seen through a magnifying glass. FILE PHOTO

Most Kenyan men dedicate a good portion of their grooming time at the barber’s. Although standards of hygiene have improved over the years, there are some skin problems that one can still pick from the barbershop.

Fungal skin problems

Wash the skin with warm water before shaving.
Use a mild cleanser or soap to avoid irritation when washing the skin.
A warm towel compress applied to the face or scalp may also be helpful during a shave.
Avoid dry shaving; instead apply a lubricating shaving cream before you shave. If you do not like using shaving creams, a mild soap may be used.
Do not pull the skin tightly when shaving.
Always use a sharp blade to shave.
Shave in the direction that the hair grows.
Use light strokes when shaving.
If you are using a manual shaver, rinse the blade regularly (preferably after each stroke).
Rinse the skin thoroughly after shaving.
Apply moisturiser or lotion after the shave.
It may also be useful to regularly exfoliate the skin between shaves (if you do not wish to use commercial exfoliating products, you can opt for a soft face towel and use it to gently rub off dead skin).
Switching to an electric razor may be useful in reducing ingrown hairs.
If you are using an electric shaver, hold it slightly away from the skin.
If you opt to use hair removal creams, ensure that they do not irritate the skin.
Laser hair removal is available locally but is quite expensive. In addition, care should be taken when selecting this as the hair removal technique can cause skin darkening, blisters and scars.