Hi all. I'm a guy with a beard. I get these painful, red bumps under my beard on my neck and chin. It looks like acne, but it might be razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae). How do I tell the difference? And if it's razor bumps, will acne treatment make it worse? I shave with a regular razor every other day. I'm tired of looking like I have a disease.

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You almost certainly have pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps), not acne. Acne is a clogged pore (comedone). Razor bumps are ingrown hairs. The curly hair grows, curls back into the skin, and causes an inflammatory bump. They look similar, but treatment is OPPOSITE. Acne treatment (salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids) will dry out the skin and make ingrown hairs worse because the skin gets tight and traps the hair more. For razor bumps: Stop shaving so close. Use an electric razor or clippers with a guard – leave 1mm of stubble. Do not use a multi-blade razor (those cut hair below skin level). Exfoliate with a gentle scrub (or a wet washcloth) before shaving. Use a salicylic acid toner AFTER shaving to keep the follicle opening clear. If it's severe, a dermatologist can prescribe a cream called eflornithine (slows hair growth) or perform laser hair removal (the permanent cure). Stop shaving against the grain.

I suffered from 'beard acne' for years until a barber told me it was razor bumps. I switched from a 5-blade razor to a single-blade safety razor and started shaving with the grain only. The bumps reduced by 80%. I also started using a glycolic acid toner (7%) on my neck twice a week. That dissolves the dead skin that traps the hairs. For the really stubborn bumps, I went to a med spa for professional acne skin treatment that turned out to be laser hair removal. After 6 sessions of laser, the hair was so fine that it no longer curled back into the skin. Problem solved. If you want to see a clinic that understands the difference between acne and ingrowns, check here: https://bellasanamedspa.com/treatment/acne-treatment. Stop torturing your neck. Let the beard grow or remove the hair permanently.