If you shave your face, razor bumps can be a painful cosmetic issue, but one expert says there could be more lurking beneath the burn.

Dr. Adam Friedman director of dermatologic research at Montefiore Medical Center has linked female razor bumps to hormones, making them totally different from male razor bumps. Check out what the pro had to tell us:

Dr. Friedman, is the myth of women who shave their face having smoother skin true?

There is a technique called dermaplaning during which a thin blade is used to "shave the face" as a means of exfoliating. Dermaplaning is a non-invasive procedure which uses an sharp No. 10 surgical blade to gently scrape the outer layers of dead, dull skin cells. It also effectively removes the very fine (peach fuzz) vellus hair that is commonly found on the face (but it will most certainly grow back).

What's the real point behind a woman shaving her face?

The idea behind this is to provide another option to microdermabrasion, especially for those who may not have tolerated it in the past. However, since its first description in the 1970s, very little information as to its efficacy has been published.

Spas and physician offices often promote claims such as "will brighten dull skin," "reduce pigment irregularities," "stimulate collagen production," none of which have been proven scientifically. Most states require physician supervision because the procedure involves a sharp blade, but many aestheticians perform this as long as they remain within the confines of the epidermis.

How do you prevent bleeding when shaving so close to the skin?

Bleeding typically represents the safe boundary. Importantly, the licensing process is inconsistent and varies from state to state. If you choose to undergo dermaplaning, make sure to discontinue any exfoliating products including alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) serums, scrubs, retinol night creams and topical prescriptions (Retin-A, Tretinoin etc...) for at least several days prior to and after treatment. Sunprotection is a must, regardless of procedure.

If you start to shave your face as a woman, can you ever stop?

If a woman shaves for the purpose of removing excess hairs, there is a big misperception that this will cause the hair to grow back faster and thicker. Stopping will just allow the hair to grow back.

What causes razor bumps on a woman's skin?

There are two reasons women can get razor bumps...

Check back for more tomorrow on the real causes of pesky female shave bumps!

This article was originally published on Fashion Times.