I am looking for a clinical approach to handling what is commanly
called RAZOR BUMPS.  This is a condition common among african american
males.  I am a 16 year old with a problem of razor bumps on my neck
region.
Specifically, is an electric razor any better than a blade shave?  Is
there any clinial data to support either method.
In addition, what salves or medications can be used.
I am reluctant to explore laser hair removal at a young age so I am
looking for another alternative...

My military friends used some sort of depilatory powder or cream; I do
not recall which. They reported no difference among razor types,
including straight, single, double, and electric rotary or... um, the
other kind of electric that has a vibrating head under a screen.

The rest grew beards, with permission.

Not only African Americans suffer from that.

I found a good wet razor was less vicious than all electric monsters
- but the best was to grow a maintainable beard

In your case, for the back of the neck, I would look at female
underarm depilatory creams.

The real bitches to watch out for are the hairs that grow in circles
under the skin ...

From WEBMD: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/42/1685_50200.htm

A Close Shave

How can I avoid razor bumps after shaving? By Charles Zugerman, MD
  

March 6, 2000 (Chicago, Ill.) -- Razor bumps are a common and
treatable nuisance. Normally, hair grows to the surface of the skin in
a tube called a follicle, without touching the skin itself. If your
beard is naturally thick and curly, or if your follicles grow out at
oblique angles to the skin's surface, shaving can cause sharp ends on
the hairs.

If the sharp ends penetrate the skin, the body reacts as if to any
foreign object, such as a splinter. This can lead to a very red,
pimple-like bump.

These changes in your shaving routine can help you reduce the problem: 


Take a warm shower for at least two minutes before shaving to soften
your beard. Hairs will cut more easily and the severed ends will be
duller, making penetration of the skin less likely.

Use a razor that does not shave as closely or try an electric razor
that is not set at the closest setting. Apply a lubricated shaving gel
made for use with electric razors.

Choose a razor with a single blade. Double- or triple-bladed razors
cut hair shafts so far down that they may recoil much farther back
into the follicles. The hairs then may penetrate the follicle and
cause a reaction in the surrounding skin.

To dislodge hairs that may be starting to grow into the skin, use a
short-bristled toothbrush. Using a circular motion, gently brush the
parts of your face that are prone to razor bumps once or twice daily.

Avoid aftershaves or colognes, which may irritate your skin. Instead,
try a moisturizer containing lactic acid or glycolic acid to help
soften the hairs.
Be patient. It may take several days to a few weeks to see improvement. 

If these suggestions do not work, you may as a last resort want to
consider alternatives to shaving, such as depilatories and
electrolysis.

Occasionally red bumps are a sign of an infection. If the bumps do not
resolve or improve, see your doctor or a dermatologist.


Also from WebMD...

Razor bumps


What are razor bumps?
Razor bumps, also called pseudofolliculitis barbae, are small,
irritated bumps on the skin that develop after shaving when strands of
hair curl back on themselves and grow into the skin. Razor bumps cause
irritation and the development of pimples. They also may cause
scarring.

How are razor bumps treated?
To treat razor bumps, use a clean needle to release the embedded hair
shaft. If possible, stop shaving. This usually stops razor bumps from
developing, depending on the severity. However, when shaving is
restarted razor bumps typically return.

Do shaving alternatives stop the development of razor bumps?
Razor bumps will generally go away if shaving is stopped. Hair removal
products (depilatories) can be used instead of shaving. However, these
products can irritate the skin and should be used only once or twice a
week.

Laser treatment may be an option. Laser treatment destroys the hair
follicle and reduces the number of bumps that form. A recent study
found that after 90 days, the average number of skin bumps in the
treated sites was significantly lower compared with untreated sites,
although some hair may regrow and return to normal thickness after 6
to 12 months.1

Can razor bumps be prevented?
The following shaving instructions can prevent razor bumps from forming:

Take a hot shower before shaving to soften the hair and open the pores.
Use a thick shaving gel.
Don't stretch the skin when shaving and always shave in the direction
your beard grows. Use the fewest razor strokes possible. Rinse with
cold water.
An electric razor can be used if it can be adjusted to a higher setting.
Use a moisturizing lotion after shaving.
Who is at risk for razor bumps?
Razor bumps are common among African-Americans and people with tightly
coiled hair. Razor bumps tend to be more of a problem for men than
women since many men shave daily.

Barbershop talk from Blackmeninamerican online magazine

http://www.blackmeninamerica.com/barber.htm

The comments to this earlier question suggest a remedy:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=462346

Hi,

A friend of mine in South Africa makes an aftershave cream for
Africans for this purpose. It is available in US and Canada and its
called BUMPPATROL. Try it. Guranteed it will work. You can buy from
any store that sells Hair products for Africans.

My brother used to suffer from razor bumps. He finally stopped
shaving, and used a depilatory product called Magic Shaving Powder. It
worked quite well for him.

A safe and effective method of shaving involves the use of teh
Shaver's Choice line of shaving products.  They are available on-line
at several sites.  They treat the causes of razor bumps and ingrown
hairs rather than the symptoms, so they actually prevent my razor
bumps 99% of the time.  I actually enjoy shaving now because the shave
gel makes my hair so soft that there is no resistance or drag of the
razor.  If you try it, you will never want to shave with anything else
the rest of your life.  I used them with clippers until I got brave
enough to use a razor - works regardless of how you shave.  No burning
or dryness.

I've been suffering from razor bumps for all my teenage years. The
best solution I found was to shave with a clipper. I would have the
equivalent of a 2-3 day beard but that was better than the bumps.

10 years ago, a friend of mine told me about Magic Powder. I've been
using it since then, and I have to admit that I am satisfied. That
thing is so good that it is recommended by the AMA (American Medical
Association) against Razor Bumps in Black Men beard. Recently, the
company was acquired by Softsheen Carson and I no longer see the AMA
logo on it. However, the product is still the same and can be found at
any super.

They have 3 kinds of Magic Powder "flavors": a red container, a blue
container and a gold one. The first two really smell bad, so I usually
used the gold one.

Some people complain that it occasionnally burn their skin. That's
because they did not thoroughly follow the instructions on the
container (they forgot about the time etc.). The best way is to always
keep the paste moist on your face and not to try putting the paste
again on your skin even if you realize that the beard was not properly
removed.

Try it and you will be satified.