Through regular shaving, the skin is permanently irritated and reacts accordingly: redness, rash and itching are among the typical symptoms of razor burn, which are particularly noticeable on the neck. But how do such skin irritations occur? This is due to the missing horny scales that were removed by the razor blades – they normally protect the top layer of skin from external influences. As a result, numerous minor injuries occur, such as cuts, which can easily become infected. This makes it all the more important to properly prepare the skin for the upcoming shave and then care for it. This is the only way you can avoid razor burn. What you need to consider is explained below.
You should take your time for a close shave. The less you prepare your skin for the upcoming procedure, the higher the risk of a painful and itchy rash – you shouldn’t be skimpy here. Instead, it’s best to do the following:
This may sound strange at first, but it is a tried and tested method among beauticians: place a warm, damp washcloth on the parts of your body you want to shave for two minutes – this opens the pores and allows you to remove the hair more easily. You can also apply a pre-shave product (e.g. a shaving oil or cream) to the skin, which acts as a protective film. This also applies to wet shaving and dry shaving.
If you prefer wet shaving, you should always use a shaving foam or shaving gel. Apply the product generously and massage it into the skin – this will help the blades glide better over the skin. As a rule of thumb, the more time that passes between application and the actual shave, the less irritated your skin will be. You can then apply some aftershave or a skin-friendly aftershave balm.
When shaving yourself, you should always make sure to follow the direction of hair growth. If the blade is sharp, your skin will be just as smooth as if you shave against the direction of hair growth – only it reacts to it in a much more relaxed manner. For the same reason, it is at least as important that you replace the blades regularly – if they are too dull, they will no longer glide over the skin. In addition, over time, germs stick to the old razor blades, which in turn trigger inflammation on the skin.
And pressure also plays a crucial role when shaving: In order to get as many hairs as possible, many people press their razors too hard on their skin and thus irritate it completely unnecessarily. Make sure you apply even pressure and not too much pressure – the razor blades will do the rest on their own. Even though thick beard hair requires more pressure than thin beard hair, you should find a healthy middle ground.
After shaving, the skin must be removed from all care products, preferably with clear water. You can then use an aftershave product (e.g. lotion) to soothe and nourish the skin. If you have sensitive skin, the product should under no circumstances contain alcohol, otherwise it will promote razor burn. Once you have found a suitable balm, stick with it! Frequently changing products irritate the skin.
If it is already too late to avoid razor burn, the symptoms need to be alleviated quickly. For you, this means first and foremost: If possible, the skin should not be shaved again until it has recovered. To speed up this process, you can use the following tips:
Cool the affected areas with an ice cube or a cooling pad – the cold water closes the pores again. The skin must then be dried very carefully, avoiding any form of friction. It is best to dab the shaved areas with a dry cloth. You can then use an aftershave balm (important: alcohol-free) to soothe the skin.
Alternatively, there are also tried-and-tested home remedies for razor burn, such as honey: the polyphenols it contains have an anti-inflammatory effect. Or you can make a face mask – all you need is some quark, chamomile oil and bee nectar again. Mix all three ingredients together and rub them onto your skin. After ten to 15 minutes, the itching should subside.
Baby powder, which is also used in many waxing studios, is just as skin-friendly as it is effective. It contains zinc oxide, which has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and can quickly relieve razor burn. When buying, however, make sure that the baby powder does not contain talc – it is said to have a carcinogenic effect.
Razor burn can be very unpleasant and painful, especially in the intimate area – especially if you use the wrong care products. Be sure to choose a product that does not contain parabens, allergenic fragrances and dyes. Instead, it is better to use an intimate care gel that has been specially developed for men’s intimate areas. Home remedies such as honey and quark have no place here, but chamomile and aloe vera do: both components have a calming and anti-inflammatory effect. On top of that, their protective film prevents even more friction. The same applies to loose clothing – as long as you suffer from razor burn in your intimate area, it is advisable to avoid tight-fitting textiles. It is better to wear loose and airy clothes until your skin has completely calmed down.
Ingrown hairs in the intimate area are particularly annoying and can become a serious problem. Try to carefully remove these with tweezers (disinfect them first!) – if this is not possible, a pulling ointment can help. This is rubbed onto the ingrown hair and covered with a plaster so that the wound can heal. If all the tips are of no use or if the first signs of inflammation become noticeable, you should consult a dermatologist. Otherwise, you risk the ingrown hair forming a boil, which can only be removed surgically. This is a long and painful process that you can avoid by taking appropriate precautions.
This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.
