All you need to know about a razor burn
Anyone who shaves a portion of their body is susceptible to razor burn. If you’ve ever shaved and developed a red rash, you most certainly had razor burn.
Razor burn may also result in:
scorching
heated feeling sensitivity
Irritation
little red lumps
Anywhere you shave, including your face, legs, underarms, or bikini area, you may experience these symptoms. Usually only temporary, razor burn will fade away over time.
There are steps you may do to get relief if your symptoms are making you uncomfortable. Learn how to treat razor burn and stop it from recurring again by reading on.
Treatment for razor burn
Waiting it out and utilising mild techniques to lessen your sensations are frequently effective treatments for razor burn. To give the region a chance to heal, refrain from shaving it once more.
Applying a cool washcloth to the affected region might calm your skin and relieve heat or irritation. Both aloe and avocado oil are soothing and may be applied straight to the skin without risk.
If you experience indications of dryness or irritation, wash your skin and pat it dry. Avoid rubbing the affected area to prevent aggravating the skin’s irritability.
Apply an emollient after the skin has dried. This could be a moisturiser like a lotion or an aftershave. Products with alcohol in them should be avoided since they can irritate. If you’d like to hydrate your skin naturally, coconut oil could be able to help.
In order to lessen inflammation, you have a variety of home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medications to choose from.
Typical home cures are:
equal parts water, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil Find witch hazel extract at a store.
20 minutes or more of oatmeal bath time If you’d rather use an over-the-counter remedy, look for a topical cream that contains hydrocortisone. This can assist in bringing down any swelling and calming any skin redness.
Small lumps should not be shaved until they have completely healed if you suffer razor bumps. This could take three to four weeks. Use a topical treatment like cortisone to manage any associated inflammation in the interim.
Consult a doctor if the lumps show signs of infection. Infection signs include pustules and welts.
An oral antibiotic will be recommended by your doctor if the area is contaminated. Additionally, your doctor might suggest products to stop razor rashes or burns in the future. For instance, a retinoid-containing cream may be recommended to you in order to exfoliate your skin and lessen the accumulation of dead skin cells on its surface.
How to avoid getting razor burn Develop appropriate shaving habits to avoid razor burn.
Hints and Techniques
Exfoliate your skin frequently to get rid of dead skin cells.
Apply lubrication, such as soap or shaving cream, before shaving.
When shaving, resist the urge to pull your skin taut.
Shave with the growth of the hair in mind.
Use quick, gentle strokes when shaving.
During the shaving procedure, frequently rinse your blade.
After shaving, use cold water to rinse your skin or a cold towel to seal pores.
Regularly change the blades in your razor.
Use an electric razor or a different secure hair removal technique.
You might benefit from changing up your shaving practise. It’s possible that you won’t need to shave as regularly as you do now. If your skin is sensitive, cutting back on your regular shaving to every other day or just a few times per week may provide you with some comfort.
Why do razors burn?
For a variety of causes, you can get razor burn. There isn’t a single thing to avoid, like a certain kind of razor or shaving lubricant.
Razor burn can result from the following:
shaving without a lubrication, such as shaving cream or soap and water
shaving against the grain of your hair with an old, clogged razor made of shaving cream, soap, or hair,
shaving a single region excessively
rushing through the shaving process and utilising harsh shaving products
It’s critical to keep in mind that your razor is a tool that requires upkeep and replacement as necessary. A dull or clogged blade might give you razor burn even if you’re shaving in the right direction and using the right lubricant.
Are razor pimples and razor burn the same thing?
Razor burn and razor pimples are typically regarded as two separate conditions, despite the fact that the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. After shaving, you get a razor burn, and shaved hairs that grow back and become ingrown generate razor bumps.
Acne or raised lumps may resemble ingrown hairs. This could happen when you remove hair using techniques like shaving, plucking, or waxing. Instead of curling away from your skin when the hair grows back, it curls into it.
Razor bumps can produce discomfort, irritation, and a red rash similar to razor burn.
People with curly hair are more prone to get razor bumps because the hair is more inclined to coil back into the skin. Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a more severe variation of razor pimples. Up to 60% of African American men and people with curly hair have this problem. In extreme cases, your doctor may advise you to seek treatment for this illness.
Conclusion
Most of the time, razor burn will go away on its own in a few days. It could take longer for razor bumps to go away, so you should refrain from shaving while they are still there.
Consult your doctor if the affected region seems infected or doesn’t get well within a fair amount of time. Doctor treatment is also recommended for razor bumps or burn that recurs frequently.
Your rash might occasionally not be caused by razor lumps or burn. Contact your doctor if you believe you develop a rash unrelated to shaving or that an allergic reaction was caused by a shaving product.