Ladies, What Should You Do About Razor Burn?
INTRODUCTION
Just because razor burn can affect many women, albeit not as intensely as it may affect men, doesn’t mean that you have to put up with it. In fact, preventing razor burn is not only possible but for many women it is a priority.
WHAT IS “RAZOR BURN?”
A popular website provides this definition: “Razor burn is an irritating rash that sometimes appears after shaving. In its most mild form, razor burn will be slightly itchy and create a noticeable red rash on your just-shaved skin. In severe cases, razor burn can also produce ‘razor bumps.’”
Razor burn can afflict anyone that shaves regularly, albeit involving different body parts for women and men.
WHAT ARE SOME PROVEN RAZOR BURN REMEDIES?
--Treat the targeted skin before, during and after shaving.
Consider showering before shaving; hot water can soften/moisten hair and skin. Also, use a lubricating shaving cream/gel containing coconut oil, tea tree oil, and glycerin, but free from menthol, benzocaine, and alcohol. You may also consider using a pre-shaving oil.
Secondly, after shaving, rinse with cold water. Then use an after-shaving balm containing therapeutic shea butter, aloe, glycerin, lavender oil, witch hazel, etc.
Finally, let the skin heal properly if you’ve experienced razor burn lately. Maybe stop shaving altogether. After the skin has healed, you can resume shaving.
--Learn the proper ways/techniques of shaving.
It is possible that you’ve been shaving incorrectly all these years. Shaving against the grain, for example, achieves closer shaves but it is also a leading cause of razor burn.
Other causes of razor burn due to improper shaving techniques include:
- Using dull blades
- Pressing too hard on the razor while shaving
- Going over the same area of skin too often
- Shaving dry/improperly-moistened skin
- Using the wrong razor for your type of skin—i.e., if you have highly sensitive skin, a one-blade safety razor may be better than a multi-blade designer razor
- Not letting the skin heal before shaving again
- Using the wrong (e.g., skin-drying, irritating, etc.) products on your skin: alcohol-containing after-shave lotion, soap, cheap shaving creams, etc.
- Not properly cleaning razors after each use—e.g., dipping the blades in alcohol in order to disinfect them
- Improperly applying shaving cream/gel; the use of a badger brush, for example, can better spread the cream, thus better preparing hair for cutting
--Develop a shaving routine that is easy on the skin and stick to it.
The problem with reading how-to’s and tutorials is that people, after they implement the advice, go back to the same faulty routine/practices after things get better. Instead of resisting change, embrace it, especially if you can see improvements.
--Try using skin-treatment products containing a combination of alpha lipoic acid and glycolic acid—these substances have been found to be beneficial for the prevention & treatment of razor burn and other skin conditions.
These two substances working together, according to some skin products experts, are supposed to reduce and/or ameliorate the effects of (if not altogether prevent) razor burn for approximately 80% of women that have tried them.
--Use creams & natural substances that can not only help prevent razor burn but the almost inevitable repercussion of razor burn: razor bumps.
Mostly because of their antibiotic and anti-inflammatory characteristics, these healing substances include:
- Tea tree oil
- Lemon juice
- White tea (bags)
- Witch hazel
- Aloe Vera
- Hydrocortisone
CONCLUSION
If you are going to avoid razor burn, you may have to make some changes not only in how you shave but in what products you use before, during and after shaving. The bottom line is that shaving should not make you look like an escapee from a “Saw” movies series set.
Copyright, 2018. Fred Fletcher. All rights reserved.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/skin/pubichairremoval.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/razor-burn-on-vag
https://www.tendskin.com/blog/how-long-does-razor-burn-last/
https://www.annmariegianni.com/razor-burn-how-to-avoid-it-how-to-treat-it/
