After shave irritation
After shave irritation is a local redness, small dots of red or white, rashes or real sore acne. The most sensitive areas are bikinis, armpits, face, and less often legs and arms. To exclude it, it is necessary to prepare the skin for depilation correctly and ensure the subsequent moisturizing.
Why does it appear?
Irritation is a peculiar and completely normal skin reaction to an irritant - a razor blade. It can appear from different types of depilation and epilation and is mainly expressed by the appearance of red spots, small acne with or without itching.
Shaving with a razor is the most common method of depilation, that is, superficial hair removal without removing the follicle. Often it is the frequent use of a razor that leads to irritation, inflammation of areas on the skin and hair ingrowth. Yes Yes, All these phenomena are closely interconnected and there are a number of reasons for which there is a strong or weak irritation:
- Daily use of the machine. Frequent shaving thinns the skin surface and literally irritates it. You may notice that the hair removal procedure can gradually become painful, and the skin becomes unhealthy - covered with a network of small pimples, red spots, it becomes dry, dull.
- Shaving with blunt blades affects the epidermis detrimental - they simply tear off hairs from the skin surface, and do not cut them off (as sharp, sharpened, new analogues). A rare replacement of a cassette in a machine, the use of a disposable razor for a long time, or the use of dirty, rusty blades are all direct causes of irritation.
- Improper use of the razor. Hair removal is possible both in their growth and against. To make your home treatment safe, shave in height, reducing the chance of accidentally cutting the epidermis and damaging it. Hair removal against growth is more effective, but it is not suitable for sensitive skin.
The floating-head shaver is ideal for depilating various parts of the body, especially for the face and bikini area of women, on the knees and underarms. During shaving, it is especially important to use a clean blade and guide them over the previously cleansed skin using a special composition - shaving cream or gel.
- Sensitive skin - also the reason, and you will have to accept it. Thin and sensitive derma especially needs daily care - after taking a shower, apply a light moisturizer, and before depilation, use a mask - apply oil to the skin half an hour before taking a water procedure.
- Dry depilation with a razor often irritates the skin., Therefore, experts recommend a procedure in the bathroom: warm water expands the pores, moisturizes and softens the skin, causes the blade to literally slide over the surface.
- Insufficient moisturizing of the skin causes red spots on the body after each shave.
Skin irritation from using a razor is less common than from an epilator or “hot” hair removal methods - wax and sugar procedures.. Most often it appears due to razor abuse - daily use or due to hypersensitive skin. If this does not concern you, and irritation has appeared, the only possible reason is improper shaving: a dirty, dull blade, a strong pressing of the machine on the skin, treatment of one zone more than 3 times.
How much does it go through?
Depending on the type and nature of the skin, the inflammation will go from 10 minutes to 24 hours, or it may not appear at all.
If irritation has become a frequent guest on the skin of a man or a woman, you should stock up on moisturizing creams / ointments / lotions and apply them every time after the procedure. Then the irritation passes almost instantly - in 10-20 minutes.
By itself, irritation can go away after half an hour, an hour or a few hours - depending on the reaction of the skin. Beauticians do not advise to let everything take its course. The skin experiences stress every time after contact with a razor blade, they say, it removes not only the hair, but also the stratum corneum. The latter should be removed previously - so the razor blade will not remove it and injure the epithelium, thereby reducing the risk of irritation.
Inflammation of the skin and violation of the hair structure can lead to its ingrowth: the hair begins to grow not up, but down - into the epidermis, inflammation appears - a voluminous and sore pimple. The main thing in this case - time to start treatment. First you need to treat the inflamed area with any antiseptic - peroxide, alcohol, for example, pull out a hair and again treat the wound with a healing ointment. If a pimple is painful, it is necessary to treat it with salicylic or zinc ointment, crushed aspirin pill - they will relieve inflammation, swelling, dry skin and prevent the appearance of a trace.
How to shave without irritation?
The best way to avoid irritation is to warn him and:
- Every time after shaving, moisturize the skin with a light cream or gel (even the usual children's face cream or oil will be suitable, a specialized composition for the body and face);
- Use a clean razor - wash it under water every time you finish shaving. If you cut yourself during it, rinse the blades in a disinfectant fluid - peroxide, miramistine, alcohol;
- Apply a special gel or shaving cream to your skin before shaving. - This will allow the blade to gently slide over the surface of the skin and will additionally eliminate cuts. Gel or shaving foam envelop the hairs and give the blade a better chance of grabbing them and cutting them clean;
- Shave in the soul (if it is the body) or while washing (if the face). Warm water pre-disintegrate the skin, wash away dead skin cells and prepare the skin for depilation;
- Use a light scrub or peel before hair removal.c - it will remove the cornified layer of cells and lift the hairs at the roots;
- Shave in the evening. Experts say that evening shaving has a better effect on the condition of the epidermis than the morning one, because it allows the skin to relax, and the cream applied in the evening will work all night.
There are several features of proper shaving depending on the gender. For example, men shave their faces almost daily, women - bikini and armpits, and maybe legs. The skin of men and women is different, of course, and it must be treated differently, therefore, we conditionally divide the depilation into male and female.
Girl
Women's skin is usually thinner than men's. The need to use a razor depends on the woman: some shave every day, others every other day, some even less often. The growth rate of hair is different, but on average they grow by 0.5-1 cm per month. Which razor to use - male or female, you decide. Manufacturers make them according to a single technology, the number of blades, cassette types, head rotation and exterior design can distinguish the products.
Experts recommend shaving the hair on the legs and hips against their height, that is, from the ankle or from the knee upwards. This type of depilation is suitable for any type of skin and hair, but if the epidermis is too sensitive, you will have to remove hairs by their growth, that is, to keep a razor from the knee to the ankle. Hair removal by their growth is less effective - some of them remain on the skin and require several visits - it will take 2-3 times to hold a razor.But you should not process one area more than 3 times - this can cause irritation or an accidental cut; better to repeat the procedure the next day. Pre-scrub or light acid-based peeling cleanses the skin first - removes the dead cell layer, the use of abrasive particles after shaving (after 1-2 days) will help prevent hair ingrowth.
Underarm shaving is reduced to keeping the machine in different directions: up, down, left and right. In this area, they grow chaotically, and it is important to capture and cut off each of them.
The bikini area will have to be processed in a combined way: start shaving the pubis in terms of hair growth, that is, from its beginning downwards - to the labia. Treat the most tender area of the genital lips and mezhagodichnuyu in different directions for "clean" removal.
Man
Almost daily, men shave their faces — the cheek area, chin, and neck. Manufacturers have released a lot of creams, gels, lotions before and after shaving, and men must use them.
Frequent depilation of the skin can lead to irritation, and on the face it does not look very attractive. To prevent it, use any product before shaving: choose a consistency that is comfortable for you, as there is no consensus that gel or foam is better. Each time, use a lotion or cream after hair removal - it will restore the water balance, moisturize the skin, prevent the appearance of inflammation. For very thin sensitive skin, choose cosmetics with aloe vera, for problematic ones - with salicylic or any other acid (cosmetologists recommend using acidic products only in the autumn-winter period).
- Choose a floating head shaver: it repeats the lines of the face and prevents cuts;
- If you use a one-time model, then change it after each shaveor when the blade begins to dull;
- Change the cartridge in the razor will have every 5-10 treatments, depending on the hardness of the hair - as soon as the blade begins to dull and cut the hairs worse, safely throw it away;
- Be sure to use foam, cream or gel before shaving.; the first two additionally moisturize the skin, and the third can be with a pleasant cooling effect;
- Do not press the razor - high-quality or fresh blades cut off the hair at the slightest contact with them;
- Your razor is yours. Do not use other people's machines and forbid to take your own, even the most native member of the family;
- Use a facial scrub 2-3 times a week before using a razor.. Abrasive particles will remove the "dead" cells and provide a better glide over the skin, prevent hair ingrowth.
How to get rid quickly?
If the irritation after shaving has already appeared, it is not a reason to despair. Store, pharmaceutical ointments and lotions, cold compresses and folk methods that are quite reasonable help to remove redness and a network of small rashes. First, let's talk about how irritation can appear:
- Slight redness. It is not worth treating it, it is enough to soothe the skin with a tonic, a lotion without alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, a decoction of healing herbs and moisturize with a cream (for children, for the body, an ointment against hair ingrowth);
- Small dots or small spots usually require moisturizing. If they are accompanied by itching, do not scratch them, just rub with a tonic or any other liquid solution with aloe vera, chamomile and apply a light moisturizer;
- Purulent acne can appear 1-2–3 days after shaving. This is a consequence of clogged pores and ingrown hairs. It will require a whole range of measures from purification and disinfection to moisture and subsequent care.
Tonics and lotions without alcohol help to remove a slight reddening (it strongly dries the skin, disrupts the skin’s lipid balance and is not particularly recommended for use on the face and body with a sensitive surface).Cold compresses can help relieve itching - put some ice in a bag and wrap it in a cloth or use a special gel bag, pre-cooled in the freezer, apply to the skin and hold for 5-10 minutes until the itching and redness subside. Be sure to disinfect the skin with peroxide, decoction of chamomile or calendula, miramistinom, chlorhexidine or any other pharmacy solution.
Boro Plus, Malavit, Atovegin ointment helps to fight more serious manifestations - pimples of red or white color.
Effective folk remedies
They help relieve irritation and have two consistencies - liquid and more dense.
- A decoction of chamomile, calendula, mint or another medicinal plant is easy to prepare at home. - brew a handful of dry powder in hot water, let it brew - the longer the better. You can brew chamomile or mint in a bag, leave for 20 minutes and cool. Home tonic perfectly fights with itching and skin irritation. Its residues can be poured into ice molds and frozen, cubes will later be useful for skin care after depilation and just for washing.
- Aloe vera ointment is prepared as follows: chop the leaves of the plant with a blender or knife, mix the resulting gruel with vegetable oil. You can treat her irritated area immediately after the depilation procedure, and you will have to store your homemade ointment in the refrigerator.
- Lemon juice is suitable for removing irritation from the hands and feet - wipe the skin with a cotton pad dipped in lemon juice.
Laundry soap is useful for the treatment of severe inflammation and ingrown hairs - wash the body part with it, but do not forget to additionally moisturize the dermis with cream.
The best treatment solution
Treatment of long-term irritation should be entrusted to disinfectants from the pharmacy, such as chlorhexidine, Miramistin. They should wipe the area on the body or face before applying ointment or cream. The next step is the use of cream, gel, ointment. Baby powder copes well with a little irritation and relieves itching - just apply a little powder on the body.
Excellent healing products are considered "Bepanten"And"Panthenol"- they moisturize the skin well and tighten wounds, soothe and normalize the activity of skin cells, are safe for teenagers, women and men of any age. Hormonal ointments are used by prescription and are not shown to anyone who has experienced irritation after shaving.
To treat the inflamed parts of the body will have a complex: Zinc ointment can be applied to pimples - it dries the skin well and disinfects it, absorbs excess moisture (pus) and brightens the affected areas, preventing the formation of pigment spots. Aspirin will help to replace it - pound one pill into powder, add a few drops of pure water and apply on the inflamed area on the body. Leave the mixture for 5-10 minutes and remove with a cotton pad. Aspirin perfectly copes with itching, boils, its active ingredients have a disinfecting effect, relieve redness, pain and any discomfort.
Salicylic acid in the composition of tonic or lotion helps relieve irritation - a component dries the skin, kills bacteria and infections, and any irritants.
Reviews
Irritation in the bikini area is worrying a large number of women - they are openly talking about this on the forums. Girls prefer to remove hair from an intimate place every day or two, and this becomes a serious reason for the manifestation of unpleasant irritation, which is accompanied by itching and unsightly appearance, leading to hair growth and staining.
Members advise to postpone the razor and turn to hair removal - wax or sugar. If it is contraindicated, then, women say, you need to stock up with "bepantin" and other ointments, as an option - aloe and chamomile and treat depilated areas immediately after the procedure.
Men more than anyone else know about irritation on the face. Redness, small rashes or contrasting white spots on the face - the usual arsenal, much worse - pustules, itching, ingrown hairs. However, men are more competent in depilation - almost every one of them uses foam or gel before shaving and cream after. This method is the only true way to preserve an attractive appearance and self-confidence.
Users of razors especially praise folk remedies - chamomile, mint, and even birch leaves (previously brewed) do well with itching and are safe for health, but they do not recommend using ointments and gels with hormones on their own, only for severe inflammation and with the permission of the doctor.
In the next video - the advice of a dermatologist, how to get rid of irritation after shaving.