Reddened instead of smooth skin after shaving
The beard shave has a few annoying pitfalls in store for many
men. In addition to unwanted cuts, razor burn is one of the most
unpleasant consequences. This is characterized by itchy to burning redness
of the shaved areas of the skin, which sometimes also cause very
unsightly pimples . Usually this
skin irritation will subside after a short time. Occasionally, however,
the razor burn also develops into a serious inflammation, which then requires
medical treatment. Find out below important details about razor burn as
well as suitable preventive and treatment measures. tc bolts
How does razor burn develop?
Basically,
razor burn is based on skin irritation, which usually arises from the fact that
the uppermost flakes of skin are accidentally removed when shaving. Shave
pimples also occur when parts of incompletely shaved hair
follicles slide back under the skin, grow in there
and, as a result, provoke irritation under the skin. In addition to the reddening
of the skin that is typical of razor burn and itching or burning, there are
also reddened pimples, which in the worst case can become inflamed.
The
uncomplicated razor burn must be clearly differentiated from the
inflammatory variant, pseudofolliculitis
barbae (PFB). The latter is much more problematic
and, due to chronic processes, can lead to permanent scarring of
the skin in the beard area. Pseudofolliculitis barbae also harbors
the risk of serious infections that manifest themselves in the inflammation
area.
Corresponding
infection processes are often caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus . If left untreated, this
infection sometimes penetrates very deeply into the skin tissue and is then
referred to as sycosis
barbae . In the course of this deep-seated and
inflammatory staphylococcal infection, highly complicate carbuncle develops,
which result in a persistent emptying disorder of the hair follicles and can
hardly be remedied without antibiotics.
Causes of razor burn
An increased risk of getting a razor burn
from abrasions or ingrown hair follicles is primarily associated with incorrect
shaving techniques and inadequate hygiene measures. In addition, the
texture of the whiskers seems to play a decisive role.
Incorrect shaving technique
It
is point out again and again that shaving against the direction of hair
growth means additional irritation for the skin . Incidentally, this applies not only to the
skin of the face, but also to the skin in the leg, armpit and pubic
area. By moving the razor blade against the natural growth direction of
the hair, the hair follicles are additionally roughened. Unfortunately,
many use this technique because the shave mistakenly appears smoother
afterwards. As soon as the hair grows back, however, many of those
affected quickly notice that it is stubborn than before. And rough
follicle stubble also paves the way for razor burns. Even more so, because
it increasingly leads to an inflammatory variant of razor burn, because the
roughened hair follicles also irritate the subcutaneous tissue.
Another
“technical mistake” in shaving is the dry shave with a view to razor
burn. Wet skin , like wet hair, is usually
softer and therefore easier to handle with a razor blade. In the dry
state, on the other hand, the skin is usually very rough and the hair also
offers greater resistance. In this way, minor micro-injuries to the skin
and roughened hair follicles can occur much more easily. The worst
combination is shaving against the direction of hair growth on dry skin.
Wrong shaving tool
Old
or dull razor blades are another risk factor when it comes to razor
burn. A clean cut is hardly possible with a blunt blade, which means that
the flakes of skin are increasingly scraped off, causing redness and skin
irritation. In addition, old razor blades are often more contaminated,
which increases the risk of inflammation and infection. The risk of
contracting pseudofolliculitis
barbae or even sycosis barbae is significantly greater with
outdated blades.
Inadequate hygiene and maintenance
measures
As
already mentioned, poorly cleaned razor blades are almost a guarantee for razor
burn. However, poorly cleaned skin can also
contribute to the development of irritation, redness and
inflammation. Furthermore, at least on the face, freshly shaved areas of
skin should always be treated with a suitable aftershave for
disinfection. And here, too, problems can arise.
Assuming
that the skin of the face is extremely sensitive to aggressive additives in
care products, choosing the wrong aftershave can also lead to razor
burn. The same applies to old products that have long passed their use-by
date. In such a case, the additives in skin care products
often result in decay-related by-products that are more harmful
to the skin than they are good for it.
Unfavorable condition of the hair follicles
Very robust or very curled hair follicles
are generally more prone to razor burn than smooth or thin follicles. For
this reason, people with very thick or curly hair are often more likely to
struggle with razor burn. Men and women of African or Hispanic descent are
particularly plagued by skin irritations after shaving, as their hair is very
resistant and mostly also frizzy, which literally means a bumpy shave and thus
an increased level of skin and hair follicle irritation.
Concomitant symptoms
The razor burn is actually a complex of
symptoms that consists of various accompanying symptoms. The clearly
visible reddening of the skin, which is accompanied by itching and burning, is
certainly characteristic, which is what ultimately gave the razor burn its
name. In addition, depending on the severity of the razor burn, there are
also inflammatory processes and tissue irritation. All in all, the
following symptoms cannot be ruled out for razor burn:
- Burning
sensation on the skin ,
- Skin
irritation,
- Skin
inflammation,
- Itching,
- Boils ,
- Pimples
or pustules (sometimes with pus formation),
- Pain
(especially pressure pain)
- and
profound tissue damage.
diagnosis
A razor burn can usually be easily
diagnosed by those affected by a simple visual diagnosis. As long as the
skin irritations subside within a few days, there is still no need to
worry. Patients should be alerted, however, if the razor burn lasts for
weeks and also causes symptoms such as severe pain or large pimples. Going
to the family doctor or dermatologist is then definitely recommended. The
hair follicles can be examined more closely and, if the worst comes to the
worst, biopsies or hair samples can be taken in order to identify infectious
agents if necessary.
therapy
If medical action is actually required
against razor burn, there is often no alternative to antibiotic medication in
order to stop serious infection processes at an early stage. There are
also some good naturopathic remedies and private measures that those affected
can use to help treat razor burn or to prevent it in the future.
Medication
Fortunately,
antibiotics rarely have to be used in the treatment of razor
burn. However, if this is the case, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic
agents are usually used. For example, creams and gels made from
hydrocortisone or benzoyl peroxide are conceivable. Antibiotics such as doxycycline or erythromycin can
also be used.
Medicinal herbs
Medicinal
herbal measures can be taken against razor burn by applying herbal compresses
or herbal oils. The most important medicinal plants are:
- Aloe vera ,
- Honey ,
- St. John's wort ,
- Chamomile,
- Manuka honey ,
- Marigold
- and
tea tree.
A special tip are
cold compresses that have previously been soaked in cold herbal tea. Because
cooling is just as important for skin irritation as beneficial
ingredients. A cold honey, quark and chamomile compress, for example, has
proven to be very effective.
