Thread: Razor Burn and resulting acne from ATG

What you describe sounds like folliculitis, or "barber's itch" (could be just irritation, or a mild to severe bacterial infection.) One of the reasons shaving against the grain is not recommended.

To avoid it in the future you should only shave with the grain of your beard, make sure you prep the beard thoroughly with water and lather, and finally use a very sharp razor.

BTW - Bay Rum (Pimenta Racemosa) was originally used as an aftershave to help prevent post-shave skin infections/ irritations such as folliculitis.

+1 to what everyone else has offered, but especially to the "if it causes irritation don't do it" bits.
I have never had a problem going ATG, but then again, my face is not all that sensitive either. I have read where other guys have similar problems so their solution is to go WTG, then XTG, then XTG the other way. So, for example, if your WTG on your cheek goes down, your XTG could go from east to west, or visa-versa, then your second XTG would go the opposite of the last XTG pass. I have heard of really nice shaves being obtained this way.
Just remember, as long as it doesn't hurt, and doesn't kill the razor, what works for you is the right way to do it.
Let us know how it goes and what you find that works.

Originally Posted by CJS

If you have acne, just try using one of your acne treatment products at night before bed (assuming you shave in the morning). This way, you can give your skin some time to recover before you apply an acne spot treatment. Hope this helps

-Chris

No Acne for me normally save the average joe, so I don't need that. This only happened with the razor burn reaction.

Alright, sounds like some excellent points here - for now I'll:
- just WTG or XTG as a backup, no ATG until my technique improves
- strop double what I normally do (slow and steady)
- find a decent, none clogging aftershave per lots of your recommendations
- backoff the soap AND the tend skin, one or the other

Thank you guys for the great feedback, this forum rocks, lots of knowledge and helpful folk!

Originally Posted by rcardon

Let us know how it goes and what you find that works.

Today I went for just a double pass of WTG, and it's not BBS, but it's still a lot better then a traditional razor. Chalk that up to double the stropping, but I think I'll keep with that and add the aftershave as well soon as I find one I dig.

Originally Posted by honedright

What you describe sounds like folliculitis, or "barber's itch" (could be just irritation, or a mild to severe bacterial infection.) One of the reasons shaving against the grain is not recommended.

To avoid it in the future you should only shave with the grain of your beard, make sure you prep the beard thoroughly with water and lather, and finally use a very sharp razor.

BTW - Bay Rum (Pimenta Racemosa) was originally used as an aftershave to help prevent post-shave skin infections/ irritations such as folliculitis.

That might be an accurate description, as it happened on the mustache when I ATG'd, which this notes: Folliculitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'll check out Bay Rum, thanks!

I've just started using Speick after-shave having avoided alcohol based splashes for years since they tended to irritate and cause superficial acne. It works great on me and the scent is light as well.

I use to have a serious problem the same as you. Any aftershaves with any kind of scents or perfumes would break out my skin in a terrible rash so badly that it would cause bleeding if I tried to shave the next day.

I know this sound a little crazy but try some Dr. Tichenor's anticeptic peppermint mouthwash. A friend of mine had the same problem and had a dermitologist tell him to use it. I've been using it for over 20 years now without any problems. As a matter of fact, My wife and myself were out of town a few days ago and I discovered I didn't have any in my duffle bag so I went to Wally world but they didn't have any so I bought some Old Spice to try it out. I figured, what the heck and maybe my skin has changed...NOT! At least I didn't break out on my neck but my upper cheeks were a different story. They both looked like I had gotten into some poison ivy.

You can usually get it at any pharmacy or Wal Mart but, in this case, I only tried Wal Mart which didn't have it. I live in the deep south so I'm not sure if this is something that is only available locally. Here's the link to thier website if you want to contact them to see if it's available in your area. Dr. Tichenor's . If you should decide to try it, I'll forwarn you as it stings like the dickens for the first few seconds. But, after a minute or so, your face will feel like you just walked into a freezer. Also, because it has peppermint, which is an oil, I think it moisturizes your face as well.

Let me know if you should decide to try it and if it works out for you.

I still had thier page open when I finished posting my first reply. Dr. Tichenor's is a locally made product here in New Orleans...That's it...Super Bowl Champions country! Sorry about that but I had to gloat some. Everyone around here is so proud of the Saints.

It looks like you can order it in only 3-8oz bottles at a time. That's a lot for something you only want to try. I'm going to offer to send a bottle to you but if you are anything like me, I'll understand and won't be offended if you decline. If you should decide to try some, just PM me with an address and I'll gladly send you a bottle.

Originally Posted by kcarlisle

I still had thier page open when I finished posting my first reply. Dr. Tichenor's is a locally made product here in New Orleans....

I didn't get to try that yet, but I will admit that 1) no ATG and 2) Bay Rum without the additional things I did before has done a bang up job so far!

That Bay Rum though... I grew up a whiskey man, I can handle most things, but it's got a kick to it that lingers all day! I might have to dilute it with a little water if I continue to use it.

Originally Posted by bradyjfrey

Good evening gents,
I've gotten my second set of razor burn and Resulting minor acne from ATG, so I thoughtid throw up my technique and ask you experts before I decide to throw in the ATG towel and go WTG from now on.

My skin is relatively sensitive to funky frangrances, so I go minimal or frangrance free in general. I'm using Lavendar shaving soap from the art of shaving, and do not use a pre oil or post shave lotion, since my face doesn't tend to like oils in general. Here's my simple step by step, I appreciate any feedback you have!

- hot shower
- 10 strop on linen, 25 on leather, hot rinse with soap and water of the blade
- hot water on the badger brush on the face
- add the shaving soap, put it under hot water, lather up
- shave WTG (I'm a little slow so I try to lather while moving along). I use light, short strokes for thr most part but long on easy spots
- lather up again and then ATG
- cold water on the face, wash with a salycilic acid soap, pat tend skin on there when dry, clean up my mess and move on

My thoughts are I should stop ATG and just do across (I forget the acronym) or another WTG pass. I worry sometimes I maybe going across areas I miss quickly, and since I don't use an oil, it might be dry shaving too, so I'll keep am eye on that.

I have very acne prone skin, and my skin really doesn't need anymore oil then it has naturally, so I feel your pain. The only way I found a method of shaving which worked was via trial and error. Here's what I do. You might want to give it a shot and see if it works for you.

Hot shower. Dampen the skin with cold water to close the pours. Apply a light shave oil. Use cold water when building the lather. Apply lather, do a WTG pass. Re lather, do an ATG pass, using light pressure. scrub face with cold damp towel, to clean and close pours again. Then I use some plain witch hazel, as it disinfects the area, closes the pours, but doesn't dry me out like alcohol. Then if I'm feeling a little burned or the skin is dry, I will use a vitamin E infused lotion, or brut after shave balm.

The cold lathering is something I learned from a thread here. The idea was that closing the pours allowed the hairs to stand up resulting in a closer shave, which I found it does, however, I think it has the added benefit of keeping gunk out of my skin.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Dave