Do any of you get a heat rash after shaving?

I started to post this in the Ladies Forum but then I thought this might happen to guys too on their necks. In the hottest part of the year I often get a nasty heat rash under my arms when I shave there. It's not a red razor burn kind of rash. It's lots of tiny little white bumps that pop up right after I shave and then the area gets really tender and red. The hotter the day the worse the rash. Going sleeveless helps some but then people can see it and that's embarrassing because it looks awful. If I use baby powder or corn starch after the bumps come up that just makes it worse like I'm dusting the area with sand. Is there anything I can do pre- or post-shave that will prevent the bumps from coming up at all?

Lori

Could you inform us of your current pre/postshave routine?

Well, last time it was that hot I was still using shave gel and cartridges but the rest of the routine is the same. I take a shower or hot bath to prepare the skin to be shaved and also to make sure the skin is clean. Then I apply the lather and shave. After that I am careful to rinse all the shaved area to make sure all the soap and lather are gone and then I towel dry. I wait as long as possible (at least several minutes) to make sure my underarms are dry and the pores are closed before I apply an antiperspirant. Antiperspirants can be irritants to freshly shaved skin. If need be I apply body lotion to my legs but I seldom do that to my underarms. It leaves too much moisture to my underarms and that is especially bad when it's hot outside.

Lori

One thing that has helped me on my lower neck area is to use an ice cube. After you rinse rub the ice cube over the shaved area. Works pretty good for me.

Have you tried witch hazel? I used to get really bad heat rash on my legs and that helped a good bit.

I'm not familiar with those kinds of bumps especially, but after-shave bumps reads like minor/minute infections in nicks and cuts to me. A possible solution would be not going for full BBS, as this has less impact on the skin. Mow the lawn in stead of going for a full deweeding, so to speak. Also, I'll add that I'm a firm believer in the cleansing properties of alcohol. I would follow up with a good moisturizing cream or lotion. Best of luck.

OUCH!!!
Maybe try applying some mineral oil before shaving for a pre-shave lubricant; there are no perfumes or other ingredients that could cause irritation. Have you tried some witch hazel after shaving? It doesn't sting or burn, I use it after my shaves and it does settle down the skin. Are you patting dry vice wipe/rubbing dry? That makes a big difference.

I'll ask my wife about it too.
The only other thought I have is see a dermatologist about it.

Let us know how you make out.

My wife had this issue & she tried my trick: Proraso in the green tub, rinse well with washcloth or water if you are shaving in the tub/shower, rub wet alum block over entire area, blow dry, then apply deodorant. If that doesn't do it, maybe try another brand of deo...best of luck as it sounds like misery!

For 2-3 months out of the year we have 90F+ temps (occassionally 100+) and high humidity. I think it's that combination of conditions that aggravates any skin irritation especially from shaving. Sometimes bug bites are murder too. Calamine lotion washes right off as I sweat and makes a big mess. The rest of the year I have no problems following a shave and even the bug bites aren't as brutal.

I'll try some of these suggestions. I've used witch hazel in the past but it seemed to make it worse. I checked the bottle today though and found out my old bottle of witch hazel is 14% alcohol! I think I'll try to grab a bottle of Thayers next time I go by a GNC store. I hear they make a type that is alcohol free and has aloe in it.

Thanks folks! :)

Lori

Is it possible that you're having an allergic reaction to some soap or cream that you may be using? You might have to experiment with some different products.

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Originally Posted by Firefighter2

Is it possible that you're having an allergic reaction to some soap or cream that you may be using? You might have to experiment with some different products.

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I don't think it's a reaction unless it's from something that most products have in common like alcohol. This has been a problem every summer for decades and I have tried so many different bath soaps and deoderants that I've lost track. Several years ago (pre-wet shaving) I tried what amounted to a huge alum crystal. It worked well for a few weeks but then on a very hot humid day the rash came back with a vengence.

Oh BTW, since I didn't answer this earlier I try not to rub the area very hard with a towel because that just causes more irritation and sort of jump starts the rash if it's going to happen. I just dab most of the moisture away and then air dry for a few minutes.

Lori

I get the same thing in the summer, Lori.

I sweat freely from May through September when the air seems like it's been passed through a Yeti's buttcrack... I generally have no use for summer.

Winter shaves go fine, but as soon as the heat and humidity hit they go right down the toilet. My neck used to suffer until I started using a straight and making do with whatever a single pass takes off with a super light touch. Anything with a hint of "menthol", "medicated" or "cooling" in the name is just like pouring acid in an open wound. I find the only thing I can tolerate is Old Spice which is my favorite anyway.

Try 'lightening up' a bit and/or using something that's not an antipersperant and see if that helps....

or you could just go 'Patti Smith' in the summer and tell your Husband you're not coming back from the dark side until he tries straight shaving... LOL!

try using an alum block on the area after you shave, and if that works, you may want to switch to alum based deodorant

I have psoriasis that I take injections for, so I have had to change my deodorant and soaps. I find that Proraso pre/post on wet face, left on while I build lather and strop, works wonders. After shaving and alum block, I rinse all off and apply Thayers witch hazel with aloe on face and neck and have no problems.
Hope this helps

I'll second (or third) the alum block suggestions.

I don't shave my underarms, but I do commute by bike (12+ miles each way - with a bunch of hills). In the summer, when the humidity is over 90% for days on end, I sweat a lot and my face gets red (sometimes). I've found that the alum block usage keeps any irritation down. Also, my face has been in better shape since I got good at straight shaving.

Your case is different, but the remedy may be the same. Try the alum block.

Let us know how it works out.

Have you considered using just an alum block the day you shave, instead of applying an antiperspirant?

BTW, alum block = "crystal" deodorant found in most drug stores, Walmart, Target etc.

It will not stop sweating, but it will prevent the bacteria that cause odor from multiplying and causing odor. Actually works quite well for about 24 hours.

Thayers lavender witch hazel, GNC, . The best rash medicine that I have ever used is "Aquaphor". Don't ask why this "petrolatum" based product is better than others, I don't know. But it has been known by me to remove some rashes, completely, in a few hours.

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Originally Posted by LoriB

Well, last time it was that hot I was still using shave gel and cartridges but the rest of the routine is the same. I take a shower or hot bath to prepare the skin to be shaved and also to make sure the skin is clean. Then I apply the lather and shave. After that I am careful to rinse all the shaved area to make sure all the soap and lather are gone and then I towel dry. I wait as long as possible (at least several minutes) to make sure my underarms are dry and the pores are closed before I apply an antiperspirant. Antiperspirants can be irritants to freshly shaved skin. If need be I apply body lotion to my legs but I seldom do that to my underarms. It leaves too much moisture to my underarms and that is especially bad when it's hot outside.

Lori

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Lori,
I think that may the deal breaker. Stop using the AP and see what happens. For years now, my wife and I are using something a bit less harsh (Crystal deodorant - not AP). AP has nasty stuff in it and really prevents your sweats glands from doing what they're supposed to do, i.e., sweat, creating problems down the road like irritation. Just my 2 cents