Thread: My dermatologist said...

Just from what little I've asked about at Barber School, the use of shaving soap is prohibited because bacteria will eventually grow on the puck.

If you use a puck of soap, make sure you aren't letting it sit in a shaving mug after use. The moisture left in there is a great breeding ground for germs.

I keep mine in a separate container from the scuttle, and try to make sure it's rinsed off and relatively dry after use.

But yeah, sounds like your soap got the ick

I would challenge her on this.

Loprox is an antifungal, so I'm not sure why she would prescribe this for razor burn. Cleocin is an antibiotic, I presume she is prescirbing this as a topical (i.e. something you put on your skin) and not a pill. Topical Cleocin is normally used for bacterial vaginosis, and the information provided by the manufacturer says that it is indicated for anarobic infections

There are know infections of the hair follicles that affect mens beards. Barbers itch is a staph infection of the hair follicles. Tinae barbae is a fungus that infects the hair follicles. Both has similar symptoms. It may be that your dermatoligist suspects one or both of these as the source of your razor burn, but the normal treatment for either of these includes not shaving the infected areas.

I would inquire as to just what infections she is treating you for through the use of these compounds. Both antibactierial and antifungal medications do have side effects. Also, overuse of antibacterials is contributing factor in the evolution of resistant bacteria.

I'm not sure why she would prefer a gel to a soap, but the recommendation to use unscented is reasonable as most essential or fragrance oils can be irritants.

Sounds to me a bit like your dermatologist does not really know what it is. It does not really make sense to add an antifungal to an antibiotic. Almost all skin infections are caused either by bacteria or by fungi. Mixing the 2 together means you're basically diluting both which results in diminished effectiveness.

I would challenge her and ask what she exactly wants to achieve. If she thinks it is septic but does not know what bug is in the lesions she better swab them and send it to a bacteriology lab. You should have a result in about a week's time.

Thinking back on some of the history I've read in these fora, I can't help but recall that in the earliest times, lathers were made with [I]boiling[I] water. Water at such a temperature couldn't help but have a sanitizing effect on mug, puck and brush. It goes without saying that most of us are using hot running tap water in our current regimens. As such, we're modifying a process that worked for our forebears precisely because of the means by which it was accomplished.

Additionally, the word "hypoallergenic" is important in anything you add to your face post-shave. Some have mentioned the Nivea balm. I'll add my two cents' worth by mentioning Aramis Lab Series' "Razor Burn Relief." As some one with fair, sensitive skin for whom shaving was until recently a miserable experience, I can say with certainty that that balm was the only thing that came close to helping w/ bumps and burn. No fragrance, hypoallergenic and a little bottle lasts a long time.

Good luck and don't be afraid to question your physicians rigorously. She's a scientist, not a priest.

Just IME some doctors like to try treating what they think is wrong rather then find out by testing
If it works they must have been right,right?
Not always the case as a lot of things heal on there own if you give it the time it needs

result: Doc concludes the treatment worked and preskribe the same to next one
(this is not a major hassard you wont take major hurt from waiting for results)

Not saying she cant be right tho(probably not about the goo)

if shes worryed about soap contamination tubed cream may be an option
also if anyone worry about the brush theres brushless creams too out there

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

Doctors get it wrong all the time.
......
Don't blindly follow your doctors. They aren't gods. This is how people wind up in endless cycles of poor treatment. Do you homework.

Yes do your homework.

Yes pay attention to the guidance given by a quality doctor.
Do note well that doctors get it right most of the time.

In this case her recommendation was very conservative and
in a week or a month the problem would have cleared up as a result
of the recommended care. We might have alternative solutions
but there is nothing "wrong" with the prescribed care plan.

Once the OP has fully healed considered changes might be in order
but having said that bacterial infections are potentially serious and
not to be taken lightly.

But....isnt the point that the doctor was just noticing a bit of razor burn? It wasn't like he looks like that guy in the wiki page on Tinea barbae . and as a general rule, prescrpition-strength pharmaceuticals for razor burn *is* overkill. Now there is razor burn and there is razor burn - but poster wasn't going to the doc for his face, but for his back.

Originally Posted by Mijbil

But....isnt the point that the doctor was just noticing a bit of razor burn? It wasn't like he looks like that guy in the wiki page on Tinea barbae . and as a general rule, prescrpition-strength pharmaceuticals for razor burn *is* overkill. Now there is razor burn and there is razor burn - but poster wasn't going to the doc for his face, but for his back.

We have seen neither his face or back.

Originally Posted by Kees

Sounds to me a bit like your dermatologist does not really know what it is. It does not really make sense to add an antifungal to an antibiotic. Almost all skin infections are caused either by bacteria or by fungi. Mixing the 2 together means you're basically diluting both which results in diminished effectiveness.

That's just not true...

(Watching psuedo-scientist/doctors fencing) "Touche!" Maybe you should just make a barbicide lather, that thing is an omnicide and will kill everything.

Disclaimer: Statements made here are for the purposes of laughter, derision, and ignorance-correction only, and should not be taken as genuine advice for real people.