Thread: Alum irritation - Thanks Razorfield

For weeks I have been struggling with dry skin. I have tried shaving with oil, after which I broke out with zits, I have tried excluding some soaps, not using aftershave directly on my face as well as using post shave balms and moisturises after my shave, but I have still been getting dry irritable skin or zits. I have had more red bumps on my neck of late too.

My shaves have been comfortable, and my razor is a smooth a knife through butter, but lately irritation and redness within an hour of finishing my shave.

Then Razorfield suggests I don't use Alum. I have been using Alum for an age and never thought it could be the culprit but hey presto I have stopped using Alum and my face doesn't feel dry or have a visible blemish.

Just goes to show that we can develop issues even with products we have used for an age.

Thanks again to Razorfield

Well it's been three days without the alum. I'm still using it on my finger tips to help with my stretching and I also used it on a small nick under my nose yesterday but I'm not rubbing it on my face following the shave anymore.

I know its still early days but I have had absolutely no irritation or dryness at all. I have been trying different soaps on each day and still no sign of irritation. My skin is perfectly clear even on the neck area, not a bump in sight.


Interestingly I used MWF yesterday, and it's been a soap I have never got on with, I thought it was drying. I decided to revisit it just incase the alum was to blame. When I applied the later and then while stropped my razor I felt a tingle or a very mild sting, so I washed it off. As far as I am concerned MWF not suitable for my skin either. I washed it off and continued with Arko, no sting noticed on application. Now I know I don't have problems with lanolin so I guess the soap has something else in it that are not common to other soaps or maybe the PH is not suitable for me, either way I donated the MWF puck to a straight shaving friend to try.

I'm going to give Proraso green a go later today. It's been one of my favourite creams in the past and could always be relied on to give a great shave. I have had some irritation following a couple of shaves with it lately so we will see if alum really is the culprit or I have developed sensitive skin.

After reading your experience, I ditched the alum for my shave tonight. Instead, I went straight to the witch hazel and followed up with bay rum and my balm later on. My face hasn't turned red and I haven't gotten that bumpiness after my shave. I also don't have that uncomfortable dry feeling that I've had since adding the alum to my shave.

I think the alum may have been disagreeing with my skin, thanks for sharing your experience!

Originally Posted by BotanicalStig

After reading your experience, I ditched the alum for my shave tonight. Instead, I went straight to the witch hazel and followed up with bay rum and my balm later on. My face hasn't turned red and I haven't gotten that bumpiness after my shave. I also don't have that uncomfortable dry feeling that I've had since adding the alum to my shave.

I think the alum may have been disagreeing with my skin, thanks for sharing your experience!

Seems like the same experience i had. I still am staying away from the alum and my skin still feels great. Not a bump in sight.

Not 100% sure I would even want to rub Alum over my face. Something about it just doesn't seem right to me, That being said I am not even sure what is in it. Oh well Time for some research.

Try completely rinsing off the alum with cold water before your usual after shave, That seems to work for me.

I stopped using alum on my face a while ago, still use it on my finger tips to help stretching though. It used to make me break out a bit but have had no problems since I stopped using it years ago.

Originally Posted by Pipesmokanz

Not 100% sure I would even want to rub Alum over my face. Something about it just doesn't seem right to me, That being said I am not even sure what is in it. Oh well Time for some research.

Alum is Potassium Aluminum Sulfate. It is a naturally occurring mineral and has been used for centuries. That being said, although it is naturally occurring in the earth, it is not naturally occurring in the body. I'm not saying that using alum is unsafe. I use it frequently; however, I only use it when necessary (weepers). I don't rub my face with it every time I shave. I use it for a specific purpose, to stop weepers. If I have a cut, I'll use a styptic pencil which is another form of aluminum that I only use if necessary. Some use alum as aftershave to take advantage of the antibacterial properties of the alum. I have not seen a need for this as I don't have issues with shaving nicks getting infected (knock on wood).
Ironically, my first contact with alum on my face left red irritation on my face. As I continued to use it, that eventually stopped. My preference would be to never have to use it because that would mean that I got a great shave with no weepers, no cuts.

Due to its properties alum shouldn't cause razor bumps or acne so this is most likely some form of allergic reaction for some of you gentlemen.

But there's also another explanation that may have been overlooked. Alum will greatly exasperate any effects of improper technique (pressure and steep angle), so if you find your face red and burning after using alum you have to use a lighter touch.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Due to its properties alum shouldn't cause razor bumps or acne so this is most likely some form of allergic reaction for some of you gentlemen.

But there's also another explanation that may have been overlooked. Alum will greatly exasperate any effects of improper technique (pressure and steep angle), so if you find your face red and burning after using alum you have to use a lighter touch.

Hahaha...certainly felt that on occasion! Whenever I get an alum sting I've come to realize either the razor may need a refresh, or most likely, I may have got a bit sloppy in my technique in that area...