Shaving soap lather acting as a styptic

Has anyone else noticed that lather applied to a minor nick or weeper can stop bleeding as effectively as styptic? I first noticed this a few months ago and have been carefully repeating it as an experiment ever since and I'm satisfied that it's right. I'd like to hear what others have to say.

I suspect the alkaline nature of shaving soap lather is at the root of this.

Just for the record I use Proraso green, blue and red, Body Shop and Cella soaps and creams - all seem to be effective in staunching bleeding from minor cuts.

Your ideas please.

I always pass lather on the face after the last pass and leave it there for 3-5 minutes. It stops bleeding from minor cuts. If bleeding insist, then I use styptic.

Lather is not as effective as styptic, but it is ok for minor bleeding.

I think it's kind of the same as putting a tissue over the area. The lather is thick and it covers the nick and that mass promotes clotting.

I agree with Spendur. The lather does promote clotting and stopping the bleeding. Cold water will do the same.

I agree with rolodave who agrees with 'spender.

On a more personal level, if lather stopped my bleeding I'd feel like I didnt cut myself hard enough. ( :) )

you can actually bleed during shaving????:angel::soapbox:

Lather seems effective to help me stop minor bleeding, especially when I am using MWF. I do not think that it is as effective as styptic, but works well most of the time. Styptic is not always fully effective for me either, but if it isn't, it slows the bleeding considerably. Sometimes holding tissue or a cloth is necessary to fully stop bleeding. Fortunately, I rarely need tissue or styptic anymore. Minor nicks, when they happen, are usually stopped by the lather before I finish shaving.

IME some soaps are better at it than others. my tabak works a charm at little red spots, while proraso... eventually if left there for a min or so, yea itll stop, but not nearly as fast as my taback. And my Mühle and old spice soaps---> big pink splotches.... ie still bleeds.
YMMV

This thread (the cut theme) has made me very nervous about who I'm reading for advice. :rofl2:

If the bleeding is severe you can always put a tourniquet around your neck. That will stop the bleeding fast......

I've never noticed this. But I have clearly noticed the bright red blood bleeding through the lather on several occasions. Looks quite nasty to me. I don't fool around. I go straight for the styptic.

Thanks guys. All this pretty much correlates with my findings. I think it's significant that some soaps or creams do not seem to have any haemostatic properties and some have it in spades - I've found that the Proraso range is particularly effective.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If the bleeding is severe you can always put a tourniquet around your neck. That will stop the bleeding fast......

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Eh-hehm...
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shave...ml#post1474697

Though I didn't expect to need it, I had one on hand... "Just in case".

In a nutshell,do not cut yourself:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

In a nutshell,do not cut yourself:)

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Yep. Do it right the first time. You cannot uncut yourself.

http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/...psjl6ukcsw.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maladroit

Thanks guys. All this pretty much correlates with my findings. I think it's significant that some soaps or creams do not seem to have any haemostatic properties and some have it in spades - I've found that the Proraso range is particularly effective.

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It's not quite as simple as that. You have to factor in your individual clotting characteristics, how thick the lather is and the type of cut or nick you have. I'm sure the phase of the moon comes in there somewhere too.

If, like me you are on blood thinning medication, then no soap, no matter what properties it has, will stem the flow. Apart from a styptic pencil and alum, I always have alum powder (just like a talcum powder) at the ready.

The first time I needed something stronger than styptic was just after bypass surgery - I caught the lobe of my ear and the only thing that stemmed it was Athletes foot powder. It wa a great conversation piece in my remedial gym class the same day.