Thread: Shaving spreading infection?

I shaved last week and on the atg pass under the chin, there was some abrasion, about a day later i Had like sores on my chin and other areas where i shave.
Apparently i'd spread / inflamed/infected a cold sore over my face through shaving, although i haven't had an actual cold sore in ages.
Any ideas as to how/why this happened?
the doc has told me to not go atg.
I wasn't sure about what to use for the title.

I guess anything is possible but to tell you the truth I've never seen a post here about someone spreading or getting an infection from a straight. I think there was a post on another site about someone supposedly getting some condition from shaving.

it might just be the abrasion caused some really bad irritation or reaction of some kind. Are you sure its all infected?

are you sure its not just razor burn?

but umm.. yeah.. you might want to sanitize your razors and take a break from shaving while that clears up.

A zoster generally appears in the mucosal areas like the mouth, naries, eyes, and “other areas”. If you have multiple bumps that look like acne it’s likely PFB. (Pseudofolliculitis barbae) Your doc is right on the money! No more shaving ATG.

Originally Posted by GhostRida

I shaved last week and on the atg pass under the chin, there was some abrasion, about a day later i Had like sores on my chin and other areas where i shave.
Apparently i'd spread / inflamed/infected a cold sore over my face through shaving, although i haven't had an actual cold sore in ages.
Any ideas as to how/why this happened?
the doc has told me to not go atg.
I wasn't sure about what to use for the title.

Are you sure it was a cold sore that was spread? I'm no Dr. but don't cold sores only spread from one host to another or one spot to another only through direct contact with an open sore? I am pretty sure that is correct. It sounds more like severe dermatitis due to razor burn/skin sensitivity.? Just a thought.

Maybe it didn't "spread" the cold sore, but shaving may have irritated your skin enough around your mouth/nose to anger/wake the dormant virus causing an independent flare up?

Chris L

I wonder if an alum block would be effective in preventing such spreading as it does have antiseptic properties. I know I don't get *any* zits from shaving anymore since I started using an alum block after every shave. But then again, zits = bacteria, and Herpes-Zoster = virus.

I am no expert, but I am pretty sure Herpetic sores can be spread to different spots on the mouth. Unfortunately, the Herpes on the mouth can be spread to other areas as well. For example, a child born with a herpetic lesion on the mouth can suck his thumb and cause a lesion to form there.
This is too much science I agree with the person who said to not shave ATG, and you should listen to your doc because he can see the lesions. Google also has good pics of these type lesions. Personally, when I get razors, I soak them in bleach and alcohol each for 15 minutes and do the same after I use them so that they are clean when I sell them to others.
Good Luck!

Those sores could have been a common staph aureus skin infection which was spread by your razor cutting into it. My old barber manual advises barbers NOT to shave someone with an infection on their face, due to the risk of spreading it. It also could spread to other customers, if the razor was not properly disinfected. My best advice is to stop shaving that area until it heals, and to use lots of soap, hot water, and an antibiotic ointment on the area. My .02.

I'm not a fan of bleach for razor disinfection, as it will rapidly corrode carbon steel and even will corrode "stainless" steel surgical instruments. Alcohol will help to dissipate the bleach but it will have little impact as a viricide.