Thread: Lots of bumps and zits on my chin

I'm still pretty new to the straight razor scene, and had my 5th shave yesterday. Things have been progressing well (read here) and I got a decent shave.

However, this morning my chin had lots of red bumps and 4-5 white heads. I'll get the occasional white head and zit, but never 4-5 at once, and certainly not accompanied by a dozen red bumps.

Shaving the chin has always been a pain, its improving with each shave, but I might be going a little heavy handed. I noticed that with the harder areas I tend to put pressure on my skin, where as the easy areas I keep the feather touch.

Here is the stuff I've been using:
Dovo Prima, sharpened by Lynn, shaved with 4 times. Stropped before and after each shave.
Mitchell's Wool Fat soap
Dominica Bay Rum aftershave

First of all, I would give your chin a chance to recover for a few days. If you shave it at all, use a super light touch. When it's back to normal make sure you use less pressure when you shave it.You are better off to use multiple passes with light pressure than pushing too hard. As you and your skin get used to the straight razor you will find a nice balance between effective cutting and skin damage. Part of the learning curve, I'm afraid.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

I agree with Bill, give it a rest. You might try a shave balm as well, to ease the irritation.

++1 on the previous advice...Give your chin a rest for a day or two. Allow your skin to recover.

You sir are suffering from shaving rash. I`ve just written an essay on the subject, i`ll post on here at some point if i ever get time. however below is a nutshell of the information i have scraped together from my research.

There are many factors that could cause shaving rash, and any or all of them could be causing yours.

1) minor cuts and grazes can let bacteria into the skin causing and infection.

2) The follicle of the hair can be pulled out allowing bacteria to enter the cavity,

3)The tissue surrounding the hair follicle can be damaged if the follicle is tugged or otherwise disturbed causing either an inflamatory responce or the sebaceous gland to secrete excess amounts of fluid that can cause bacteria to grow.

4)Shaving is a severe form of exfoliation, if over exfoliated the skin is stripped of its protective layer of outer skin this trigger several responses dependent on skin type and other factors.

a) The skin will attempt to produce extra oil and fluid, to form a protective layer and prevent the skin drying out, due to its exposure to the elements, this film of oil can then become a breeding ground for bacteria. and may leave you open to infection.
b) The skin drys and can become inflamed, in extreme cases the outer layers of the skin can crack or rupture leaving you open to infection.

5) When shaving it is often considered best practice to keep the face warm for a period of time, this can open the aperture around the hair follicle and cause the hair to extrude past where it would normally sit, this along with the pressure from the fine blase pushing the skin down further before cutting and as the razor cuts through the hair it pulls more hair out obove the skin can cause the hair to retreat back under the skin. as the hair try to regrow through the skin it may get caught and become an "ingrowing hair" this can trigger and inflammatory response.

there are things you can do to prevent these things happening first and foremost, keep you face clean, after a shave Shower or wash your face again, and use antibacterial soap if you can.

Douse your face in cold water this will close pores and prevent bacterial infection. and use an alumn block this will close any small nicks and weepers.

use an ASB to moisturize your face post shave. there are some avalable now with sun screen properties wich may aid in preventing your skin becoming damaged.

other than that its teqnique, play around and see what works. MY general rule is that is it feels comfortable its not damaging your skin. (it may not be shaving close enough though)

hope that helps.

Thank you all for your replies, especially Ian for the great explanation.

I do feel a lot of tugging in that area, so along with the greater pressure I use is probably causing the exasperation.

I'm going to give my skin all the rest it needs, and when I go back to it, I'll work on my light touch. That general rule you had at the end, Ian, is something I'll keep in mind.

Cool, glad i could help.

Also make sure your soak and agitate your beard well before shaving make the hair as soft as possible and it will become easier to cut. and so less irritation.

+1 on the response of gratitude. this information has been helpful for me as well!

Are you going against the grain? I get this sort of problem if I do, but I have no problems if I go with the grain and then across.

On the area of the chin where I am getting the red zone, I am using a single pass with the grain. I have changed my facial hair on that area which has change the way I shave that area, so I assume that is the cause.