B
bluefoxicy
Just noticed on one of Mantic's videos some kid was complaining he gets acne after shaving.
Grease in your face feeds bacteria, which then grow and clog the pores, causing ... nasty, gross bumps. Obviously anything that removes either of these things helps-- clean off as much grease and dead skin as you can, or remove the bacteria, and the problem goes away. Eating less fatty nasty food reduces acne by supplying less grease.
My immediate answer to the acne problem, of course, makes these considerations. When you shave, you clear away hair and leave your pores more open; this allows more bacteria in, and then the pores close and clog. Because of this, this is actually a good time to treat acne.
First off, make sure your face is clean when you shave. A proper shave prep generally involves lathering with a brush, then wiping that lather away (least that's how I do it); a good face washing or exfoliating cream would help here too, if that's not enough. Exfoliation in general gently scrubs your face, removing crud from your pores and dead skin all around; if you shave daily, or shaved the previous day, this is more significant than if you exfoliate your full beard. Note that I at most use a brush and lather, no exfoliation.
Second, I recommend the use of an alum block after shaving. I personally use an alum block as aftershave. I rub it on across slick, wet skin; then after 2 minutes splash it off with cold water (you can use warm). It stings if my technique's bad; but it destroys bacteria by cytolysis. A cold water splash will close the pores.
I tend to use alum because it leaves my face feeling great 10 minutes later in ANY case, instead of dry and stretched for the rest of the day if my technique's really bad. However, I'd like to point out i skipped shaving for about a week and a half recently, and found giant zits all over my chin and on my cheek... nasty. Made it painful and difficult to shave.
If anyone has any comments on the above I'd love to hear it. Also if you have a nasty zitty teenager, try the alum thing maybe; experimental evidence is good. If you do, be sure to point out if it FAILS, to avoid experimental bias (anecdotes only from success cases).
Grease in your face feeds bacteria, which then grow and clog the pores, causing ... nasty, gross bumps. Obviously anything that removes either of these things helps-- clean off as much grease and dead skin as you can, or remove the bacteria, and the problem goes away. Eating less fatty nasty food reduces acne by supplying less grease.
My immediate answer to the acne problem, of course, makes these considerations. When you shave, you clear away hair and leave your pores more open; this allows more bacteria in, and then the pores close and clog. Because of this, this is actually a good time to treat acne.
First off, make sure your face is clean when you shave. A proper shave prep generally involves lathering with a brush, then wiping that lather away (least that's how I do it); a good face washing or exfoliating cream would help here too, if that's not enough. Exfoliation in general gently scrubs your face, removing crud from your pores and dead skin all around; if you shave daily, or shaved the previous day, this is more significant than if you exfoliate your full beard. Note that I at most use a brush and lather, no exfoliation.
Second, I recommend the use of an alum block after shaving. I personally use an alum block as aftershave. I rub it on across slick, wet skin; then after 2 minutes splash it off with cold water (you can use warm). It stings if my technique's bad; but it destroys bacteria by cytolysis. A cold water splash will close the pores.
I tend to use alum because it leaves my face feeling great 10 minutes later in ANY case, instead of dry and stretched for the rest of the day if my technique's really bad. However, I'd like to point out i skipped shaving for about a week and a half recently, and found giant zits all over my chin and on my cheek... nasty. Made it painful and difficult to shave.
If anyone has any comments on the above I'd love to hear it. Also if you have a nasty zitty teenager, try the alum thing maybe; experimental evidence is good. If you do, be sure to point out if it FAILS, to avoid experimental bias (anecdotes only from success cases).
