Aluminum Free Styptic?

[toph3r]

Recently started Wet shaving.. occasionally nick myself during the learning process.

Are there any aluminum free styptic pencils (or some other solution) that people are aware of and could recommend? I picked up a "Nick Stick" by Pacific Shaving Company, checked the reviews section and it seem mediocre.

Thanks in advance for the info!

 

[kmain]

I never really thought of it as dangerous... I glanced over the MSDS sheet to read up on it though...

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9922864

Appears to be a skin irritant and can cause organ damage... but I'm pretty sure its "safe" if you wash it off right away...

 

[oldbluelight]

Hell, the dihydrogen oxide you're using is far more dangerous, kills thousands every year. I'm hoping the government will ban or severely restrict its use.

 

[srm_92000]

Hell, the dihydrogen oxide you're using is far more dangerous, kills thousands every year. I'm hoping the government will ban or severely restrict its use.

Only if you use lots too much !!!

 

[joshgambit]

Hell, the dihydrogen oxide you're using is far more dangerous, kills thousands every year. I'm hoping the government will ban or severely restrict its use.

Well, it's really only dangerous if you inhale it.

 

[oldbluelight]

Well, it's really only dangerous if you inhale it.

I'm afraid that's a common and dangerous misconception. In one famous early 20th Century incident involving an Irish manufacturing firm and a British transportation company some 1,500 innocent people were killed in just a few short hours. Arrogance, indifference and competitive capitalism all contributed to the disaster but too much dihydrogen oxide was the killer. Yes some of the victims died from inhalation but a significant number of the fatalities resulted from prolonged skin contact with the dihydrogen oxide that had saturated their clothing and protective gear. It can be deadly in all it's forms, solid, liquid and gaseous.

We've known how deadly this stuff is for a long, long time and still there are recreational users of this compound. They like to "play" with it and a certain number of them die every year while they're having fun. The authorities really need to do something before it's too late.

 

[joshgambit]

Let's not forget that it does have its use. I need to use it everyday for a variety of purposes. In fact, going without it makes my body go through withdrawal.


To the OP, I'm not aware of an aluminum free styptic. I'm also not convinced that the small amount that people use would cause any harm at all.

 

[isaac d.]

Let's not forget that it does have its use. I need to use it everyday for a variety of purposes. In fact, going without it makes my body go through withdrawal.


To the OP, I'm not aware of an aluminum free styptic. I'm also not convinced that the small amount that people use would cause any harm at all.

I agree. The small amounts that would be used isn't enough to be worried about. Heck, just check out the LD50... you could probably eat a couple every day and still be fine lol.

 

[rxonmymind]

I. They like to "play" with it and a certain number of them die every year while they're having fun. The authorities really need to do something before it's too late.

Hard to fix stupid.
There's or to be worried about than alum in a pencil. Teflon is in our blood, aluminum from soda, etc.

 

[theretroshave]

I'm afraid that's a common and dangerous misconception. In one famous early 20th Century incident involving an Irish manufacturing firm and a British transportation company some 1,500 innocent people were killed in just a few short hours. Arrogance, indifference and competitive capitalism all contributed to the disaster but too much dihydrogen oxide was the killer. Yes some of the victims died from inhalation but a significant number of the fatalities resulted from prolonged skin contact with the dihydrogen oxide that had saturated their clothing and protective gear. It can be deadly in all it's forms, solid, liquid and gaseous.

We've known how deadly this stuff is for a long, long time and still there are recreational users of this compound. They like to "play" with it and a certain number of them die every year while they're having fun. The authorities really need to do something before it's too late.

Nice. I was thinking Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for a second there. I'm like whaaa? I need coffee...

 

[jzuzphreek]

Here's a link to a site that's a real eye-opener about dihydrogen monoxide. It's obviously got a great lobby in Washington since hardly ANYTHING has been done to remove it from the environment.

 

[BillC]

I use alum daily as an aftershave. That said, Proraso makes a styptic gel but I don't have any so I can't check the ingredients. Shoebox Shave Shop claims to be the only one in the US with this product - not sure if that's true or not but you can buy it there.

 

[joshgambit]

I use alum daily as an aftershave. That said, Proraso makes a styptic gel but I don't have any so I can't check the ingredients. Shoebox Shave Shop claims to be the only one in the US with this product - not sure if that's true or not but you can buy it there.

BullGoose sells it.

 

[celestino]

A good potassium alum block and cold water will work just as well. Good luck.

 

[Mandina]

Isn't there quite a bit of info that the alum used in block (potassium) and the alum used in styptic don't contain aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium, which is, if I understand correctly, the aluminum ingredient to worry about?

 

[basditz]

If you would like to stop bleeding you need an astringent substance. If you dont want to use alum (all types of alum contain aluminium salts) try other astringent agents like witch hazel, calamine lotion, or alcohol.

 

[phillylion]

Most of the deodorants on the market contain those aluminum compounds. And in much larger quantities than in a styptic. Also, the underarm skin is much more porous than skin elsewhere on the body and the aluminum gets absorbed into the blood much more readily.

 

[toph3r]

Thanks for the humorous multilogue about the dangers of water as a metaphor an irrational fear of aluminum.
I recognize there are only trace amounts of aluminum, which are harmless... but as aluminum is not a metal naturally found in the body and thus, if there was an acceptable alternative which worked to the same degree, why would I not explore that option?

The "Nick Stick" didn't work too well, so I and it appears that not many other options were presented, so styptic pencil it is!

Most of the deodorants on the market contain those aluminum compounds. And in much larger quantities than in a styptic. Also, the underarm skin is much more porous than skin elsewhere on the body and the aluminum gets absorbed into the blood much more readily.

(I realize this makes me sound like a crazy person...but I cant stop myself from playing devil's advocate...or maybe I just like to argue) While I am not refuting the fact that your underarmskin is more porous than skin elsewhere, don't forget that you are using your pencil on a cut, and thus introducing it directly to your bloodstream



-Cheers!

 

[phillylion]

(I realize this makes me sound like a crazy person...but I cant stop myself from playing devil's advocate...or maybe I just like to argue) While I am not refuting the fact that your underarmskin is more porous than skin elsewhere, don't forget that you are using your pencil on a cut, and thus introducing it directly to your bloodstream



-Cheers![/QUOTE]

I agree with you. I question the safety of either of them.

 

[cesium]

Direct pressure to the wound will stop bleeding. You could try ice as well- slows blood flow. How about a little piece of tissue paper stuck to the cut? People used to use that all of the time. Some people say cold water works by tightening the pores.

I use an alum block myself- but it does really tighten my skin. Works well but dries things out a lot too.

Not to put you on the spot here, but is there a particular reason behind avoiding aluminium? If its the supposed link to Alzheimer's, that's been widely discredited for quite a long time. If its because its an irritant, I'd point out so is wind, sun, even the act of rubbing your face is. You can't get too hung up with this stuff. Chances are the most dangerous thing you'll do today is get behind the wheel of a car. But I digress and will step down from my soap box. I have opinions on things that often are best kept to myself...

Anyways- for what it's worth... Try the first few suggestions. Cold water works pretty well for me.