Does shaving assist in the healing process?

[Mad Weiland]

In the past, when suffering from irritation or a bad cut, (you know that seriously bad neck redness that makes you afraid to look in the mirror?) I would just say,
"f#$& this noise," stop shaving for a month to let my face heal, (and of course to rock a beard for a while).

I've noticed recently that, depending on the type of irritation/wound sustained from a previous shave, instead of growing a beard, shaving anyway would speed up the healing process. Perhaps because it is exfoliating or something.
I've also noticed that shaving almost totally clears up dry skin for me.

Although sometimes I still get fed up with shaving, no matter how good its been. Sometimes that one really bad shave just tears it.

Let me know what you think.

-Weiland.

 

[osic]

I would say that shaving would not assist in healing, and may hinder it. Shaving irritates the skin (even if it is very minor) and removes skin (again, very minor). Think of it like a child picking at a scab, they are removing the protective barrier as well as some of the cells that are trying to become part of the new skin. I can only see this as either being bad for the healing process, or in the best case neutral. I'm only talking logically and I may be completely wrong on a medical level, but it makes sense to me.

 

[johnmrson]

Certainly the use of things like a good shaving cream / soap and an aftershave / balm would help a skin condition I think.

 

[Luc]

Certainly the use of things like a good shaving cream / soap and an aftershave / balm would help a skin condition I think.

+1

I'm one of those who will shave anyways, the blade might get stuck a little for 2-3 days but eventually, everything's flat!

 

[taffy]

The last 2 weeks i have been using a straight for every shave, instead of using a de for a day or 2 a week, and for some unknown reason, lat week i managed to give myself a few cuts and scrapes, kept on using a straight, which just seemed to open up these every shave i had, so as from last saturday, out came the fatboy, today (wendsday) i have no more cuts, so i dont know if this answers any of your question, but i do not think shaving heals at all, though if you need to shave, perhaps use something less aggressive than what actually cut/caused you irritation in the first place.