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Razor Burn And Irritation ?

So I get razor burn on my neck easily and even with a 3 day beard will get irritation on my neck where my collar rubs so when I shave it exposes it and sometimes makes it worse, I haven't figured out a way to eliminate it and working at a fiberglass factory doesn't help. The rub is I have to stay clean shaven to wear a respirator. My question is, are there any proven ways to heal it faster or any suggestions on my situation in general? I'm stumped
 
My routine is to shave after shower, good prep, witch hazel and a good moisturizer after. I don't wear respirators so I don't know but would assume BBS shave is not needed, just a fairly close, decent shave. I would not go more passes than needed and no ATG. Don't press down too hard especially in the neck area. As I said, I am not familiar with respirators but that is the start I would go with assuming it is appropriate.
 
see if you can go a few days without shaving to let your neck settle down.

you're a long time member here so you probably know most of this, but here it is anyway.

excess razor burn is either:

*too much pressure - need to unlearn the bad habits picked up from cartridge shaving - a very light touch is needed (even a little pressure can be too much)
*incorrect blade angle - handle of the razor should be pushed out from your face/neck, if it is parallel to your face then you are scraping not shaving
*too dry or not enough lather - the razor needs a moist cushiony medium so it can slide over your face, if it does not then it will scrape/irritate your skin and tug on your whiskers
*too many passes - I do 3pass max on on the face, 2pass max on the neck as it is too sensitive for any more. often the neck will get just one WTG pass, it still looks fine but not super smooth to the touch but only I or SWMBO can tell that, to everyone else it is still a SAS.
*wrong blade - feathers and my neck don't get along for more than 1pass, try a different blade. I love Derby's but many here do not, they are mild and may work for you.

wetshaving is a journey, keep trying different things. I'm not a fan of Sharks or Feathers but I love Derbys and Astra SPs. most burn problems are due to using too much pressure and wrong angle. ungrit your teeth, relax, and then shave slowly and deliberately, take your time and you will use less pressure and hopefully your results will improve. best of luck seanusa!
 
my best shaves to date are with my Muhle R41 and a 2 pass shave, it seems the more mild I go the more irritation I get. That being said I'm more interested in alleviating the irritation when it occurs than prevention. The fiberglass is the source of the irritation as far as I can tell. It permeates my clothes and rubs against my neck and yes, shaving does sometimes make it worse. I just want to keep it to a minimum and find a way to fight back.
 
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If I burn myself really badly, I'll rub a little Polysporin into my neck before bed. It feels kind of greasy, but most of the burn is gone by morning.
 
If I burn myself really badly, I'll rub a little Polysporin into my neck before bed. It feels kind of greasy, but most of the burn is gone by morning.
Welcome to B&B and thanks for the tip a might try something like that and see if it works
 
If I burn myself really badly, I'll rub a little Polysporin into my neck before bed. It feels kind of greasy, but most of the burn is gone by morning.

Hi Robzilla, welcome to B&B!

When you get a chance, please head over to our Hall of Fame (located in the "Shave Clinic and Newbie Check-In" forum) and tell us all a bit more about yourself. There are links in my signature to areas of B&B of special interest to beginning shavers--perhaps you might like to have a look at them. If you ever have questions or run into problems, don't hesitate to post them up. We're a welcoming and friendly group here, and there's always someone around to offer advice or lend a hand.

Enjoy your time here, happy shaving, and once again, WELCOME!!
 
Ever tried unrefined shea butter? I use it as a pre-shave on my neck and it seems to add some protection. I sometimes apply it to my neck after shaving if i have to wear a dress shirt. The shea butter helps to prevent the irritation I get from the collar rubbing on my neck.
 
Ever tried unrefined shea butter? I use it as a pre-shave on my neck and it seems to add some protection. I sometimes apply it to my neck after shaving if i have to wear a dress shirt. The shea butter helps to prevent the irritation I get from the collar rubbing on my neck.
I have not, are there brick and mortar outfits I can get it locally and what are the brand names associated with this product?
 
Unrefined Shea butter helps me... I ordered it from amazon. A little goes a long way, so order or buy less than you think you might need.
Perhaps you should talk to a dermatologists about who to protect your skin from fiberglass... That sounds like something that needs professional help, although I do not doubt nor discount the advice found on B&B.
good luck getting answers and solving problems!
 
I've dealt with similar situations numerous times in the past and I'm no stranger to working with a variety of respirators. To help get the rash under control, first wash the area with a mild scentless soap (like neutrogena) and pat dry...bacteria present in the pores may cause continued swelling and irritation so you want to cover this base and get those pores clean. To help sooth the irritation try hydrocotisone cream (not the petrolatum based product since you don't want to clog up your pores) and apply a thin layer. Regular witch hazel helps too if you prefer. Until your neck clears up, avoid putting ANY scented products on your neck. Aftershave balms that are demotolgist tested for sensitive skin and lack scent are your best bet. When shaving, try and use the most neutral scented shave soap or cream and avoid extra neck passes. You can still achieve a good seal check without being BBS. Prior to putting on a respirator, dust your neck with scentless baby powder or talc...one of the inexpensive VDH brushes works well for this. The powder is your friend...it still allows you to get a seal, helps keep irritating sweat at bay and minimizes fiberglass penetration of the skin. Best of luck and hopfully your neck will calm down.

Al
 
I've dealt with similar situations numerous times in the past and I'm no stranger to working with a variety of respirators. To help get the rash under control, first wash the area with a mild scentless soap (like neutrogena) and pat dry...bacteria present in the pores may cause continued swelling and irritation so you want to cover this base and get those pores clean. To help sooth the irritation try hydrocotisone cream (not the petrolatum based product since you don't want to clog up your pores) and apply a thin layer. Regular witch hazel helps too if you prefer. Until your neck clears up, avoid putting ANY scented products on your neck. Aftershave balms that are demotolgist tested for sensitive skin and lack scent are your best bet. When shaving, try and use the most neutral scented shave soap or cream and avoid extra neck passes. You can still achieve a good seal check without being BBS. Prior to putting on a respirator, dust your neck with scentless baby powder or talc...one of the inexpensive VDH brushes works well for this. The powder is your friend...it still allows you to get a seal, helps keep irritating sweat at bay and minimizes fiberglass penetration of the skin. Best of luck and hopfully your neck will calm down.

Al
Thanks a bunch for this post, I will give it a shot
 
Ever since I slowed my pace down and used the weight of the razor to reduce my beard over three passes, I haven't gotten burn or slices on my face. I am a newbie with sensitive skin, so if it worked for me, it could work for you. No pressure is the key! Good luck! Keep practicing!
 
Ever since I slowed my pace down and used the weight of the razor to reduce my beard over three passes, I haven't gotten burn or slices on my face. I am a newbie with sensitive skin, so if it worked for me, it could work for you. No pressure is the key! Good luck! Keep practicing!
Ditto here. I was moving along like clockwork until day four of DE shaving. I got some pretty bad razor burn on my neck after wearing a shirt w/ tie. A colleague who has been a long-time DE shaver suggested taking a day break and changing my blade. I had been on the same Wilkinson Sword (which was great when new) for the four days and it was clear that I should have changed the blade earlier. Further, in hindsight I was applying too much pressure; I've been shaving with Schick cartridges so am breaking the bad pressure habit Long story short, almost 48 hours after my nasty razor burn (having not shaved...I'm usually a daily shaver with solid beard growth) I used an Astro blade (still trying different brands), stretched my skin a bit more, and very deliberately used almost no pressure save for the blade weight. After two WTG passes, I was smooth with absolutely no burn or irritation. From now on, for me it's zero pressure and 2-3 day blade changes. Today my face feels and looks dynamite.
 
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