Home Remedies for Razor Burn: Easy, DIY Solutions
Razor burn can be uncomfortable and unpleasant to look at. It leaves a lingering irritated sensation with red patches, and most men are eager to see it gone. You don’t want to show up for work with an angry red inflamed face.
Razor burn can and will go away on its own. Depending on your skin type and the severity of the razor burn, waiting it out can take up to a week. Waiting it out isn’t the best idea. Razor burn is damage to your skin, and whenever there’s damage, it’s better to treat the problem.
Helping your skin to recover can shorten the duration of razor burn and leave your skin in better condition than it was prior to your shaving mishap.
What Causes Razor Burn?
Many things can cause razor burn. Shaving too quickly can cause razor burn, but it’s less likely to be the most common culprit. Dry shaving or shaving with a dull blade will almost always result in razor burn. If you aren’t replacing your razor blade or cartridge once a week, you’re definitely shaving with a dull blade.
Every pass of the razor against your face dulls it just a little bit. At the end of your first shave with a new blade, it’s already nowhere near as sharp as it was before you started. Each successive shave only makes the problem worse. If you shave a few times a week, you should be replacing your head or blade at least once a week. If cost is a factor, you can always switch to a shavette straight razor or a safety razor. The blade refills cost pennies, versus the serious money that cartridge refills cost.
Dry shaving often leads to irritation and razor burn. It’s best to shave on a warm, wet face with a rich hot lather. This makes the skin and hair softer, reducing the friction and providing the much needed “slip” that the razor needs to mow down the hair without damaging your skin.
Do I Have Razor Burn?
Razor burn looks similar to a scrape or a rash. If what you have looks more like bumps or pimples, you have razor bumps. This is a condition called pseudofolliculitis barbae. It happens as a result of hair follicle irritation during shaving. It can be fixed, but it won’t respond to razor burn remedies very well. Make sure you actually have razor burn and not razor bumps before you attempt to handle the problem on your own.
Curing Stinging, Itchy Razor Burn
One of the most uncomfortable side effects of razor burn is the stinging, itchy sensation. The inflammation leads to a response in the skin that’s similar to an allergy response. Don’t scratch your razor burn. This will only make it worse.
The best thing you can do is apply an over the counter topical steroid cream. Cortisone cream is very inexpensive, and it will take the itch out of your razor burn without further irritating your skin.
If you choose a variety enriched with aloe, you might see a reduction in your redness a little faster. Aloe is full of nutrients that can help to heal your skin.
Coconut Oil for Razor Burn
Razor burn involves a lot of little microscopic tears on your skin. You want to keep that skin deeply moisturized and clean. Drying ingredients like alcohol are going to burn and draw more moisture out from the skin, sometimes making the problem even worse.
Coconut oil is about half lauric acid. Lauric acid is a natural antibacterial, antifungal ingredient. It can help to manage the bacteria on your skin without sucking away all the moisture. Coconut oil has a high concentration of saturated fat, making it deeply moisturizing. Warm it up a little bit before you use it, and gently massage it into your razor burn. The warm sensation combined with the gentle massage and the deep moisture will help your skin feel better immediately.
Aloe Vera for Razor Burn
Aloe vera is one of the most beneficial ingredients for red, sensitive, inflamed skin. That’s why so many sunburn products are made of an aloe vera gel base. You can use aloe vera gel sunburn products on your razor burn, as long as they don’t contain high amounts of alcohol or numbing lidocaine.
If you have fresh aloe vera growing in your yard or in your kitchen window in a small pot (trust us, super handy to have), that’s even better. Simply cut off a leaf of the plant and shave away the skin from one side of the exterior. This will expose the “meat” of the plant - a thick, clear, gelatinous substance. Just rub the aloe all over your skin. It will feel even better if you put it in the fridge first for about 15 minutes or so. The cooling sensation is refreshing, and the lower temperature may help to combat any throbbing sensations on your skin.
Shea Butter For Razor Burn
Shea butter is a great all-purpose moisturizer. It’s derived from the shea nut, the same way that peanut butter is derived from the peanut. The difference is in the composition of the oil. Pure, unrefined shea butter is creamy, rich, smooth, and full of vitamins. Its natural healthy fat content makes it deeply moisturizing.
Its thickness allows it to act as a protective barrier between your skin and the elements. This is important when you have razor burn. Razor burn disturbs your skin’s natural protective barrier, and shea butter is a great replacement until your skin is healed and its natural balance is fully restored.
Tea Tree Oil for Razor Burn
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic anti-inflammatory ingredient commonly used to treat a whole host of skin conditions. It's often used for ingrown hairs, acne, psoriasis, cuts, scrapes, and burns. Razor burn is no different. If you already use tea tree oil in your day to day life, go ahead and apply it to your razor burn.
DIY Skin Soothing Oatmeal Masks
If you were an adventurous little boy, you probably came home with a lot of rashes from plants you encountered in the woods. You might remember your mother giving you an oatmeal bath, or using oatmeal soap on you. Oat is a skin soothing ingredient, helping to relieve inflammation and promote healing.
If you have a few packs of plain instant oatmeal lying around, now’s the time to use them. Don’t use flavored oatmeal or oatmeal with added sugar. Microwave the oats with plain water according to the package instructions, and allow them to cool for a few minutes. Then, rub the goopy oatmeal onto your face. Let it sit for ten minutes or so, and thoroughly rinse it off with warm water.
Conclusion
There are plenty of things you can do to make razor burn look and feel better. The best thing to do is prevent razor burn. Never shave in a hurry, be diligent about replacing your blades, and use a warm, rich shaving cream every time.
Shaving should be a pampering experience. You want it to feel good, and you want to look good when you’re done. Give yourself 15 extra minutes to spend on self-care. You deserve it.
Sources:
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/folliculitis-barbae/
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/what-is-lauric-acid
https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/houseplants/2019/cut-aloe-plant