Of course, everyone wants to achieve that soft, smooth skin and free of hair. Don’t you just love how it feels whenever you run your fingers all over your skin that has been freshly-shaven? I know, it is a pure bliss!
However, it is quite unpleasant how great things don’t last that long. Your stubborn facial hair will start growing again and unfortunately, it will often cause ingrown hairs, itchy patches, and bumps that you will need to deal for some time. And worst of all, shaving can sometimes result in acne breakout, especially if you are doing it properly.
So in this article, we will talk about how does shaving cause acne and what are the best ways you can avoid this. If you want to know the answer, then keep on reading below.
How Shaving Can Give You Acne
There are actually plenty of different ways why we get acne from shaving. These are:
1. Bacteria found in shaving blades.
Well, I am not telling you to grab a fresh set of blades each time you shave; however, if you are starting to notice that tugging feeling in your skin whenever you shave, then I suggest you quickly replace them.
Old blades do not only bring damage to your skin but can also collect bacteria, especially if you are storing them in the bathroom – which, unfortunately, majority of us does. The environment in the bathroom is warm and has so much moisture, the favorite place for the bacteria to grow.
The bacteria in your blades can mix to your face’s natural oil as you glide your blade to your skin. This will eventually clog your skin and cause break out.
Here are some ways on how to avoid this:
- Rinse well your blade underneath running water every time you are done shaving.
- If you have an extra toothbrush, dip it into antibacterial soap and use it to brush the blades. Make sure you rinse the blades well after.
- Rub some alcohol on the blades to make it even cleaner.
- Store the blades in dry areas so moisture and molds won’t grow on them. Make it possible to cover them all the time, in this way you will keep harmful bacteria and dirt away from the blade.
2. You might be sensitive to your shaving gel.
Using shaving gel is highly recommended since it acts as a barrier between your skin and the razor, hence protecting your skin from any tears. However, some ingredients of the shaving gel you are using might cause acne. To avoid this, make sure you shaving gel does not contain:
- Palmitic Acid
- Glycols
- Fragrance
The scent of shaving gel is one of the most common causes of irritation and allergies; so make sure you opt for a product that is unscented. Anyway, here are further more tips to make sure you won’t get acne from your shaving gel.
- When shopping for shaving gels, choose ones that are made from natural ingredients like olive oil or coconut oil. Shaving gels with aloe vera on its ingredients are also highly recommended.
- One way to make sure your shaving gel does not contain any irritant is by making one yourself. You can use jojoba oil, shea butter, and other similar oils for an easy to make homemade shaving cream.
3. You have ingrown hairs.
Ingrown hairs often lead to blemishes and they can really be uncomfortably itchy. Ingrown hairs are those growing baby hairs that curl inwards onto your skin. Sometimes, they can get lodged in your skin and is often mistakenly identified as acne. However, they can possibly cause acne once they get infected.
So, I list down some tips below on how to avoid ingrown hairs.
- Before you shave, spend some time to exfoliate. This is the best way to avoid ingrown hairs since it will help you open your pores and provide you with a smoother shave.
- Take a closer look at what direction your hair grows and shave accordingly. Going contrary to the grain will make your hair grow out in an opposite direction and often get inwards towards your skin.
- Make sure your razor is sharp enough. Using dull razor blade will give rough cuts and make your hair grow unevenly.
4. Shaving has cause irritation and inflammation of your skin.
Shaving can often cause Folliculitis, an illness where your hair follicle gets inflamed due to the presence of fungus, bacteria or allergies; take note that when you are shaving, your skin gets very vulnerable and gets easily irritated so it tends to break out more.
So here are some helpful tips on how you avoid and heal inflammation.
- Before you begin shaving, make sure that you have properly cleaned your skin. This will make sure that there are no bacteria or any dirt on your skin’s surface that will clogged into your pores.
- Using a toner after shaving is very helpful to calm down your pores. However, if you have sensitive skin, avoid toner that has alcohol on its ingredients; witch hazel toner is a recommended choice.
- Be gentle when you shave and avoid pushing too hard.
Other Bonus Tips:
- Now that you know how does shaving cause acne, I suggest you start establishing an ideal routine before and after you shave to minimize the risk of acne growing on your now flawless face.
- You need to choose a fantastic razor blade. You can use electric razor since they are very convenient but if you have sensitive skin, I recommend safety razors to you. It will lessen the risk of your skin getting irritated as well as the possibility of ingrown hair.
Final Thought
When it comes to what causes acne, the questions are limitless. Some ask “does fish oil cause acne”, while others ask “does peanut butter cause acne”? Well, today’s a great day as we have uncovered the truth the on how does shaving cause acne as well as the ways on how we can prevent it.
I hope this article has helped you with your acne problems. If you still have more questions about acne, don’t hesitate to drop your question in the comment section below.
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