Why do acne appear after hair removal and what to do to get rid of it?

If you want to remove unnecessary hair from your body - and, above all, from your legs, the easiest thing is to pick up a razor.

Although this procedure must be repeated more often than other types of hair removal, shaving has undeniable advantages: it is simple and pleasant. Especially if you know a few simple rules that will help you avoid unpleasant sensations. Yes, skin irritation and pimples too. We’ll tell you, first of all, about women’s legs, but: gentlemen who need this, don’t be shy, the advice is quite universal.

Why does the skin become red and irritated?

Shaving the body, like the face, is often accompanied by microtraumas. Any razor, from straight to electric, passes its cutting edges along the surface of the skin. Unscheduled peeling, one might say. If the skin is not perfectly smooth - and not a single person has perfectly smooth skin! - then the razor can cut off the top layer of small skin irregularities. We don't notice them, but the razor blade passing over them causes redness and irritation.

This is a theory, but in practice these microtraumas can either be reduced to almost zero, or, conversely, provoked. For example, if the blade of your razor is dull, it will take a long time to “scrape” the skin until it is clean, which means there will be more microtraumas. Further, you can shave incorrectly (read below for how to shave correctly), and a lot depends on your movements.

And redness, irritation and other troubles may be an allergy to the gel or foam with which you cover your feet before this important procedure. So take a closer look at the composition of your shaving products, try to simply apply them to your skin - what if they are the problem!

The best acne remedies

GARNIER Clean Skin Active Ultra-Cleansing Gel

Rating: 4.9

The cosmetic product is recommended for men with oily skin. The gel has an ultra-cleansing effect, eliminating the consequences of the active work of the sebaceous glands. Absorbent carbon absorbs grease and accumulated dirt. Salicylic acid has an antibacterial effect, fighting germs that have entered the skin. Blueberry extract saturates the epithelium with vitamins, making the skin elastic and normalizing metabolic processes.

The gel is applied while washing. It can be used after shaving, when the foam has already been washed off. The consistency is thick, so you only need a little bit of product and the bottle lasts a long time.

Advantages

• no feeling of tightness after use;
• significantly reduces the number of acne;
• eliminates blackheads on the face.

Flaws

• It dries the skin a little, as it is designed for oily types;
• difficult to wash off.

Sensi Baume, Vichy

Rating: 4.9

After-shave balm with a softening effect. The composition includes eperulin - an extract from plants of the legume family. The drug has a calming effect and relieves inflammation on the skin that has been touched by a razor. Temporarily reduces sensitivity, so the user stops feeling burning and itching. The manufacturer uses thermal water to refresh the skin, restore it and strengthen its protective properties.

The balm is suitable for everyday use directly after shaving. Glycerin has an additional calming effect. The less inflammation on the skin, the lower the chance of acne formation. The product is made in France and therefore is expensive, but a 75 ml tube lasts for 3-4 months.

Advantages

• absorbs quickly;
• light texture;
• The tube lasts a long time;
• perfectly moisturizes.

Flaws

• Expensive.

Effaclar Gel, La Roche-Posay

Rating: 4.8

Gel foam is designed for users with oily skin prone to pimples, acne, and irritation. Can be used immediately after shaving or throughout the day. To do this, squeeze a little gel into the palm of your hand and foam it by rubbing with the addition of a small amount of water. Then apply to the face, distribute over the entire surface, massage, and rinse with water.

The active ingredient in the gel is zinc. It kills germs that cause acne. Thermal water relieves irritation and moisturizes the epithelium. Allergic reactions are minimized due to the absence of parabens. The skin will not “burn” after shaving, since the composition does not contain alcohol. Well tolerated by most users due to its pH 5.5 acidity and lack of soap. If hard water flows from the tap, the anti-lime component in the composition (EDTA) makes it soft.

Advantages

• additionally mattifies the skin;
• the face becomes velvety;
• smoothes the epithelium;
• prevents the formation of new acne;
• effectively eliminates existing acne.

Flaws

• some complain of dryness.

BioAqua Concentrated Pure Skin Cream

Rating: 4.8

Spot action cream. Apply to cleansed skin. Apply directly onto pimples using the built-in thin spout. Salicylic acid kills germs and speeds up the skin restoration process.

Additionally, the cream cleanses pores, removes toxins from the epidermis, and blocks further inflammation. Jojoba oil is used to soften. Shea butter dries out acne. Myrrh resin prevents redness and relieves itching. Sucrose stearate removes tightness and smoothes facial skin.

Advantages

• effectively removes developing pimples;
• fast action in one night;
• convenient tube with a long spout;
• It resolves deep pimples and pulls out external ones.

Flaws

• feels a little cold when applied;
• fights old acne longer.

Preparation

There's nothing worse than shaving dry, coarse hair on dry skin. Here you need to act wisely - before shaving, the skin and hair must be moisturized and made soft. This means that the shaving machine is best used after a bath or shower. Moreover: the day before it would be a good idea to thoroughly cleanse the skin with a scrub - it will remove dead skin cells and solve the problem of ingrown hairs.

So, our feet are ready - let's take up the tools. First of all, we need the machine itself - and the more modern, the better. For example, the most advanced body razor of the Dorco Shai 3+3 brand has six blades in a dual 3-blade cassette. The cartridge is movably attached to an ergonomic handle and is equipped with a rubber micro-comb that lifts hairs before shaving and a moisturizing strip. This design is the result of a long, more than century-long evolution of “women’s” razors; with its help, everything can be done quite painlessly. In addition to the machine, you need shaving cream, gel or foam - this product, as we said above, must be chosen so that it itself does not cause allergies, and the machine glides over it flawlessly.

Eve 6 Simple

Razor with 6 blade movable cassettes follows every curve of your body

Types of pimples after shaving

You can understand the cause of acne by the very nature and appearance of the surface formations. This may suggest which direction to take for treatment. There are mainly three types of acne:

1. Red dots, rashes

   . This is due to insufficient skin hydration during shaving, increased dryness of the epithelium, and allergic reactions.

2. White pimples

   . The presence of an abscess indicates a bacterial nature - microbes have penetrated into the pores or wounds, causing inflammation.

3. Dark, translucent tubercles

   . Such superficial formations are associated with ingrowth of hairs into surrounding tissues. The stubble inside the skin continues to grow, twists, and puts pressure on the tissue. It hurts and looks ugly.

Taking this into account, the dermatologist-cosmetologist will select a different treatment regimen.

And if still...

Let's be honest: it happens that all this did not help, and irritation still arises. Well, you never know - for example, the cream still didn’t work. Then the pimples and irritation that appear need to be removed: of course, there is no life with them. So, it's time to smear yourself. There are ready-made remedies for skin irritation, or you can make them yourself. The principle of operation for all of them is practically the same: bactericidal, that is, disinfecting the surface. And it prevents the formation of microabscesses, which provoke irritation.

Prevention of acne on the face in men after shaving

But it is better to prevent the problem, rather than solve it. Therefore, following a few simple tips will reduce the risk of acne after shaving:

1. Shave every day

   . The advice is not controversial. The longer the stubble, the more difficult it is to cut and the more irritating it is. Shaving short stubble every day will make the task easier.

2. Maintain personal hygiene

   . Some men shave in the evening, before bed. If you are one of them, be sure to wash your face with soap first to remove the germs and bacteria that have settled during the day. Otherwise, they will all get into the open pores during shaving.

3. Steam the stubble well.

   Foam helps soften, but it is better to wash with warm water first. It’s even better to shave after taking a shower or washing your hair, because then the stubble takes longer to steam.

   Read also:  Diaper rash in the armpits of a newborn
4. Use sharp blades

   machines with slip strips. Don't skimp on machines. If you felt that it was not cutting, but tearing, change it. Buy machines with special strips that increase slip. When the strip is worn off, throw away the machine.

5. Use silicone foam.

   This product increases blade glide and reduces skin trauma.

6. Use proper shaving technique

   . Never point the razor against the hairline. Longitudinal movements along the blade line are also prohibited. In most cases, shave with a top-down motion.

7. Rinse your face with cold water.

   When your face has steamed in warm water, you don’t want to wash your face with cold water. But this must be done after removing the foam at the end of the procedure. Cold water helps close the pores, which prevents microbes from entering the epithelium, which means there will be less acne.

By understanding the causes of pimples after shaving and knowing tips to combat them, you can improve your facial skin. If professional cosmetic care products do not help, you should contact a specialist - a dermatologist who will conduct an examination, take smears for analysis, and prescribe medications.

Representatives of the fair sex advise

Reviews from representatives of the fair sex and the male half of the population, who treated acne and post-inflammatory spots with various pharmaceutical and folk remedies, offer many effective and efficient remedies in the fight against epidermal problems that arise after shaving.

“After shaving, I massage the skin areas thoroughly with a towel in order to avoid ingrown hairs and apply Panthenol and rub it in. There was no more inflammation, and the skin was clean and silky after just a few minutes.”

Natasha, 24 years old

“Acne stopped appearing after hair removal in the bikini area after I discovered a wonderful remedy: hydrogen peroxide. It seems simple and well-known to everyone, but it helps me better than expensive lotions.”

Oksana, 34 years old

“My girlfriend recommended Panthenol to me. Since then, ugly pimples have only appeared in my nightmares.”

Vadim, 19 years old

“After removing the hair on my legs, pimples and ulcers constantly broke out. My mother helped, who advised me to massage my skin with baking soda before shaving my legs. Now I admire clean and smooth legs without terrible problems.”

Alina, 16 years old

The available practical advice from those who have already experienced the effective help of natural and pharmaceutical assistants helps to understand what and how to use to prevent skin problems caused by the razor and violations of shaving rules.

Treatment of an unpleasant problem

If acne does appear due to shaving, it is important to start timely treatment. Failure to provide timely assistance to the skin can lead to serious complications requiring doctor intervention and long-term therapy. Treatment of rashes is carried out in accordance with the symptoms of the process. There are many effective means to solve the problem with medication.

A dermatologist or cosmetologist can advise you on what to do with this annoying problem and how to remove acne, avoiding post-inflammatory spots on the skin. If the problem is not solved, the inflammation constantly itches and progresses, you can suspect infection of the skin with a fungus, and only a specialist can help deal with this problem, a visit to whom should not be postponed.

The mechanism of appearance of inflammatory formations

The sebaceous and sweat glands of the skin become unprotected as a result of violations of shaving rules. Especially delicate skin in the bikini area, including the pubis and groin. After shaving, after some time, people with sensitive skin can detect changes in the treated area:

1. Redness of the skin and small rashes;
2. Itching in the area of ​​redness, increased rashes;
3. Suppuration of individual pimples, severe inflammation and discomfort.

Against the background of malfunctions of the immune system, inflammatory processes in the sebaceous and sweat glands progress, accompanied by the death of the epithelium and the appearance of new areas of suppuration. Improper shaving also provokes ingrown hair, which threatens to turn into an abscess of varying degrees of intensity over time.

When removing hair in an intimate place and the armpit area, a violation of the integrity of the skin can lead to the fact that the lymphatic system will also lose protection. In this case, the lymph nodes become inflamed, which requires a visit to the doctor and subsequent serious and long-term treatment.

When to see a doctor

If the inflammation and rash do not go away within 2 days, and you notice purulent pimples after another shave, an increase in body temperature and swelling of the treated area, then you need to consult a doctor for advice and prevent the development of complications and problems.

Find out what to do if you cut yourself while shaving. How to stop bleeding and what not to do.