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Razor Burn Symptoms

Razor burn happens when you shave a coarse area of skin or do not use the proper shaving technique. This burn usually lasts a day or two, longer in severe cases. Most commonly razor burn is found on the skin of the beard, chest, bikini area or underarms. The best way to prevent razor burn is to moisturize frequently and shave in the direction of hair growth. There are a variety of different symptoms associated with razor burn.

  1. Redness

    • The redness or rash that comes from razor burn is the most common. This occurs from applying too much pressure to the skin while shaving. The best way to reduce this symptom is apply a cool pack to the skin to reduce irritation and inflammation. It is important to keep this skin clean to avoid further damage or infection.

    Burning Sensation

    • Once you have razor burn if you shave over it again you will feel a burning sensation or a stinging sensation. This happens because of the irritation to the already coarse skin. Applying a cold pack to this may help reduce the swelling and stop the burning sensation. You can also apply a cotton swab with black tea on it to the area. The tea has tannins in it which help constrict the blood vessels and stop the burning feeling. This can be prevented with daily moisturizing on the coarse area of skin.

    Chafed Skin

    • Skin chafing can be very painful and if left untreated can lead to the formation of scabs. Of all the symptoms of razor burns, chafed skin can be the most unsightly and most painful. You can relieve the redness and pain of the chafed skin by applying a cream to the area and letting it set for a couple of hours. If this does not reduce the effects of the chafed skin apply a cool pack and the cream again.

    Razor Bumps

    • The most severe symptom of razor burn are razor bumps. Razor bumps are small bumps on the skin caused from severe irritation to the skin. These occur from in-grown hairs that grow back into the skin causing bumps to form. If possible, the best way to treat the razor bump is to not shave that area until the bump is gone.

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