Is razor burn itchy?

How do you calm the itch?

1. 1Pause hair removal. Avoid shaving, waxing and plucking until the inflammation settles and your skin clears.
2. 2Cool the area. Hold a cool, damp washcloth against irritated skin. Aloe vera gel can ease discomfort, but it does not cure razor burn.
3. 3Restore moisture. Apply a fragrance free moisturizing lotion. Avoid products containing alcohol or fragrance, which can irritate the area further.
4. 4For itchy legs, try a colloidal oatmeal bath. Colloidal oatmeal is finely processed oatmeal used to soothe skin. Pat yourself dry afterward rather than rubbing, then apply a fragrance free moisturizer.

Pat or tap itchy skin instead of scratching it. Keep showers cool or lukewarm, avoid long baths, and wear loose clothing rather than tight clothes that rub the area. If you need help choosing an itch relief product, tell a pharmacist where the itching is and whether you also have bumps, swelling or other symptoms. Antihistamines help some causes of itching, not every itchy rash.2

How long should razor burn last?

Razor burn can clear within a couple of hours or take a few days. Make an appointment if the irritation is not going away or is getting worse. Continuing to shave already irritated skin makes matters worse rather than helping it settle.1

Is it razor burn or something else?

An itchy rash after shaving is not always razor burn. Raised, itchy bumps can be ingrown hairs, where hair grows back into the skin; sometimes a trapped hair is visible. Coarse or curly hair makes ingrown hairs more likely. Redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin, so look for bumps or a change from the surrounding skin colour too. Do not scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs.3

Folliculitis means inflammation of the hair follicles, the openings from which hairs grow. Shaving can damage follicles, which can then become infected. Itching with pimples or pus filled bumps around hairs can fit folliculitis, and the bumps can crust over. A clinician can check the cause and choose treatment.4

A shaving product can also cause contact dermatitis, an irritated or allergic skin reaction. Fragrance is one possible trigger. An allergic rash often appears 24 to 48 hours after exposure, so a delayed itch after using a product deserves attention too. Stop using a suspected trigger; repeated reactions can need medical assessment.5

How should you shave once the skin heals?

The razor is only one part of the shaving routine, although it tends to get the starring role.6

1. 1Wet your skin and hair first to soften them. Right after a shower is a useful time to shave.
2. 2Apply shaving cream or gel. For very dry or sensitive skin, choose one labelled for sensitive skin.
3. 3Shave in the direction of hair growth, using as few strokes as possible. Do not stretch the skin taut.
4. 4Rinse the razor after each stroke. Replace the blade or disposable razor after five to seven shaves.
5. 5Apply moisturizer while the skin is still damp. Let the razor dry completely and store it away from the shower or a wet sink.

If irritation keeps happening, try a razor with one or two blades rather than several. For recurring ingrown hairs, avoid shaving every day if possible and leave at least 1 mm of stubble. Shaving does not have to leave skin completely hairless, despite the razor's rather narrow job description.37

When should you get medical help?

See a doctor for very painful, hot or swollen bumps, pus, fever or feeling shivery or unwell. Pimples around hair follicles that worsen, recur often or last longer than two or three days also need assessment. Seek help if itching is severe, disrupts daily life or continues despite self care. If you are pregnant, discuss itching with your GP or midwife rather than assuming shaving explains it.234