Can Shaving Cause a Rash?

For many people, shaving is a normal part of everyday life and undoubtedly it is one of the most popular ways of removing hair. The advantage of this solution, in contrast to methods such as waxing, is that hair does not need to grow for very long in order to be shaved. Therefore, during those times when hair growth is inconvenient (throughout the summer months for example), shaving can be a useful way of maintaining hairless skin.

On the other hand, as shaving targets the hair at the surface rather than the root, it is generally the case that results are not very long lasting. Typically, hair re-growth should be expected within a maximum of a few days – depending on hair growth patterns, it can be as little as 24 hours.

The real problem with shaving is that the technique can cause rashes which leave the skin looking and feeling irritated. Those who want to shave can help prevent this by shaving in the direction of the growth of the hairs, investing in a good shaving gel or cream, using a sharp razor and moisturising the area directly afterwards. Occasionally, a shaving rash may become infected. If this happens, it is vital to speak to a GP.

As we can see then, while shaving is a popular method of hair removal, it can certainly cause skin problems. For those who often suffer from rashes or believe that the negatives outweigh the positives of shaving, it may be time to consider another form of hair removal. If you do not want to consistently re-grow hair in order wax or use an epilator, it is also worth remembering that long-term hair removal solutions such as laser hair removal are now widely available.

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