How To
Get Rid Of Shaving Rash

Discover how to soothe shaving rash, understand its causes, and prevent future flare-ups with NIVEA products, featuring insights from Marcus Favaro, Lab Manager, NIVEA Body Care.

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8 min

In a nutshell, for you:

4 Ways to Get Rid of Shaving Rash
How to Avoid Shaving Rash
What Causes Shaving Rash & Razor Burn?
How to Avoid Shaving Rash on Legs and other Areas?
How to Get Rid of Shaving Rash?
What are Razor Bumps & Razor Burn?
How to Get Rid of Razor Bumps & Razor Burn?
Bikini Line Rash

Shaving rash and razor burn can be sore, itchy and frustrating, whether they show up on your legs, bikini line, or anywhere else you shave. The good news is that shaving rash can be soothed and, with the right routine, prevented. Keep reading to understand what causes shaving rash, how to help prevent it and how to help keep your skin feeling more comfortable after every shave.

What Is Shaving Rash?

4 ways to
get rid of shaving rash

Shaving rash, razor burn and bikini line rash can be painful and annoying. Whether you're trying to treat a harsh case of shaving rash or just trying to avoid it altogether, read our guide to understand how to prevent shaving rash, how to get rid of shaving rash and how to soothe shaving rash.

How to
avoid shaving rash

Unfortunately, shaving rash, razor bumps and bikini line rash are all natural by-products of shaving. You've probably experienced them at some point and know how irritating they can be - but knowing what the causes are can help you to understand how to prevent shaving rash.

What can cause shaving rash?

What causes
shaving rash & razor burn?

Understanding the causes of shaving rash can help with prevention. Common causes include:

Understanding what causes shaving rash can help you to know how to prevent it. We've highlighted some common causes to help you understand what to avoid when shaving.

What Is Shaving Rash?

Shaving rash is a type of skin irritation that pops up on the skin after shaving. It usually appears a few minutes after you shave but can also develop a little later in the day if you're wearing tight clothes, or exposed to the weather. Shaving rash is not the same as razor bumps, which are caused by lots of little ingrown hairs rather than a rash from the razor.

Shaving Rash Prevention

How to avoid
shaving rash on legs and other areas?

Shaving rash on legs, and other popular shaving areas, are the most common places that people get shaving rash. Read our steps on how to avoid shaving rash on legs and other common areas:

STEP 1: EXFOLIATE YOUR BODY

Prep the area you plan on shaving. You don't want to shave over a build-up of rough, dead skin cells or dirt/oil left over from the day. It also allows for a closer shave, resulting in smoother legs or armpits. It's best to use an exfoliating cloth or mitt to scrub away the dead skin.

STEP 2: SOFTEN YOUR HAIRS

Trying to shave right after exfoliating might seem like the next step but there are more steps to go, especially if you want to prevent shaving rash. Softening your hairs is a big step in understanding how to prevent shaving rash. Try using warm water in a bath, shower or with a flannel so the skin expands - making it easier to shave.

STEP 3: USE SHAVING CREAM, GEL OR FOAM

The key to a good shave is lubricant. Skip the body wash and use a proper shaving cream, gel or foam to avoid irritation, which can cause razor burn or shaving rash, and to make sure you get the closest shave possible. A shaving product lays a thin layer on the skin, helping the blade glide smoothly over the skin. They also usually contain ingredients that soothe the skin before it is shaved.

STEP 4: SHAVE... IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

It's important when you're shaving to know which way to shave. On your legs you want the closest possible shave, so go against the grain to get the smoothest possible legs. Shaving rash on legs is common, and applying too much pressure when shaving is often how a shaving rash is caused. However, in more sensitive areas like the bikini line or your underarms, it's important not to shave against the grain, as the sensitive skin can get irritated and lead to ingrown hairs, and make it harder to avoid razor burn.

STEP 5: POST-SHAVE CARE

Post-shave care is key to avoiding shaving rash, especially shaving rash on legs and other sensitive areas. Make sure you rinse your freshly shaved area with cold water to close up the pores. Then use a lotion or moisturiser designed for sensitive skin - avoid perfumed products as they can irritate skin further and cause redness. It's also important to swap your razor blades when you notice them starting to dull and definitely before they start to get rusty.

Is there a shaving rash cure? Read on for our tips on how to get rid of shaving rash.

Shaving Rash Treatment

How to
get rid of shaving rash?

Shaving rash can be uncomfortable and really knock your confidence. Knowing how to soothe shaving rash can help to ease this discomfort - so we've highlighted some treatments to help you get on top of it.

Cold Compress - A great tip for how to soothe shaving rash is to apply a cold compress to the affected area. As soon as you notice the early signs of shaving rash, it's best to address it straight away. Using a cold compress to soothe shaving rash will stop the burning sensation, reduce redness and help prevent shaving bumps from appearing, as well as being an early method to help get rid of shaving rash.

Hydrate - Another effective shaving rash treatment is hydration. Dehydrated skin is more likely to be affected by shaving rash, so it's important to always stay hydrated. Moisturising your skin after a shave, and especially if you see a shaving rash coming on, is important when it comes to eliminating the rash. However, keeping skin hydrated is more than just using moisturiser. Make sure you drink enough water so your skin's natural protective barrier can perform at its best and be as protective as possible. When your skin is hydrated, it performs better, making it more efficient at combating irritation or impurities. As a result, it can help get rid of shaving rash quicker.

To keep your skin hydrated, try the NIVEA Repair & Care Body Lotion for 72H of deeply moisturising care - to help prevent dry skin and shaving rash. Developed in collaboration with a dermatologist, it calms irritated areas and provides relief from dryness.

Allow It To Heal - Shaving rash in its various forms should heal on its own, but it's important to let this happen. Don't shave the affected area again until the skin has recovered and healed, even if you don't think you have shaving rash - any redness or inflammation is a sign not to shave the area again.

Preventing shaving rash

What are
razor bumps & razor burn?

How To Soothe Razor Burn

To soothe razor burn and treat razor burn symptoms, apply moisturising, gentle products that protect the skin as well as hydrating it.

To keep your skin hydrated, try our NIVEA Rich Nourishing Body Lotion. Formulated with a blend of nourishing ingredients, this lotion offers deep moisturising care that helps prevent dry skin and shaving rash. With its unique combination of Almond Oil, Vitamin E and our Deep Moisture Serum, it provides 72 hours of continuous hydration, leaving your skin feeling smooth, soft and revitalised.

What our expert says:

"Several ingredients are particularly effective in soothing and treating shaving rashes. These include Aloe Vera, Sweet Almond Oil, Argan Oil, Centella Asiatica (Tiger Grass), Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Bisabolol and Allantoin," says Marcus Favaro, Lab Manager, Formula Development, NIVEA Body Care.

Razor Bump & Razor Burn Treatment

How to
get rid of razor bumps & razor burn?

Razor bumps and razor burn can be very irritating, so we want to help you understand how to get rid of razor bumps and razor burn. It may seem inevitable after every shave, but we've got some tips to help prevent razor bumps and burn.

1. EXFOLIATE
Exfoliating before you shave helps to avoid razor bumps. It removes all the dirt and dead skin that can lead to blocked pores, which in turn cause razor bumps. It also allows for a closer and smoother shave, which reduces the chances of razor bumps and razor burn caused by skin irritation.

2. COLD WATER
Applying cold water after you shave will help to close your pores. As a result, it will help to prevent ingrown hairs and spots from appearing.

It may take some getting used to, but a cold shower is a great way to apply cold water to your body after shaving.

3. APPLY AFTERSHAVE
As obvious as it may sound, applying aftershave after you shave is essential in preventing razor bumps. Similar to cold water, aftershave helps to shrink your pores and stop hairs from growing into your skin. Like the scene from 'Home Alone', it may sting, but at least you'll be razor bump-free!

Aftershave should only be used on your face. For your body, gently pat your skin dry with a towel, and avoid rubbing, as this can cause skin irritation.

4. MOISTURISE
Another tip for understanding how to get rid of razor bumps and razor burn is to apply moisturiser after you shave. Using a moisturiser that will soothe your skin after shaving helps to prevent that burning irritation common with razor bumps and burn.

Bikini
line rash

We all want to look great when we go on holiday, especially without bikini line rash affecting our confidence. Bikini line rash is caused by dry shaving or applying too much pressure when you shave. It is called bikini line rash because of where it occurs - on your bikini line. It's more common due to the thicker hair and sensitive skin within this area, however, it's no different from other forms of shaving rash, other than where it is on your body.

Shaving rash on different body parts

3 Common Areas for Shaving Rash:
Legs, Bikini Line and Underarms

Bikini line rash treatment

Bikini line rash can be treated in the same way as other shaving rashes. Following our 5 steps can help you to avoid it, but remember, your skin in this area is much more sensitive - so take extra care when shaving and treating.

We also recommend wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes to avoid bikini line rash. Cotton is soft and less irritating on the skin, helping to reduce the chances of a rash appearing. Similarly, looser fitting clothes allow your skin to breathe, causing less irritation - helping you fight the battle against bikini line rash.

If you keep being concerned about a bikini line rash, make sure you check in with a doctor.

Spots after shaving

If spots appear after shaving they are likely caused by ingrown hairs. When hair follicles become blocked, pus-filled spots or blisters appear - a common skin condition known as folliculitis. Dead skin cells in a clogged pore can also cause spots, which is why it is important to exfoliate regularly and shave after a warm shower or bath when the skin is clean.

Shopping List

We've put together a shopping list of products we recommend to treat and prevent shaving rash - shop them below to find the ones that suit you.

1
Is your skin dry and tight? Let's put it right with the NIVEA Repair & Care Body Lotion, developed with a dermatologist. The moisturising lotion is made with Dexpanthenol to instantly calm irritated areas and provide relief from dry, tight skin for 72h with regular use.

2
Nourish your dry skin and get ultimate hydration with the NIVEA Rich Nourishing Body Lotion. With a unique combination of Almond Oil, Vitamin E and our Deep Moisture Serum, it provides 72 hours of continuous hydration.

3
For irresistibly smooth skin, try the NIVEA Irresistibly Smooth Body Lotion. This specially formulated lotion is made with naturally derived Shea Butter to help deeply moisturise and nourish your skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and supple.

4
Treat your senses with the NIVEA Cherry Blossom and Jojoba Oil. Made with Jojoba Oil, this delightful combination will leave your skin feeling nourished, moisturised, and beautifully scented. Pamper yourself with the soothing and rejuvenating properties of this unique formula.