How shaving affects your skin
Shaving has a history of thousands of years, and technologies keep improving like for everything else. The pressure exerted on the skin by the blades causes the skin to bulge between the blades. By spacing the blades closer together, the skin bulge is reduced and more uniform stress is placed on the skin, resulting in a safer, more comfortable shave
Several methods of facial hair removal are available to male consumers, but men continue to choose wet shaving as their primary method of hair removal. Treatment of the skin before shaving and the choice of shaving razor matters, because they affect the chemistry and physics of the hair, the skin, and their interaction. Skin hydration, barrier function, erythema and dryness, are all affected by pre (and after) treatment.
Shaving involves a highly complex series of mechanical and chemical interactions occurring at the surface of the stratum corneum. You wouldn’t believe the scientific sophistication of the studies about shaving! Physics of the hair and the skin and the shaving razor, with measurement of everything involved. Still, there are problems caused by shaving, and safety is still the main issue, followed by hair entrapment by the skin.
Men don’t need exfoliation, at least not in the areas that they shave. Why? The razor will remove the most exterior layers of the epidermis, together with the hair. But the skin will still benefit from the addition of growth factors and extensive nutrition.
Trapped hairs
Trapped hair may end badly, with folliculitis barbae, a type of folliculitis (inflamed hair follicle) affecting the beard complicated with infection by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. It occurs in men irrespective of whether they shave or not. It may lead to scarring and areas of permanent hair loss. You can help prevent it, with Salicylic cleanser Alpha/beta exfoliator
Skin Actives suggestions
For trapped beard hairs: Salicylic cleanser Alpha/beta exfoliator
References
Cowley K, Vanoosthuyze K. (2012) Insights into shaving and its impact on skin. Br J Dermatol. 166 Suppl 1:6-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10783.x. PMID: 22385029.
McDermott A, Westbrook A, Warnke D, et al (2010) The use of a shaving regimen for male facial shaving improves overall skin condition. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 62(3), AB38. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2009.11.196
Shander D, Ahluwalia GS. (2009) Treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae. In: Cosmetic Applications of Laser and Light-Based Systems (Ahluwalia GS, ed). Norwich, NY: William Andrew Inc, 2009; 353–67
DISCLAIMER: These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease.