Blisters due to shaving?

Annie asks:
I am 19 years old and shave my legs regularly. Of late I have observed small blisters (only blisters, not red bumps) on my leg which are painful. Please advise.





These so called blisters could have happened due to wrong shaving methods. Were you using a blunt blade by any chance? 

You should always use a sharp razor! Your razor should be such that while shaving you should not be making an effort -  the blade should be doing its job seamlessly. It should glide smoothly on your skin and remove the hair effortlessly. 

Contrary to popular belief, you should shave with the grain (in the direction of hair growth)  and not against it! This prevents ingrown hair and razor bumps!

Also some people in a bid to get a closer shave and smooth hair-free legs, tend to hold the skin tight as recommended during waxing sessions!

Thus holding the skin tight, they use a multi-blade razor and apply repeated razor strokes over the same area to remove the tiniest bit of hair! This  friction can irritate the skin and cause painful blisters.

On top of top it, if the blade is blunt or rusted, then God forbid!

Agreed that skin on the legs is tough, but this is sheer abuse! Perhaps that's what happened with you! 

By the way, do you clean your razor blade properly after using it? You should clean it under running water to remove all the hair debris and also sterilise it in an antiseptic solution to prevent the growth of bacteria or fungi.

Now since it isn't possible to undo what has happened, be more careful in the future! Visit a dermatologist. He/She will probably advise you to take a course of antibiotics, apply local antiseptic / anti-fungal cream and please avoid shaving the part till you are completely cured.

After your skin has healed fully and if you wish to shave then keep in mind the above mentioned things.

Also do follow these tips:

• Try to keep your skin warm while shaving. 
• It's better to shave after showering as your pores are open.
• You should always wet your legs and lather them well with a shaving cream/gel or a soap solution.
• Use a single blade razor as far as possible and do not try for a close shave. 
• Keep your razor blade clean and dispose it as soon as it gets blunt. 
• After shaving, wash your legs with lukewarm water and gently pat them dry with a towel. 
• Then use a moisturizer - this will not only soothe your skin but also close the pores. 
• At night, apply a lotion containing salicylic acid / glycolic acid / AHA afterwards to gently exfoliate the skin and prevent  ingrown hair and red bumps. Or you could use this DIY cucumber yoghurt soother.