So, guys.

Pre-T, 32 years old, fair and fairly sensitive skin (full blown rash with the wrong makeup, only ever really wore lots on stage because of lights). I shaved on Sunday for a brunch date with a friend and now I have a PILE of zits along my jaw line.

I can say that I normally do get the occasional zit. I can't say how/if it's related to cycles of hormones because I don't really have outward indicators for that aspect of life. The key piece for creating the red monster is not present in my system, so I have no clue!

Got any tips for minimizing the zit factory?

I've got no tips, but I feel your pain 100%

Make sure you're shaving with the grain and not against it, and also that you're not going over each area more than once (twice, at the most). I shave after I shower and with hot water, so my skin is loose and open. I moisturize after shaving as well, and while I do occasionally get zits as a result, they tend to be minor and easily dealt with. I just make sure that I change my razors frequently and that I'm shaving while my skin is in optimal condition for it (e.g. warm and loose).

"Zits" related to shaving are called "PFB"...Pseudofolliculitis barbae.

I had the same problem, and moisturizing straight afterwards helped it a lot.

A good astringent then some moisturizer should help clear them up. I've also heard that witch hazel works really well for getting rid of razor bumps. Just make sure you wait a while before you put it or the astringent on because if you use it right after you shave it'll burn like crazy.

Quote from: Contravene on February 18, 2015, 11:23:34 AM
A good astringent then some moisturizer should help clear them up. I've also heard that witch hazel works really well for getting rid of razor bumps. Just make sure you wait a while before you put it or the astringent on because if you use it right after you shave it'll burn like crazy.

i use witch hazel after i shave, it works wonders.

you dont really get that with dry shaving. it's worth a shot

With the grain, wet shave with a clean, sharp razor and aftershave. The aftershave really helped me. I buy the alcohol based stuff. If your skin is prone to drying out, you may want to find a light lotion.

All of the above and drink a 1/2 gallon of water a day.See if that helps with the zits. When I was drinking that much water I may have gotten a zit a month and they resolved themselves fairly quickly assuming I did not consume too much sugar. Check out your daily habits and see if they are assisting in the zit factor. Best of luck.