Razor burn in the intimate area: what helps and how to prevent it

Razor burn is skin irritation right after shaving. The area is red, burns or itches. What helps: cool the skin, skip shaving for a few days and calm it with an alcohol-free care product. Intimate skin is thinner and more sensitive. Prevent razor burn with shaving gel, a sharp blade, light pressure and a care oil afterwards.

You have just shaved, and after a few minutes your skin starts to burn. Red patches appear in the bikini area, on your legs or under your arms, and the skin feels tight with every movement.

What is razor burn?

Razor burn is an irritation of the top layer of skin. Every time you shave, the blade removes fine skin flakes along with the hairs. If the blade is blunt or you shave without gel or oil, tiny injuries occur. The skin reacts to them within minutes to hours.

Typical signs are:

• widespread redness straight after shaving
• burning or stinging, especially on contact with water or clothing
• itching and a feeling of tightness
• small red dots across the whole shaved area
• dry, rough skin in the days after

Razor burn or razor bumps?

The two often appear together. Razor burn shows up shortly after shaving as redness across the whole shaved area. Razor bumps usually appear one to two days later. These are small lumps or pustules at individual hair roots. Sometimes a freshly shaved hair grows back into the skin there. You can read what helps with these bumps in our guide to razor bumps in the intimate area.

Why do I get razor burn?

Razor burn comes from friction and small injuries to the skin. These are the most common triggers:

• A blunt blade pulls at the hair and scrapes over the skin.
• Without shaving gel or shaving oil, the blade doesn't glide well. Dry shaving irritates the skin most.
• Heavy pressure and several strokes over the same area remove too much skin.
• If you shave against the grain, you get a closer shave. It also puts more strain on your skin.
• Soap dries out the skin, and strong fragrances irritate it.
• Tight clothing rubs over freshly shaved skin, and sweat irritates it further.

Change the blade as soon as it pulls. You can find shaving gel and care oil for intimate shaving in our Glow Below routine.

How do you get rid of razor burn?

If your skin is already red, it mainly needs rest. These steps help:

1. Place a cool, clean cloth on the area for a few minutes. This calms burning and redness.
2. Only shave the irritated skin again once the redness has gone down.
3. Don't scratch, even if it itches. Scratching injures the skin further.
4. Wash the area with lukewarm water and a mild wash gel. Hot water and soap dry it out even more.
5. Care for your skin with an oil or cream without alcohol. This gives it moisture.
6. Wear loose clothing and cotton underwear until your skin has calmed down.

Aftershave containing alcohol stings on irritated skin. Lemon juice, vinegar or undiluted tea tree oil irritate it too.

How long does razor burn last?

Mild razor burn usually clears up within a few days if you leave your skin alone. If you keep shaving over the irritated area, it lasts longer.

What helps with razor burn in the bikini and pubic area?

The skin in the intimate area is thinner than on your legs. The hairs are thicker and often curly. On top of that, your underwear rubs, and warmth and sweat build up. That is why the bikini area reacts with razor burn particularly often.

Only shave and care for the external intimate area, where hair grows. Leave the mucous membrane alone and keep care products off it too.

After shaving, apply 2 to 3 drops of Glow Below Oil to your skin once it is dry. The natural oils have a relaxing and soothing effect on your skin as soon as you apply them, confirmed by 80% of test participants.¹ With regular use after intimate shaving, 75% of participants confirm a reduction in razor bumps and razor burn.¹

For the shave itself, use a gel that is tailored to the pH value of the external intimate zone. The 2in1 Intimate Wash & Shave Gel cleanses mildly and doubles as your shaving gel. The lightly foaming gel lets the razor blade glide over your skin as smoothly as butter.

You can read how to cleanse your intimate area gently every day in our guide to washing your intimate area.

Skin care after shaving: what does your skin need?

Straight after shaving, your skin is particularly sensitive. Along with the hairs, the blade has removed part of the top layer of skin. Without the right care, redness, ingrown hairs and razor bumps develop more easily.

Rinse and cool

Rinse off shaving gel or shaving oil with lukewarm water. Then finish with a short cool rinse, which calms the skin. Pat it dry with a clean towel without rubbing.

Restore moisture

Freshly shaved skin dries out more easily. So care for it straight after you have dried off. The light yet rich oil texture of the Glow Below Oil is absorbed quickly and softens regrowing hairs to prevent itching. On your legs and underarms, a light body care product without alcohol is enough.

Choose mild products

Alcohol, strong fragrances and coarse scrubs irritate freshly shaved skin. So exfoliate before shaving, once or twice a week. Straight after shaving, your skin can't tolerate a scrub.

You get the gel and oil for intimate shaving together in the Glow Below Duo. The Glow Below Trio adds the Intimate Pre-Shave Peeling to prepare your skin for shaving.

How do you prevent razor burn?

With this routine, shaving irritates your skin as little as possible:

1. Trim long hairs first with scissors or a trimmer.
2. Take a warm shower for a few minutes so the hairs soften.
3. Apply a shaving gel or shaving oil. Never shave dry.
4. Shave with a sharp blade and light pressure, in the direction of hair growth.
5. Rinse the blade after every stroke and don't go over the same area several times.
6. Rinse with lukewarm water, finish with a cool rinse and care for your skin straight afterwards.

Give your skin a break of one to two days between shaves. If you shave every day, you get razor burn more easily. You can find the full instructions in our guide to intimate shaving.

What helps with razor burn on your legs and underarms?

On your legs and underarms, razor burn develops for the same reasons. The skin on your shins is often dry, and clothing rubs under your arms. A shaving oil helps the blade glide. With the Body Shaving Oil, just a few drops form a protective film between your skin and the razor blade. It is specially developed for sensitive skin and reduces the risk of skin irritation and razor burn.

Only apply deodorant under your arms again once the burning has eased.

If you shave your legs and your intimate area, the Happy Shaving Trio is a good fit. It contains the 2in1 Intimate Wash & Shave Gel, the Body Shaving Oil and the Glow Below Oil. You can find more care for every day in our Everyday care collection.

When should you see a doctor?

Razor burn is harmless and usually clears up on its own. Have a doctor look at the area if:

• the redness spreads or a red streak extends from the area
• pus collects or a hard, severely painful lump forms
• you develop a fever or feel unwell
• blisters, warts or open, weeping sores appear
• your skin doesn't improve after a week without shaving
• your skin swells a lot or develops hives after a new product

In that case, something else may be behind it, for example a bacterial infection, a boil or herpes. For problems in the intimate area, your gynaecologist can help. For your legs and underarms, see your dermatologist.

You can find razors with replaceable blades and everything for your shave in our Shaving category.

¹ Clinical-dermatological application study under gynaecological supervision with 20 participants, applying the intimate area oil once daily over a period of 4 weeks.

Sources: German Federal Ministry of Health, gesund.bund.de: ICD code L73.1 pseudofolliculitis barbae (in German). German Federal Ministry of Health, gesund.bund.de: boils and carbuncles (in German). German Federal Ministry of Health, gesund.bund.de: genital herpes (in German).