Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsTreatmentPreventionHealingOther Hair Removal OptionsShaving Tips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Treatment
Prevention
Healing
Other Hair Removal Options
Shaving Tips
Using certain products or changing your shaving techniques can helptreatand prevent razor burn on your legs. This article will look at symptoms, treatment, and prevention of razor burn, along with other hair removal methods.
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What Does Razor Burn on the Legs Look Like?
Irritant contact dermatitis, such as razor burn, can cause arash and other symptomsthat usually appear soon after coming intocontact with the irritant. Symptoms include:
Shaving can also causerazor bumps(pseudofolliculitis barbae), which occur when curved hair grows back into the skin(ingrown hair), resulting in inflammation and hard bumps on the skin. These bumps occur most commonly in the beard area and those with curly hair.
How to Treat Razor Burn on Legs
Razor burn will usually go away on its own within a couple of days. If razor burn is causingyou pain or discomfort, some at-hometreatment optionsinclude:
When to See a Healthcare ProviderContact a healthcare provider if your razor burn is severe, doesn’t improve with treatment, or shows signs of infection such as tenderness, redness, or warmth.Consult a board-certified dermatologist for evaluation and treatment.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Contact a healthcare provider if your razor burn is severe, doesn’t improve with treatment, or shows signs of infection such as tenderness, redness, or warmth.Consult a board-certified dermatologist for evaluation and treatment.
How to Prevent Razor Burn on Your Legs
Practicing good shaving hygiene can help prevent razor burn on your legs. Tips include:
Other Tips to Soothe Razor Burn During the Healing Process
Choosing soaps and skincare products that arefragrance-freeand made without harsh chemicals can also help soothe your skin and avoid irritation while healing. Try to wear loose-fitting clothing while your legs heal because tight clothes can create friction and cause razor burn to become even more irritated and itchy.
There are options besides shaving toremove hairon your legs. They include:
Shaving Tips to Prevent Razor Burn on Your Legs
If you’re prone to razor burn on your legs, takinggood care of your skincan help prevent future episodes. Tips include:
A Word From VerywellAvoid using other skincare products, like perfume or moisturizers that have active ingredients like lactic or salicylic acid, while razor burn is healing. These can be irritating to the skin and cause symptoms like burning and stinging.—BRENDON CAMP, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Avoid using other skincare products, like perfume or moisturizers that have active ingredients like lactic or salicylic acid, while razor burn is healing. These can be irritating to the skin and cause symptoms like burning and stinging.—BRENDON CAMP, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Avoid using other skincare products, like perfume or moisturizers that have active ingredients like lactic or salicylic acid, while razor burn is healing. These can be irritating to the skin and cause symptoms like burning and stinging.
—BRENDON CAMP, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
Though razor burn on your legs can be annoying, symptoms such as redness, itching, and stinging usually go away on their own within a couple of days. There are easy, at-home treatments to help you get rid of razor burn and soothe your symptoms.
Gentle skincare practices can also help prevent razor burn especially if you are prone to it. If razor burn continues to be a problem, consult a board-certified dermatologist for evaluation and treatment. You can use other methods to remove hair on your legs.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis. July 1, 2023.NHS.Symptoms, contact dermatitis. May 3, 2023.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pseudofollicuitis barbae.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol.2015;14(1):43-48.Mount Sinai.Aloe.Lin T-K, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1). doi:10.3390/ijms19010070DermNet.Shaving.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 razor bump prevention tips from dermatologists. October 3, 2022.Care Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers.5 reasons your legs itch after shaving. What to do?October 15, 2023.Boodoo C, Duta D, Swift N, Hunter P, Khimchenko A, Leung G, Cross K.Multispectral near-infrared spectroscopy study evaluating the effect of razor design on shaving-induced erythema.Skin Res Technol. 2024;30(2):e13598. doi:10.1111/srt.13598NHS.Treatment, contact dermatitis. May 3, 2023.DermNet.Waxing.Tsai PF, Chou FP, Yu TS, Lee HJ, Chiu CT.Depilatory creams increase the number of hair follicles, and dermal fibroblasts expressing interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and tumor necrosis factor-β in mouse skin.Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.2021;25(6):497-506. doi:10.4196/kjpp.2021.25.6.497American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Laser hair removal.DermNet.Epilation.Kang CN, Shah M, Lynde C, Fleming P.Hair removal practices: a literature review.Skin Therapy Lett.2021;26(5):6-11.Acne.org.Blade shaving vs. electric shaving-which is better for your skin?July 21, 2023.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis. July 1, 2023.NHS.Symptoms, contact dermatitis. May 3, 2023.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pseudofollicuitis barbae.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol.2015;14(1):43-48.Mount Sinai.Aloe.Lin T-K, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1). doi:10.3390/ijms19010070DermNet.Shaving.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 razor bump prevention tips from dermatologists. October 3, 2022.Care Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers.5 reasons your legs itch after shaving. What to do?October 15, 2023.Boodoo C, Duta D, Swift N, Hunter P, Khimchenko A, Leung G, Cross K.Multispectral near-infrared spectroscopy study evaluating the effect of razor design on shaving-induced erythema.Skin Res Technol. 2024;30(2):e13598. doi:10.1111/srt.13598NHS.Treatment, contact dermatitis. May 3, 2023.DermNet.Waxing.Tsai PF, Chou FP, Yu TS, Lee HJ, Chiu CT.Depilatory creams increase the number of hair follicles, and dermal fibroblasts expressing interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and tumor necrosis factor-β in mouse skin.Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.2021;25(6):497-506. doi:10.4196/kjpp.2021.25.6.497American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Laser hair removal.DermNet.Epilation.Kang CN, Shah M, Lynde C, Fleming P.Hair removal practices: a literature review.Skin Therapy Lett.2021;26(5):6-11.Acne.org.Blade shaving vs. electric shaving-which is better for your skin?July 21, 2023.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis. July 1, 2023.NHS.Symptoms, contact dermatitis. May 3, 2023.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pseudofollicuitis barbae.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol.2015;14(1):43-48.Mount Sinai.Aloe.Lin T-K, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1). doi:10.3390/ijms19010070DermNet.Shaving.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 razor bump prevention tips from dermatologists. October 3, 2022.Care Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers.5 reasons your legs itch after shaving. What to do?October 15, 2023.Boodoo C, Duta D, Swift N, Hunter P, Khimchenko A, Leung G, Cross K.Multispectral near-infrared spectroscopy study evaluating the effect of razor design on shaving-induced erythema.Skin Res Technol. 2024;30(2):e13598. doi:10.1111/srt.13598NHS.Treatment, contact dermatitis. May 3, 2023.DermNet.Waxing.Tsai PF, Chou FP, Yu TS, Lee HJ, Chiu CT.Depilatory creams increase the number of hair follicles, and dermal fibroblasts expressing interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and tumor necrosis factor-β in mouse skin.Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.2021;25(6):497-506. doi:10.4196/kjpp.2021.25.6.497American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Laser hair removal.DermNet.Epilation.Kang CN, Shah M, Lynde C, Fleming P.Hair removal practices: a literature review.Skin Therapy Lett.2021;26(5):6-11.Acne.org.Blade shaving vs. electric shaving-which is better for your skin?July 21, 2023.
National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.
MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis. July 1, 2023.
NHS.Symptoms, contact dermatitis. May 3, 2023.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pseudofollicuitis barbae.
Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol.2015;14(1):43-48.
Mount Sinai.Aloe.
Lin T-K, Zhong L, Santiago JL.Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1). doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
DermNet.Shaving.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 razor bump prevention tips from dermatologists. October 3, 2022.
Care Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers.5 reasons your legs itch after shaving. What to do?October 15, 2023.
Boodoo C, Duta D, Swift N, Hunter P, Khimchenko A, Leung G, Cross K.Multispectral near-infrared spectroscopy study evaluating the effect of razor design on shaving-induced erythema.Skin Res Technol. 2024;30(2):e13598. doi:10.1111/srt.13598
NHS.Treatment, contact dermatitis. May 3, 2023.
DermNet.Waxing.
Tsai PF, Chou FP, Yu TS, Lee HJ, Chiu CT.Depilatory creams increase the number of hair follicles, and dermal fibroblasts expressing interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and tumor necrosis factor-β in mouse skin.Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.2021;25(6):497-506. doi:10.4196/kjpp.2021.25.6.497
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Laser hair removal.
DermNet.Epilation.
Kang CN, Shah M, Lynde C, Fleming P.Hair removal practices: a literature review.Skin Therapy Lett.2021;26(5):6-11.
Acne.org.Blade shaving vs. electric shaving-which is better for your skin?July 21, 2023.
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