I've only started this DE thing a few months ago, but I'd like to introduce my sons to it (both teenagers). However, my youngest is currently going through typical teenage acne. He shaves infrequently with an electric (because that's what dad had been doing for 30+ years). Based on my limited experience, I'm wondering if he should hold off putting a blade to his face until his acne clears up, so that he doesn't cut his pimples or irritate his face with a new shaving method. I'm wondering if someone with recent experience using a DE razor with acne can comment on how well it works (or doesn't). I know that millions of boys have done it, but if electric is better in the short term, I'd like to know. The other guy is a college student. Not sure I can instill in him the benefits of getting up just a little earlier to start his day with a wet shave, but I can try. TIA
I never had acne but, electrics always played havoc with my face. I would suggest looking into the bump fighter razor system or the Gillette Guard untill he's through this faze. A badger brush with a good soap might just be what he needs to help keep his pores clean.
I get ingrown hairs pretty bad, which is still a bump. I find that if I just lightly skim over it it doesnt do much damage, and then you can just buff around the bump.
I had acne when I was in high school and used both an electric razor and Trac II. The Trac II shaved the top off some of the pimples, but this seemed to be beneficial. My face was better using the Trac II than when using the electric. Supposedly using an alum block helps fight acne. Alcohol based aftershave was recommended as effective to some degree against acne. It worked for me to some extent. Later, I switched to using just rubbing alcohol, which worked just as well.
I never had any acne scarring on my face, at least not that I remember. My upper back used to look like it had been shot with a shotgun, but those scars eventually just faded away. I assume that the same thing would have happened with any scarring on my face if it had occurred. In both cases, anti-acne creams just made things a lot worse. My suggestion is to wash one's face every day with a good quality soap, such as Kirk's Hard Water Castille, and a washcloth. Also use something alcohol based, such as rubbing alcohol or aftershave. Of all those, the washcloth and good quality soap made the most difference.
I would second using a good brush and a soap that would be a little less moisturizing like Proraso. I have oily skin and some times soaps like Tabac (which I love) leave my face like a oil slick. Proraso green always helps with that. The brush should be great exfoliating the skin and opening the pores to help with the acne. Either way its good practice.
Tim, the best method for your son may vary with the type of acne he gets. (With hormonal change, teens may cycle btwn clear & acneic skin and/or btwn different types of acne.) Cystic acne, for example, is prone to scarring even when undisturbed, so often "less is more" for teens prone to cystic or severe inflammatory acne. There's nothing in your post to suggest that your son has severe or cystic acne, but I just wanted to put this out there since you asked about scarring & also in case other acne sufferers are reading this thread.
I always thought I had acne prone skin. Whenever I shave, I always either use witch hazel or an alcohol splash. I then apply a balm to my goatee area because it gets really dried out at this time of year. But since I started doing that, my skin has gotten even better than when I started wet shaving. Also, taking some breaks has helped me too. Just my two cents, but a nice protective cream/soap can make a difference too. It made a difference for me.
One thing that might also help is using an alum block. I read somewhere on the forums it would alleviate acne. That is second hand information, though, as I never used an alum block when I had acne.
I had substantial acne (the non cystic, scarring kind) through junior high and high school. Facial hair also came in early and I had to learn to shave. I did not like blades back then for obvious reasons. I went with electrics until well into my twenties, although I occasionally used carts. I'd say let him stick with electrics until the acne begins to subside. Then introduce him to DE shaving. It's really improved the quality of my skin. Shaving with electrics was a chore. I actually enjoy my DE shaves.
I read the acne.org guide with considerable interest. I never had much of an acne problem. I began shaving with an electric and continued to use electrics until I was in my thirties. I got used to shaving with a blade (a Bic, I think) during camping trips. Then I began using a brush and shaving soap (Colgate or Williams at the beginning). Throughout the time that I used electrics, I would frequently get ingrown hairs. That problem essentially disappeared once I began using blades. For a long time I used a two-blade system (probably a Trac II, but I really can't remember). Then I used the Mach 3 razors for a long time. When my son began shaving, he was having some problems with acne. I urged him to use a brush and shaving soap and to shave daily. I believed that the exfoliation would actually help his skin. It did: his skin began clearing up almost immediately. He's now almost twenty-two, and he has almost no skin problems. Perhaps this is something that worked for me and my son given our genetic makeup. But I suspect that one would could do worse than have a daily gentle exfoliation. I query the statement on acne.org that single-blade razors tug too much. In my experience, double-edged razors tug less than any multi-blade razor.
I shaved with an electric until I was 21 or so, a couple years ago. About a week after switching to DE, my face was MUCH better. YMMV, obviously, but I found that my electric was doing a lot more harm than good. I found that tough places got especially bad acne, like around my mouth and on my neck. One thing that was helpful to me was finding an electric shave product, such as this one: http://www.theukedit.com/lab-series-electric-shave-solution-100ml/10362642.html Edit: It might be worth mentioning that I still have acne, but find I can manage it much better by experimenting with shaving products and shaving every day. Not only is it better for shaving, shaving every day forces me to wash my face well. Another note: I was afraid that pre-shave oil would cause me to break out, but it seems to do more good than harm. Either way, I find shave soap + brush to be best at opposing acne.
I have to agree, since switching to wet shaving, I get little to no acne where I shave. Still get it on my forehead, high cheeks, and places where I dont shave. I think I need to start lathering up my entire face haha
I actually started shaving with a DE because I break out. I'm in my thirties but, I still fight breakouts especially during pollen season and in the heat of the summer. I quit using the electric that I had been using for years because the breaking out was so bad last summer and first went to a cartridge razor. That made it worse and during some searching I stumbled on an article about DE shaving and how beneficial using a single blade is. I got all of the stuff to wetshave and haven't looked back. My face has been relatively clear since. I would just be careful about the products. I am using stuff for sensitive skin and it's turned out great. I use a high percentage benzol peroxide face wash at night and wait for at least a full minute before rinsing with cold water. I think I'm going to start using my alum at night since I switched to using the witch hazel after shaving in the morning. When necessary I have done a quick face wash before using the alum or witch hazel in the mornings too but, I don't let it sit because I don't want to irritate my face any more than necessary...
I have mild acne and have just recently started using a DE. While my technique is lacking, I do get a number of small nicks, but the razor burn I had accepted as something I just had to deal with is gone. My face definitely feels much better now than it did when I was bombarding it with that 5 blade beast!
I can't remember a time when I did not have acne. However when I was in high school I used to grow a beard (I do this from time to time, I like shaving, but I also like a uniform, nicely trimmed beard) and I have observed that acne doesn't grow as much where hair grows. I suggest he doesn't shave for a month / a month and a half, then check his beard to see if he has irregularities, and if he doesn't feel any, then he could try wet shaving. I don't believe that the electric razor helps. I have friends who shave with those things and they still (after many years) get razor burn/irritation. However, I have never shaved with an electric razor, I have used a DE since I started growing stubble (even though I tried disposable blades, I didn't like them at all). I'm not sure yet why acne doesn't grow where my facial hair grows, but I have pimples just above the border line (above my cheeks). I did cut a few pimples both with my DE razor and my shavette (only one with the shavette, there's still time for more), and have nicked some of my moles (I do have a lot of them where hair grows), but this happens only when I don't prepare my face well (due to hard water, dry lather especially, too aggressive angle because the blade is blunt). My opinion is this: try not to shave for a month or so, and then try wet shaving only if there are no pimples under the beard that stick out (you feel them when examining the beard with your fingers).
