For those who don’t have the disorder, acne appears to be a harmless disorder. Of course, this perception is far from the truth. Parents are often oblivious to the fact that acne can be extremely damaging on both a physical and psychological level. They see bouts of acne to be a routine stage of life that will eventually pass. Some never get this kind of relief, and are left to deal with the disorder into adulthood. Those of us who suffer from this disorder can agree that it can be immensely intrusive when it comes to everyday tasks. Shaving is but one task that is frustrating to execute in the presence of acne. Breakouts can often erupt days after a shaving session. Letting facial hair grow untamed is obviously not the answer. While you can expect a risk of breakouts anytime you engage in behaviors involving skin contact, the risk can be minimized with some initial steps. We have outlined some suggestions below.

Ideally, your skin should be in a relaxed stage before any shaving. We need to expand the hair follicle so that the hairs don’t put up much of a fight when we run the razor past them. A hot shower should be in order before any shaving. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to run the hot water over you face. This is actually ill-advised as it will cause irritation. Simply aim your face towards the shower steam so that your pores open up. Conduct your showering duties as you normally would and give the steam ample time to work its magic.

Once you are finished showering, you need to get a new razor ready. You should replace your razors as soon as possible when shaving acne-prone skin. Anytime you have to “re-mow” a strand of hairs, the higher the probability that skin irritation will arise. Use plenty of shaving cream on your face before beginning to shave.

Only slight pressure should be applied on the razor during the process. Be extremely attentive an careful when shaving near and around inflamed pimples. You do not want to create acne scars of any size. As the razor becomes littered with hairs, rinse it with warm water. Finally, remove any shaving cream from your skin once you have finished shaving. Aftershave should not be part of your shaving regimen. Aftershave tends to contain alcohol, which is a troublemaker on acne-prone skin.

A good facial moisturizer is in order after shaving. This will compensate for any of the irritation you may have created. Choose a light product that is non-comedogenic. You may have to go through several brands before you finally find one that you like. Check to ensure whether or not you should apply your acne medications on top of the moisturizer or vice-versa. You might need to consult your dermatologist.