Terrible shaving rash - Help!

[carringtonm]

For as long as I can remember I've had trouble with shaving rash. I have very coarse, dark body hair that grows very quickly (if I shave on Monday morning, I'll be stubbly by Tuesday, and obviously hairy again by Wednesday).

I have attached a picture of what happens when I shave my legs, every single time. I get tiny cuts across my legs whenever I shave, and then it comes up in this horrible, bumpy rash. The photo was taken 12 hours or so after shaving. The rash/cuts sting and look awful! I struggle to get my legs out because I'm so self-conscious of them, plus it hurts. I'll often go weeks without shaving for that reason, but it means I am very rarely able to just throw on a dress on a hot day because I'll need to shave first, and then I'll get the cuts and bumps come up which means I'm unlikely to end up wearing the dress anyway.

I've mentioned it to friends and everyone I know seems to have leg hair that only needs shaving once a bloody month and when it grows back is lovely and fair and never causes rashes or cuts. But I can't be the only one who struggles with this!

Does anyone have any tips at all to help? I'd appreciate tips for soothing the areas although I try not to put anything on my legs because it hurts. But mostly I want help to not have the problem in the first place.

For information, I use a new razor for every shave, I never dry shave, I use shaving foam or gel, and I usually shave in the bath. I'm desperate to have lovely looking skin that I'm not embarrassed to get out in public. The rash goes around the whole leg normally, but is often worse on my shins.

Have you tried other methods of hair removal?

Use Sudocrem on the rash to clear it up.

Use a razor with built in moisturiser block. I get the same but never if I use this sort of razor.

www.superdrug.com/Toiletries/Female-Hair-Removal/Female-Razors/Wilkinson-Sword-Intuition-Sensitive-Female-Care-Razor/p/725568?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2K3rBRDiARIsAOFSW_59jj_x4ERrVLExTnqNlBIdSfktCCsYKFhg5457gBOtqltRUy7ekgIaAiJAEALw_wcB

My legs react like that when I shave, if I were to shave more than about once a month every hair follicle would bleed and they’d be prickly again by the end of the day anyway.
The only solution I have found is waxing them instead of shaving.
My legs are so much nicer now that I get them waxed regularly and the hair grows back a lot thinner and lighter than when I was shaving them.

@dementedpixie Hair removal cream doesn't touch it - I have to leave it on for far too long and then it's very patchy and stings. I've used wax strips in the past but I find them very time consuming and I can't afford a regular salon wax. Plus it grew back within a few days. Tried an epilator before and found it so painful, and again, time consuming. Are there others that I could try?

Thank you @MrsPellegrinoPetrichor

@SewButtons I can't afford to get them waxed regularly 😭

Which direction do you shave in? I'm less rashy if I shave knee to toe (although I find it a pita)

What sort of razor are you using? For me, four blades or more has always been better than anything else. I buy the men’s ones because they’re cheaper.

If you use a new razor for every shave, surely it would be cost effective to try a wax just for the bottom half of the legs? Should only be about 15 quid. Or try using a cheap hair conditioner instead of shaving gel- I get rashes if I use gel or foam but never with hair conditioner. And never use disposable razors, the one with the gel in built bars are good or the ones you get online from friction free shaving.

What about an electric razor - tbh a men’s one may be more gentle too.

Maybe aftershave or toner applied once you've dried your legs might help

And yy to electric razor, I have always found that causes less irritation

@carringtonm could you afford to get a half leg wax every once in a while? I find I can get away with shaving mine on the odd occasion now without any skin issues. I could maybe go about 10 weeks in between waxes if I shaved them once in that time.

I know I am lucky though that I’ve found a local salon that is much cheaper than anywhere else near me. Also if you use treatwell then sometimes they have offers and discounts.

Electric shaver. I’m never going back to razors again. No faff, no rash, no cuts, no nothing, you can do it whenever, wherever and as often as you like.
I have a bog standard one by Phillips, nothing special at all.

Another fan of sudocrem here. It's amazing!!

I'm so glad I'm not alone! Thanks for all the advice - I think some of you might be right about the cost-effectiveness of waxes over razors so I'll look into the prices locally and see if it's an option for me. Will also try some of the other ideas people have suggested.

I have this, I find that rubbing hair conditioner on my wet legs rather than using shaving gel really helps. Give it 30 secs or so then shave. I use some random aloe conditioner from the health food shop. Jasons, I think the brand is. Then I moisturise once I'm dry.

I find it stings as it grows back too, I think it's the little short hairs breaking through a top layer of skin. It's worst of all when I get the goosebumps! A scrub with a natural loofah when in the bath or shower helps a lot

I used to get some irritation (like burning and stinging) with strawberry dots on my shins until I started using Bioderma shower oil as a final wash and then blue top Aveeno on my legs afterwards. I also use a fresh razor each time. The pink Wilkinson sword Quattro sensitive ones. Anyway no stinging and soreness anymore.

But what mine was like was mild compared to yours, it looks like you have particularly sensitive skin there, so if I were you I'd try epilating or waxing maybe. Just to see what it's like.

Do want to reassure you that there's lots of us with strong hair that hair removal cream won't touch and it grows back within the day!

Have you tried a lumea? Expensive but I love mine, with regular use the hair doesn’t grow back

Shaving alum. Can get it in some Asian grocery shops or toy could use the solid crystal deodorant from a health shop or online. Wet it and use it in skin after shaving.