How do you stop the itching down there right after shaving?

While shaving your intimate area is a personal choice, you may need to shave for aesthetic and hygienic reasons. Does it itch down there immediately after shaving? We have a list of remedies to help you stop the itching after shaving.

To stop the itching down there immediately after shaving, apply moisturizer to your pubic area to soften the dry skin, rub hydrocortisone cream on the shaved area 1-3 times a day to soothe follicle inflammation, avoiding the vaginal area.

We all want a smooth pubic area after shaving , but we advise you to take immediate action to stop the itching down there, as excessive itching can lead to psoriasis and folliculitis. Avoid using a dull razor when shaving your pubic area to avoid post-shave itching.

Table of contents:

• Part 1: Reasons for itching and irritation after shaving
• Part 2: The best ways to stop itching after shaving
• Part 3: Summary

Reasons for itching and irritation after shaving

The most common cause of itching and irritation after shaving is using a razor to get rid of the hair down there. Now in the summer season, itching on the skin is probably the cause of your discomfort. To avoid it or stop it, you need to know the causes of itching, especially right after shaving.

Here are the main causes of itching after shaving:

1. Dry shave

When you shave without using aftershave and soap, gel or shaving cream, it is called dry shaving. Your pubic area may itch after dry shaving due to the high friction between the razor blades and the skin. If you shave without exfoliating, you may get abrasions and cuts that cause itching.

Since dry shaving cuts the hair on the skin and scratches the skin, it often leads to inflammation of the hair follicles and thus to itching, especially in people with sensitive skin.

2. Using shaving products that contain alcohol

Using shaving products that contain alcohol will dry out the skin because the alcohol strips the skin of the natural oils that keep the skin moisturized. Sodium lauryl sulfate, artificial fragrances and alcohol are ingredients that can cause irritation and itching. To avoid these effects, avoid using pre-shave and aftershave products that contain alcohol.

3. Razor burn

Do you see red spots down there or feel a burning or stinging sensation? This is a sign of razor burn and can be uncomfortable for days if left untreated. As you move the razor blades across the skin, the razor tears the outer layer of the skin, causing moisture loss, skin inflammation and microscopic tears, which in turn cause itching.

Razor burn is preventable. Exfoliating before shaving reduces the risk of skin inflammation. Moisturizing your intimate area immediately after shaving replaces the lost moisture and fills the microscopic cracks that cause the itchy sensation.

4. Folliculitis

When shaving, there is a chance that you will shave against the grain. This will affect the structure of the hair follicles and cause follicle inflammation. Inflamed follicles, which look like small pimples, are itchy and painful. Severe inflammation can lead to crusted sores and spread down there, which is even more uncomfortable.

A simple immediate measure such as applying a moisturizing lotion after shaving can stop the itching and prevent the follicle inflammation from developing into more severe, pus-filled blisters.

5. Temperature change on the skin surface

Especially in high temperatures, shaving an already warm area causes a rise in temperature in that area. According to the NLM study, itching can be triggered by a change in temperature on the skin's surface. It is believed that improper shaving technique or a blunt razor causes heat/warmth.

Some electric razors get warm when shaving and transfer the heat to the intimate area. This results in inflammation, irritation and itching.

The best ways to stop itching after shaving

Don't scratch down there, even if the itch is too bad, as this will make the area sensitive and increase the risk of bacterial or fungal infection. There are many ways to get rid of itching in the intimate area right after shaving. While most are effective for all skin types, others should be used with caution.

The pubic area is very sensitive and the hair there is usually thicker, which makes the area more prone to itching after shaving.

If you've already shaved and it itches down there, here's how to stop the itching immediately.

1. Apply a cold compress

Cooling the skin is an effective home remedy for itchy skin, including in the pubic area. Placing an ice pack on the inflamed skin will reduce inflammation. The cold compress restricts blood circulation, preventing the primary itch from transmitting the itch message to the spinal cord and then to the brain.

To apply a cold compress you need:

1. a) a sealable bag filled with ice,
2. b) a cloth moistened with cold water, or
3. c) Frozen vegetables.

To quickly stop the itching down there, freeze a small clean towel and press it to your intimate area. Applying menthol will provide a cooling sensation and relieve the itching.

2. Try a warm compress

Using a warm compress will relieve the itching in seconds. As the nerve cells are stimulated by the heat, their ability to transmit itching is suppressed for hours. This relieves the urge to scratch. Avoid using hot water for a warm compress, as too much heat will make the itching worse.

How to apply a warm compress

Dip a washcloth or small towel in warm water and add some sea salt to the warm water if possible to help relieve the itching. Squeeze the excess water out of the washcloth and press it onto the itchy area for 1-2 minutes. Repeat the compress every 5 minutes until the itching stops.

Alternatively, you can bathe with lukewarm water and limit it to 10 minutes.

3. Use over-the-counter antihistamines after shaving

Taking over-the-counter antihistamines such as cetirizine and diphenhydramine can help stop itching after shaving. If you feel the itching is very severe, you should consult a doctor about the right dosage. Taking antihistamines prevents the body from releasing histamine, which causes itching and inflammation.

By blocking histamine, inflamed follicles are reduced and itching is relieved.

Be careful of antihistamines that cause drowsiness, such as cinnarizine, piriton, diphenhydramine, and hydroxyzine. Instead, consider antihistamines that do not cause drowsiness, such as cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine.

4. Use apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar helps relieve itching by reducing inflammation and moisturizing dry skin. If you have used a shaving product that has left your intimate area dry, applying apple cider vinegar may be the best solution. Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

To apply apple cider vinegar to itchy skin, mix apple cider vinegar with water in a 4:6 ratio to better relieve itching. If you have sensitive skin, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) recommends mixing apple cider vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio.

After mixing, you can apply the mixture directly down there with a cotton ball.

5. Apply moisturizer or lotion

Many shaving creams make the skin dry after shaving. If you feel that the skin looks too tight, rough or scratched, you know that the itching is caused by the dryness of the skin. To stop the itching, all you need to do is apply a moisturizer or lotion to hydrate the outermost layer of your intimate area.

Choose a moisturizer that contains humectants and emollients like NEA to draw water into the skin and lock in moisture. This will hydrate the skin and stop the itching.

Some of the best aftershave moisturizers for dry skin include:

Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm – Contains no alcohol, but is enriched with vitamin E and moisturising ingredients

COOCHY Intimate After Shave Protection Moisturizer – Known for soothing the pubic area and contains organic plant extracts.

6. After shaving, apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream

Applying a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream to your intimate area after shaving will help relieve itching. Hydrocortisone cream calms the body's immune response and soothes itching.

Applying hydrocortisone cream also helps prevent your body's cells from producing inflammatory chemicals after shaving, reducing swelling and redness in your intimate area.

Hydrocortisone 1% is an antipruritic cream that temporarily relieves itching around the genitals.

7. Take an oatmeal bath

Whole, uncooked oats or rolled oats are better for making colloidal oatmeal, which stops itching immediately after shaving. An oatmeal bath soothes dry skin, helps relieve itching and reduces inflammation. Oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory properties and helps moisturize the skin.

How to make colloidal oatmeal at home

• Place 1 cup of your oatmeal into a blender and grind it into an evenly fine powder.
• Add 2-3 teaspoons of the powder to a bath and wash yourself with the milky and silky mixture until the itching stops.

8. Rub with cucumber

Cucumber has a cooling effect on the skin. Rubbing a piece of cucumber on your intimate area after shaving will cool the skin, reduce inflammation, soothe itching and relieve pain. The cooling agent in cucumber relieves the burning sensation that causes the urge to scratch.

Cut or grate the cucumber and rub the small pieces there and the itching will stop. The vitamin E in the cucumber also helps to stop the itching by moisturizing the dry skin.

Summary

If it itches down there, apply hydrocortisone cream to prevent the production of inflammation-causing chemicals that cause the itch, and apply apple cider vinegar to moisturize dry skin and reduce inflammation. Also, rub a cucumber on the itchy area to soothe the skin and stop the itching. Don't forget to moisturize the skin or apply an anti-itch remedy after shaving if the itching persists.