Post-shaving irritation under my arms—any remedies?

So I finally bit the bullet and shaved my pits yesterday since I've been hitting the gym like crazy and the sweat situation was getting out of hand—it's just way more practical this way, right? But then, wouldn't you know it, the very next day my skin is a total disaster zone covered in red bumps and irritation, so now I'm stuck wondering what actually works... does anyone know which product is actually effective for post-shave treatment when you're a guy with super sensitive skin?

after shaving, honey 🙂

Always use a fresh, sharp razor, dry the area off with a towel, and then just dust some baby powder on there.

So I went ahead and slapped on some Johnson & Johnson balm after shaving, and wouldn't you know it, the breakouts are already back, and my neck is acting up too even though I’m using that Johnson & Johnson balm-milk stuff right after I shave

Maybe try some aloe vera gel—you can find it at any CVS or Walgreens (I think I have some from Biogen), or just grab some Neosporin cream since it has 5% dexpanthenol. It helps with disinfection too—at least, I think that's right. Personally, I find that Neosporin works wonders for stuff like this.

If things get worse and you deal with serious irritation or redness—like if the skin feels tight and painful—pick up some Avène TriXera cream. It’s great for soothing intense irritation and redness (there's another Avène cream specifically for allergies and irritation, too, though I can't recall the exact name).

Aftershave? On that area? Honestly, I wouldn't dream of it—that skin is probably even more sensitive than your face or neck! Besides, Johnson & Johnson isn't exactly top-tier when it comes to delicate skin; personally, almost everything they make irritates me, even their baby lotion.

My own routine after shaving my underarms is a bit more... deliberate. I usually massage in some baby oil—maybe with a touch of lavender essential oil—or I’ll use my regular shower oil mixed with extra baby oil to ensure my skin doesn't get parched, and then I finish off with some baby powder. I stick to a natural deodorant (like a Naturally Fresh crystal spray), and I always wear cotton clothing—nothing synthetic or cheap like those polyester gym shirts.

Maybe you should check out that pharmacy option fadedbear8 mentioned and just steer clear of the Johnson & Johnson stuff.

Regarding aloe vera gel—I once bought a gel from an Italian brand called Estée Lauder, and frankly, it was absolute garbage. Totally overrated. I’m not sure if all aloe vera gels act like that, or if it was just that specific product, but for me, it felt like I hadn't even applied anything at all. My skin didn't improve one bit; if anything, it felt uncomfortably tight. Though, to be fair, I wasn't using it after hair removal—I was actually applying it to open cuts on my hands caused by a detergent allergy.

By the way, what kind of razor were you using? You really need to make sure you're applying a decent gel or something beforehand to ensure a smooth glide. Are you even using a high-quality blade?

Look, obviously I’ve got my Gillette shaving gel—not that cheap foam crap—and a brand new Mach 5 razor ready to go, but please don't come at me with a list of five different products because I can't just run out to the local CVS and grab whatever I want, okay? I just need one thing that actually works. Besides, even with fresh blades, using gel, and following up with balm, I still end up with this massive patch of red irritation on my neck every single time I shave. What am I even doing wrong?

Rebecca Barnes2 said:Look, obviously I’ve got my Gillette shaving gel—not that cheap foam crap—and a brand new Mach 5 razor ready to go, but please don't come at me with a list of five different products because I can't just run out to the local CVS and grab whatever I want, okay? I just need one thing that actually works. Besides, even with fresh blades, using gel, and following up with balm, I still end up with this massive patch of red irritation on my neck every single time I shave. What am I even doing wrong?

If I were you, I’d try using some Johnson & Johnson. (Johnson & Johnson is the big name here, though there might be a cheaper generic version of it at the drugstore—I think it's called Neosporin). You could go with the standard cream or the antiseptic version with dexpanthenol—the latter has that extra disinfecting ingredient, which might be better if you end up with tiny nicks or scratches from the razor, even if they're barely visible 😕 —what do you think? Just ask the pharmacist to explain the difference between those two options and see which one they'd recommend for skin irritation.

I'm pretty sure that would be way better than all those cheap stuff brands like Johnson & Johnson... and most aftershaves are loaded with alcohol, which honestly just irritates the skin even more.

(You can't really lose here—it's always good to have that cream on hand for when your skin gets irritated, or for minor cuts, scrapes, or even burns, so I don't think it'll be a waste of money).

So, should I just grab the regular version or go with the Neosporin antiseptic cream? And am I supposed to be slapping that on after shaving instead of using my usual Johnson & Johnson balm?

Neosporin Plus from Pfizer is gonna run me about five bucks, thanks!

Chupa Chups aloe vera gel 👍

or maybe just some calendula cream 😉

What's up, kid?

StripFX has their own lineup—depilatory strips, creams, that whole thing... and they also make this aloe vera gel that is seriously top-tier 👍 at least in my book, though my friend with super sensitive skin swears by it too 😉

Rebecca Barnes2 said:Neosporin Plus from Pfizer is gonna run me about five bucks, thanks!

What do you mean "thanks"? Is that a good deal or too pricey for you?

Rebecca Barnes2 said:So, should I just grab the regular version or go with the Neosporin antiseptic cream? And am I supposed to be slapping that on after shaving instead of using my usual Johnson & Johnson balm?

Personally, I think the antiseptic one would be better for after shaving...