# WTF is wrong with me Dr? (razor burn question)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-me-dr-razor-burn-question/98859>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 18, 2002, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-me-dr-razor-burn-question/98859 "2002-03-18T11:07:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MarkusGoneAwry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@MarkusGoneAwry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkusGoneAwry)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-me-dr-razor-burn-question/98859/1 "2002-03-18T11:07:38Z")

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OK…

So, after I shave with a razor I often get “razor burn” along my beard line on my neck. This is fairly common among other men in their early 20’s I understand. Anyways, the day after I shave I almost **always** develope about 2-3 small red bumps with a white tip around my _mouth_ (but not on my lips). The bumps are not zits (although they have a white tip), are not cold sores, and do not contain any noticeable puss (just the white head). They look most like razor burn, but they only come the day after I shave and the area around my mouth is not generally sore/red except for these bumps.

Does anyone know what the deal might be and how to prevent them? My problem is I am a fidgety dude and I pick at things like that which just makes them all red and gross.

thanks!

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-me-dr-razor-burn-question/98859/2 "2002-03-18T13:37:31Z")

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Big question: What kind of razor are you using, and what kind of lubrication, if any?

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**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-wrong-with-me-dr-razor-burn-question/98859/3 "2002-03-18T14:20:46Z")

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A lot of times, if your facial hair is especially curly, it could just be that your hairs have curled under the skin and caused a blockage in the pores. It happens to a lot of people, myself included. It also depends on the razor you use. When it happened to me, I was using a Norelco electric razor, but since I went to an old fashioned blade, I’ve had no problems. And it also helps to shave against the grain.