Redness/Rash in moustache area after shaving

Ive been going through this same problem for around 16 years,it started when I moved from the Boston area to Georgia, so humidity may be part of the problem,tried every possible cream I could come across and nothing works.The only way I've found to keep my face somewhat normal is to shave twice a day with a very sharp razor,I use no shaving cream (thinking it may have been the problem) I basically soak my face for 15 minutes before shaving,since its done twice a day shaving cream really isn't needed.If I miss one day of shaving the skin becomes dry,extremely flaky and red,and hurts to shave no matter how sharp the blade is.

The problem is also on my scalp so sever that I'm never seen without a hat,The more hair I have the worse it is,so I was keeping my head shaved also,but trying to find time to shave my face and head twice a day is near impossible.

Some little info about me ,maybe we can find some common denominators .

Location-Georgia,High humidity and heat.
Smoker
At one job I worked shortly before this appeared I used some industrial degreaser that would sometimes mist and blow into my face.(I thought that was the cause for many years,still might be)
Shaving cream seems to make it worse
the longer I wait to shave worse it gets,eventually it gets to a point where its not as bad (seems to be worse during the first week of hair growth?)
Heavy coffee drinker (I tried using honey instead of sugar for a while to see if that helped,it didn't)
changing diet had no effect that I've found.
Lots of time in the sun does seem to make it less red,although it may just be the contrast of darker skin.

I just got rid of this very same problem.



I saw my family doctor who prescribed Mupirocin ointment. For 10 days, 3 times a day, I took a Q-tip with the ointment and swabbed the inside in my nose. He also told me to switch to an after shave lotion with alcohol in it. Think of the alcohol sting as kissing the bacteria goodbye.



It's been over a week since I finished the 10 day treatment but it looks like a complete cure. Continue to use the after shave with alcohol. My 2 cents.

As a follow up to this, one thing I wonder is if a lot of us have been under more stress than normal?

In reading some of the "potential causes" of our condition, it seems as though stress is a common factor regarding not necessarily the cause but more so it's return. I'm the guy who had an irritated upperlip for years and nothing more -- yet about the time I started noting the actual rash forming was the same time my family and I went through a tremendous amount of stress.

Agree, +1 100 percent.

Are you guys using an after shave with Alcohol? I was using Nivia cooling balm which doesn't have alcohol. I switched to an after shave with alcohol and my rash under the nose cleared up.

FRESH SHAVING TIPS: 1) If you use a Mach-3 or other type of expensive disposable/replacement razor, WHEN NOT USING THE RAZOR, SUBMERGE THE RAZOR HEAD MINERAL OIL. Just keep about an inch of Mineral Oil in a little glass on your bathroom counter or in cabinent. Simply put the blade part of the razor (not handle) in the oil when not using it. This will give your blade some 600% more lifetime usage!
Think about that. One Mach-3 blade will stay sharp for six months. This is not a joke. What causes rust? Air combined with water. What happens after you shave? You rinse your blade with water, and then leaveit in the open air to dry. That's why the blade goes dull. I was skeptical at first. I initially thought that the Mineral Oil was sort of messy and sticky.

But not anymore.

It's easy to keep clean, and the oil can be changed as frequently as necessary for your liking. Plus your only using a couple teaspons of oil anyways. And mineral oil lasts!

-OK - Second Tip -

Use an electric razor to shave your moustache area. If you have redness, get cold sores or experience other uncomfortable upper lip issues, when used properly an electric razor can work wonders.

Most electric razors take a few weeks of use for your skin to adjust to before you'll experience that really clean shave feeling.

I've been using an electric razor to shave my moustache since 2005 and it is a major relief.

Actually, I use an electric razor to shave the whole area around my mouth, including my bottom lip area and "soul patch."

See, I took a spill snowboarding, hit my face and had to get more than 10 stitches in the area below my lower lip.

I punctured a hole through the skin with my bottom teeeth teeth. Didn't break or loose any theeth thank God!

Once the flesh healed and stitches dissolved I couldn't really shave that area for a while. Then I busted out an electric Norelco shaver that my parents got me back in 1999.

It is a decent 3-head model, and keeps a good charge. When I first got it I just didn't really ever give it a chance. Now with a healing scar in my "soul patch" lower lip area, I needed something more gentle, less abbrasive.

I still use it on a constant basis today. 10 years later.

My moustache/chin must be dry, and I'll shave either 10-15 mins after a shower/shave or anytime before. Make sure the hair isn't too long because electric razors don't take nicely to long hair. That is, unless of course your Norelco (like mine) has a beard trimmer option also which works fantastic.

Many times I'll shave in the car on the way to work.

Keep the tips alwas coming and going!

Cheers. Slainte! and peace on earth :-|

I have the exact same thing your talking about aswell, only it also does this in the sideburns to... it needs to be stopped one way or another, i have seborrheic dermatitis and have used those stupid steroid creams in the past and i think im suffering the concequences from using them now.. my skin seems so much thinner and lifeless/colour loss especially on my cheeks and sides of my face

Hey guys I have the same issues as most of these posts. In regards to it being seborrheic dermatitis, I am a pharmacist and believe it or not we have to study this stuff extensively. If it is seborrheic dermatitis then it is most likely a fungal infection, i forget the particular strain but it is a type of yeast, and ask your doctor or dermatologist to prescribe you a type of anti-fungal as many here have suggested. It is somewhat of a "lifelong" disease and if it clears up in the sun then this is most likely what you have. The fungus effects your sebum glands and is the route of the problem and if you can kill the yeast and keep it under control then you can keep it in remission. Just a heads up as I have had to deal this for sometime until I went through pharmacy school. It amazes me how all the dermatologist I had visited could not diagnose me correctly. I had my doctor prescribe me a short course of systemic (pills) for anti-fungal and thankfully by staying active I have not had a flare up for more than 4 years. Good luck to all as I know how embarrassing and troubling this disease can be!

facial seborrheic dermatitis

posted the above before seeing the one above as i was half way thru the thread. this is what we all have, its true, and its mainly an inherited condition so we are stuck with it. dermatologist's are a waste of time, when i went back with a self diagnosis, he agreed but didn't give a refund

Hi, I've pretty much got all the same signs as the original post. Its so annoying. I have literally tried everything from skin lightening cream to not shaving for a week. But still the redness is there, its almost a red/purple upside down V. I am shaving correctly as the rest of my skin is fine after shaving but the upper lip just flares up even more, I've tried against the grain for a shot, it seems to work for the day but then comes back twice as bad the next. I've been to the doctors about it and all gives me is eczema cream which doesn't even have the slightest of effects, This is driving me to madness and frustration i've spent so much money on trying to get rid of it, its the bane of my life! This is the only chat i've came across on the net that i can relate to on this subject. Would greatly appreciate any help or advice. Thanks!

I have the same issue with the redness and flaking of the skin on my upper lip. It has been red and irritated for a couple of years now. After seeing the dermatologist multiple times with no solution, I did much research to conclude it is a fungal infection similar to dandruff. Basically what happens is the infection spreads from scalp to the ears, beard, nose, and upper lip. It is all a yeast infection of sorts. From what I have read, there is no cure. I read other accounts of individuals using steroid creams to get rid of the infection, which in turn made the skin in the affected areas very thin and showing veins (which is equally unattractive). After reading multiple cases with similar results I concluded that wearing a mustache, goatee, or beard will always be in my future. To lessen the bright red appearance I have been applying a dandruff shampoo in the shower. It helps a little with the flaking, irritation and redness. I eventually forced myself to accept it as permanent. Unfortunately it does not pay rent.

This is my problem as well. The best thing to do is after shaving, apply moisturiser (sic) such as lotion for extremely dry skin and keep it shaved (for me, if I wait more than two days, it comes back). If you do have a beard or mustache and you want to shave it off, for a week before, use a dandruf shampoo on it (I highly recommend a tar based one like T-Gel) and you won't have it as bad when you shave it off. Best I can think, is that it's a form of psoriasis and have started using skin zinc to fight it but it remains to be seen whether that works or not. The lotion and shampoo methods have worked well for me the twelve years I've had this condition.

Hope this helps......My husband started having this problem a few years ago as well, in the eyebrows, mustache, sides of the nose and even in the ear canal! The skin under the hair becomes inflamed, reddish/purple and constantly sheds huge, crunchy flakes. I persuaded him to try using a dandruff shampoo on his face and within two days the problem was gone. But lo and behold, he decided to stop using it as a face wash and the problem came back worse than before. I have since learned of a condition called seborrheic dermatitis. The symptoms are as I mentioned above, and the treatment? None other than using a dandruff shampoo to wash the affected areas. Also, using a tub moisturizing cream is thicker than regular lotions and seems to work better as well.

Hi Just wanted to chime-in. Have the same issue as described above. Upper mustache area (below the nose), dry, flaky, red patchy discoloration. I had a beard and I had flakes for some reason. After I shaved I was then able to see why I was so flaky. I tried putting OXY cleansing pads on it but it did not work at all, just dryed the skin out even more. I then tried "Triamcinolone Acetonide cream USP 0.1%" that seems to have worked a little. The area is still red but not as red as the area which was not treated with the cream.

I have the same problem as described by some. Red patchy dry spots around one cheek area (where facial hair is) and similar dry and flaky skin around the eyebrow area and by the nose a bit below the eye (around the cheek).

I don't shave every day so its not a shaving irritation. I do not expose myself to too much sun, so its not over exposure to sun light. Again this problem started while I had a somewhat of a beard.

I do not smoke or drink but I do have some stress. Blood work all came back clean. I do have a tooth implant but the problem with the patchiness is on both sides of the face while the implant is only on one.

Can it be part of a sinus infection?

Cheers!
Jay

Hey guys,

I'm only 14 and have been reading up on this topic because it has happened to me. It is very embarrassing since I go to high school and everyone is criticized for everything. I have the same symptoms as described on the last 2 pages: red irritated and flaking skin on the mustouche area. I've tried moisturizing but it doesn't stay moisturized for more than 10 minutes. If anyone knows any ways to clear this up fast please tell me!

Thanks