Mystery irritation from a shave with no new variables.

[_MementoMori_]

Last night I shaved with a fairly regular lineup. I used my Muhle R89, C&E Nomad soap, Semogue 830, and Nivea Sensitive Skin Balm (well, this was new... but I don't see how it could be the culprit here).

I had an incredibly close, blood-free shave like I always do with the R89. Near the end of the shave, though, I noticed my skin burning almost in the same manner as when you make too many passes. After rinsing off and applying the Nivea balm (which did nothing to soothe the savage beast), I noticed an ugly red rash all over my face and neck. If I looked in the right light, the rash was almost in relief like acne.

I awoke this morning and the pain and the rash is gone. I'm just trying to figure out what happened. Can you develop an allergy to a soap that has served you well many times in the past? Thanks in advance.

[DE Shaver]

Can you develop an allergy to a soap that has served you well many times in the past? Thanks in advance.

Allergies can develop at anytime. My mother developed an allergy to almonds that has become quite severe. Up until a few years ago, she could ingest almonds without difficulty. Now, it's a trip to the hospital if she has but one. However, you may not have developed an allergy. Did the skin look dry or did anything swell significantly?

[mretzloff]

I developed an allergy to C&E Nomad cream ten to fifteen uses in. You may have developed an allergy to your soap.

[_MementoMori_]

Allergies can develop at anytime. My mother developed an allergy to almonds that has become quite severe. Up until a few years ago, she could ingest almonds without difficulty. Now, it's a trip to the hospital if she has but one. However, you may not have developed an allergy. Did the skin look dry or did anything swell significantly?

No. No dryness or swelling at all. Just the raised red bumps and the burning sensation. And don't let me gloss over the burning sensation; it was like fire. I had trouble falling asleep.


I developed an allergy to C&E Nomad cream ten to fifteen uses in. You may have developed an allergy to your soap.

I'm maybe twenty shaves into my Nomad. If this happened for you, though, it just makes it all the more likely that it's what happened to me. What's unfortunate is that I have an entire new refill puck of this under the sink...

[DE Shaver]

No. No dryness or swelling at all. Just the raised red bumps and the burning sensation. And don't let me gloss over the burning sensation; it was like fire. I had trouble falling asleep.

I'm maybe twenty shaves into my Nomad. If this happened for you, though, it just makes it all the more likely that it's what happened to me. What's unfortunate is that I have an entire new refill puck of this under the sink...

Try and put some on your skin, a little on your inside wrist for instance. If it becomes red, then you are probably developing a reaction.

[_MementoMori_]

Try and put some on your skin, a little on your inside wrist for instance. If it becomes red, then you are probably developing a reaction.

Great suggestion. I'm going to do it right this minute.

[WastedResources]

Yes, you can develop allergies at any age to anything. Allergic reactions often cause people to break out in hives. If you don't know what they look like, search google. Hives generally go away in less than 24 hours after the allergen is removed. I would visit a doctor if they last longer than that.

My thoughts are it is likely the soap or the brush that is causing you trouble. I'd give my brush a thorough cleaning, and let it dry completely, then I'd change out an item one at a time to identify the culprit.

You don't want this to happen to you:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=46318

[mretzloff]

I'm maybe twenty shaves into my Nomad. If this happened for you, though, it just makes it all the more likely that it's what happened to me. What's unfortunate is that I have an entire new refill puck of this under the sink...

How does your face feel?

What happened to me was, I would start shaving and after the second pass, my face would start burning. The burning went away after I washed the lather off.

The unfortunate thing is, I love the scent of Nomad :sad:

[_MementoMori_]

How does your face feel?

What happened to me was, I would start shaving and after the second pass, my face would start burning. The burning went away after I washed the lather off.

The unfortunate thing is, I love the scent of Nomad :sad:

It felt like hell last night. It feels great this morning. I can finally tell that I got a great shave last night. All I could focus on last night was the burning and the rash. I've got some Nomad on the inside of my wrist right now. I'll report back with results.

-I wonder if I might need to actually produce a test lather though. I just applied it to my wrist with a wet finger.

[_MementoMori_]

Adrian,

I was just getting around to making myself breakfast, but all of a sudden I'm not so hungry anymore.

[DE Shaver]

It felt like hell last night. It feels great this morning. I can finally tell that I got a great shave last night. All I could focus on last night was the burning and the rash. I've got some Nomad on the inside of my wrist right now. I'll report back with results.

-I wonder if I might need to actually produce a test lather though. I just applied it to my wrist with a wet finger.

Bear in mind when you shave, you are removing a thin layer of skin which allows the soap to increase its penetration into the skin. Now, I`m not suggesting you shave your inner wrist but gently scrape and wet the area before applying a test application. Use a credit card or something similar and make sure it`s clean. Not too hard, as you don`t want to redden the area as a result of the scraping.

[mretzloff]

It felt like hell last night. It feels great this morning. I can finally tell that I got a great shave last night. All I could focus on last night was the burning and the rash. I've got some Nomad on the inside of my wrist right now. I'll report back with results.

-I wonder if I might need to actually produce a test lather though. I just applied it to my wrist with a wet finger.

Take your finger and scoop a half-almond-sized amount of cream out, and put in on your face. Rub it in and see if it burns. If it does, you are most likely allergic to it.

EDIT: I just remembered you said you had the soap. I guess you could rub the soap on your face to see.

[_MementoMori_]

Take your finger and scoop a half-almond-sized amount of cream out, and put in on your face. Rub it in and see if it burns. If it does, you are most likely allergic to it.

EDIT: I just remembered you said you had the soap. I guess you could rub the soap on your face to see.

I would test my face again, but I'm meeting my wife at church in about an hour. I think I'll just slightly run a blade across my wrist a few times to exfoliate it per DE's suggestion. I'm not getting any irritation with the test application that's there now.

[WastedResources]

How does your face feel?

What happened to me was, I would start shaving and after the second pass, my face would start burning. The burning went away after I washed the lather off.

The unfortunate thing is, I love the scent of Nomad :sad:

I had a similar experience with D.R. Harris Marlborough SC. I used it about a ten times with no trouble. The last time I used it, my face was burning when I applied it for the third pass. I like the scent so much that I haven't put it on BST even though I probably shouldn't use it.

[JaDo]

Based on what you have said, along with my own experience with C&E soaps, it seems like it could very well be the soap that is causing the issue.

I have actually never shaved with C&E soap before, but I bought some Sienna not long ago. I really like the scent and there was a sale going, so it was available for a really low price. I smelled the soap a few times in the store, and about 15 minutes later, on the way home, the area under my nose became red and inflamed. The inflammation was gone after a short while, but I have yet to try the Sienna because of that.

[DE Shaver]

If the soap is not causing a reaction, I would consider the Nivea skin balm as a potential source point. There could be an ingredient it is using that is causing a reaction.

[_MementoMori_]

If the soap is not causing a reaction, I would consider the Nivea skin balm as a potential source point. There could be an ingredient it is using that is causing a reaction.

I suppose you're right. It'd be some irony though for a highly praised sensitive skin balm to be the culprit. It's unfortunate that I can't remember if the irritation was there before I applied the balm. It's an easy thing to test, I guess. I can just douse the old wrist with a bit of that too.

[DE Shaver]

I suppose you're right. It'd be some irony though for a highly praised sensitive skin balm to be the culprit. It's unfortunate that I can't remember if the irritation was there before I applied the balm. It's an easy thing to test, I guess. I can just douse the old wrist with a bit of that too.

Check the ingredients for the balm and see if anything stands out.

[Speedwell68]

Is it not possible that none of your products are the culprit and you simply had an off day?

[Picaro]

Staph and Strep, and similar bacterias can cause this sort of thing too.

If you are happy that your razor and blade were clean, perhaps your brush is due for a wash in isocol/antiseptic?

[Go West Young Man]

Is it not possible that none of your products are the culprit and you simply had an off day?

:thumbup1:
No need to overthink one bad shave.

[Uncle Erik]

Did you use a new blade for this shave? It's possible that you had a bum blade - they do turn up now and then. Or maybe you accidentally used too much pressure. I still slip up with that now and then. I'd recommend changing the blade for your next shave and refocusing on technique. If that doesn't help, then I'd take a second look at the rest.