Bacterial Infection Due to Shaving...and how often do you sanitize your razors?

[cdmorten]

Has anyone had any issues with this? My friend just got back from the ER with a bacterial infection that they've tracked down to not sanitizing his razor.

That leads me to my next question of does anyone else sanitize (boil or bleach) their razors? I've only been doing this for 5 months and I've never sanitized my razor. I just wash it and wipe it.

Just curious as to whether anyone else has had this issue.

[gdollard]

hmm, interesting. I've only sanitised any second hand razors I may have purchased online. As for my daily use razors, no, I have never
actually gone beyond a rinse down and a wipe..now you have me all paranoid :sad:

[turtle]

I give mine a soak in barbicide every so often (once a week).

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i170/moosepucky/P1010021.jpg

[Intrigued]

How do they know it was due to not sanitizing the razor? While the infection may have started at the site of a razor nick, It could have been the brush that applied lather, the hand that touched the face, the towel that dried the face........

[TonyH]

I've never sanitized any of my razors with the intention of disease prevention. If I buy a second hand razor, it gets a scrub with the toothbrush and scrubbing bubbles. After that, I only clean with the scrubbing bubbles every month or so - and that's just to remove any soap scum.

[Chevyguy]

You can't just blame the razor, it could have been caused by other things as others have said.

Clayton

[inspiringK]

Infection from a razor??? Do you know if your friend is using a DE? I honestly can't say that I have ever heard of this happening.

After each shave, I spray my razor down with some 70% iso alcohol. This probably kills off bacteria, but my motivation to do it is more about reducing soap scum build up and making sure the razor dries quickly.

[JayHawkMechanic]

I give mine a soak in barbicide every so often (once a week).




This is what I do after each shave. It smeems to help keep it extremely clean. Still have to take a toothbrush to it about once a month, more than likely due to the hard water I have here.


Chris

[Chevyguy]

Back in the day when I used a cartridge razor and gel all it got was a hot water rinse and a towel drying then it was back in the drawer it went. I never had a problem.

Clayton

[Bellac]

I do not believe that the infection came from the razor itself, but rather at the site where he nicked himself. Bacteria usually does not enter through the skin unless there is a crack, cut, or any source of bleeding. When it comes to keeping yourself clean and infection free, I believe that it is a good habit to swish your DE blade in alcohol after you are done shaving and also to apply an alcohol based aftershave, like Brut or Aqua Velva. Personally, I swish my DE blade in alcohol (50% vol. because I use the cheapo 99 cent ones) because once the alcohol evaporates, my blade is clean, dry, and a bit shiny, but the emphasis here is that it is clean. Also applying an alcohol aftershave will help you with the bacteria problem. To be honest though, I never heard of anyone getting an infection from shaving, regardless of which type of razor used and I personally usually do the above methods because of bacteria, I just like my blade dry and shiny.

[RichGem]

How do they know it was due to not sanitizing the razor? While the infection may have started at the site of a razor nick, It could have been the brush that applied lather, the hand that touched the face, the towel that dried the face........

This.

[simmonds]

Is Barbicide used full strength or is it diluted and how long will a bottle that size last?

[mmack66]

Except for Scrubbing Bubbles occasionally on vintage razors, and that was only to clean gunk off of them, I have never sanitized a razor.

[ZJ68]

I sanitize used razors as part of the cleaning when I get them. Otherwise, no, I don't regularly sanitize razors. I do keep them clean by rinsing them thoroughly and letting them soak in hot water after I've shaved and I'm brushing my teeth & such. Cartridge razors especially, as they can get pretty gnarly fast if you're sloppy with them and people tend to use them a lot longer than DE blades.

For sanitizing, I use Hydracide (generic Barbacide). I would not bleach or boil a razor as those methods have much more potential to damage the razor and I don't believe they offer any significant benefit.

[BlackBard]

How do they know it was due to not sanitizing the razor? While the infection may have started at the site of a razor nick, It could have been the brush that applied lather, the hand that touched the face, the towel that dried the face........

Good point. I have never "sanitized" a razor except for a second hand razor prior to using it. Consider the conditions in which it is being used. First you wash your face, then you shave in a soapy environment. After this you probably rinse the razor in hot water, followed by air drying.

Even if you do attempt some sort of "sanitizing," as soon as you touch it or expose it to the air, you run the risk of contamination, unless you are shaving in an operating room. Even then, something could go wrong.........

Oh, the worry........

[mmack66]

Is Barbicide used full strength or is it diluted and how long will a bottle that size last?

It is supposed to be diluted 2oz Barbicide to 32oz water.

[tchudson]

As many others have posted, I sanitize mine when I buy them. Then, I just rinse them when I use them. I've thought of dipping them in alcohol or something after shaving, but have never done this.

[BigFoot]

Another method that works well is Marvicide. It is in an aerosol can and will kill most any bacteria, including the Hepatitis and HIV virus.

I always spray all razors with it prior to 1st use. I also disinfect my straights with it after stropping. Not sure why but I just like to make sure I have a clean disinfected blade.

[Geckotek]

I shave after a shower. My housekeeper disinfects the bathroom once a month. I can't imagine I have a lot of bacteria on my razor or shaving tools. I'm sure there is some, but I doubt anything harmful or in large amounts.

Oh, and my razor is stored in mineral oil so that keeps it fairly well protected from bacteria as well.

[RichGem]

On thing to keep in mind is that one of the benefits of regular use of alcohol-based after shave is the reduction in the possibility of a post-shave infection if you nick yourself. That said, however, even in my pre-AS /cart & goo days, I never had a problem with post-shave infection.

Aside from a "new" second hand razor, which I clean with scrubbing bubbles, I don't worry about disinfecting my razor. Far more likely, imho, that if you're going to get something it's going to be from the dirty hands or the dirty (used) towel.

[Mako72]

Was he using a DE or a Cartridge Razor??


I can see were if he is using a cartridge razor possibly. Most guys don't rinse them well. They hold bits of skin, shave cream/gel, blood, hair as well as usually having a little rust on them from trying to stretch the expensive cart just another shave or two.

I would think a diisassembled and wiped down DE would solve that.


Jay

[turtle]

Is Barbicide used full strength or is it diluted and how long will a bottle that size last?

You dilute it. A bottle that size is a lifetime supply (with plenty left over for your heirs).

Dilution is 16 parts water to 1 part barbicide.

you can get it at barber/beauty parlor supply houses

If you have a Sally Beauty in town they carry it

http://www.sallybeauty.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-SA-Site/default/Search-Show?q=barbicide

If you have a hospital supply store you can get a similar product. Some locations stock one called Mar-v-cide. Check with your local pharmacist as they sometimes stock disinfectant soaks or can order it for you.

[kingfisher]

Anything can happen, but this sort of thing is pretty unusual. As an earlier poster said, an intact skin layer is an important barrier to infection, so shaving without nicking yourself is probably a good idea.

All I do is rinse and put it into the stand.

[cdmorten]

I got a little more info from my buddy. Yes it was a DE razor to answer that question. He said he cut himself with the razor and about an hour after that he had red marks that swelled up and became like blisters the next day and his lymph nodes are swollen as well. Now he's on antibiotics.

as someone astutley mentioned above, it could have been from the razor, the brush, a hand, water, the towel, etc. I guess the point is to keep all your gear clean and you should be fine. It sounds like the majority of us just keep things fairly clean and nobody's having that same issue. And I would agree that a DE razor is typically cleaner than a cartridge razor. Shave waste seems to build up in the cartridges and never leave.

Anyway, let's keep it clean.

[cdmorten]

Good point!


Anything can happen, but this sort of thing is pretty unusual. As an earlier poster said, an intact skin layer is an important barrier to infection, so shaving without nicking yourself is probably a good idea.

All I do is rinse and put it into the stand.

[FonGu]

I hit my daily use razor with scrubbing bubbles and a toothbrush every 1-2 weeks.

[sas71]

dang .. got me paranoid now..had to go wipe my razor down with an alcohol pad.

i usually clean my razors a couple times a month with scrubbing bubbles/dish washing soap + hot water.

he might have had a dirty sink..no telling what could have caused it.

remember what George Carlin said germs and keeping everything too clean ...."thats why we have an immune system, but it needs germs to practice on"

[Geckotek]

This brings up a question I've had for a while. Is scrubbing bubbles safe for the satin finish on a Merkur Futur?

[RichGem]

dang .. got me paranoid now..had to go wipe my razor down with an alcohol pad.

i usually clean my razors a couple times a month with scrubbing bubbles/dish washing soap + hot water.

he might have had a dirty sink..no telling what could have caused it.

remember what George Carlin said germs and keeping everything too clean ...."thats why we have an immune system, but it needs germs to practice on"

Scientifically true.

[klm099]

Started shaving in 1960
number of times I have santized a razor (beyond initial receipt) 0
number of shave related infections 0


ken

[Snargle]

After rinsing my razor (and blade), I give it a quick swish in a small jar of Isopropyl (Rubbing) Alcohol, give it a few shakes, and set it back in the bathroom cabinet to air dry. But that's mostly just to speed the drying and prevent water spots. If there's a disinfectant effect, so much the better, but I'm not terribly concerned about bacterial contamination. Frequent washing of hands (and face) with hot water and soap is probably more important than sterilizing razors.

[inspiringK]

I got a little more info from my buddy. Yes it was a DE razor to answer that question. He said he cut himself with the razor and about an hour after that he had red marks that swelled up and became like blisters the next day and his lymph nodes are swollen as well. Now he's on antibiotics.


Thanks for the follow-up info. That does not sound too encouraging at all......

[heybatter]

There's a long technical review of Barbicide on this Amazon product page that goes on about how it is a disinfectant and not a sterilizer. Not sure if this guy is splitting ends but thought it was worth a post.

http://www.amazon.com/Barbicide-Disinfectant-New-Quatz-Sterilizer/dp/B0001K55QS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322508728&sr=8-1

[coyotewhisper]

I drop mine in boiling water and dish soap to clean them to get the the soap scum buildup off.

[mchad21]

I agree it didn't come from the razor. Nick or abrasion from the razor + dirty hands = infection. The nick ave the the bacteria access, but the bacteria came from elsewhere.

[drawonme]

Where do you get hydracide or barbacide? I've looked at Target, Walmart and Walgreens.

Thanks

[vitaman]

Where do you get hydracide or barbacide? I've looked at Target, Walmart and Walgreens.

Thanks
I get mine from a beauty supply store. Sallys is a good one.

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

After I use my razors (Merkur's 23C & 38C), I spray them down with alcohol and then air dry. Once a week I scrub hen down with 'Scrubbing Bubbles'. :thumbsup:

203102 "Life is [like] a razor, you are always in hot water or a scrape" Anonymous

[bkfist]

How do they know it was due to not sanitizing the razor? While the infection may have started at the site of a razor nick, It could have been the brush that applied lather, the hand that touched the face, the towel that dried the face........

Yes, a towel, dirty hand, sitting the razor on a dirty sink, etc. would be FAR FAR more likely to be the culprit than an un-sanitized razor. Nasties can grow on wet sinks, hands, towels, but NOT on non-porous plastic, stainless steel, brass, chrome. (Maybe under flaking Merkur finishes, if there is other gunk under there in the pockets of corroding zinc, but even that is unlikely.)

I would think the crap that collects between the blades of a multi-blade razor would be FAR more likely to harbor bacteria, since it's mixed with hair, skin cells and god knows what else that is in the "canned goo" most people use, keeping in mind that the the Sorbitol used as a humectantfiller/softener in many shave creams and some melt & pour soap bases is, in actuality, a sugar and could quite possibly be used as a food source for bacteria.

I'd be FAR more concerned about a towel or wash cloth washed with dirty socks and underwear, or touching the sink's faucet handles then my face, rather than a razor used for years and years that had never been cleaned.

Unless the razor was brought in, swabbed, and found to be a hot-bed for what ever bacteria caused his infection, the doctor was simply pulling at straws and his guess is just as good as asking the wine-o in the gutter his opinion.

[dpmtherrien]

I've never done this, and never had a problem.

Outside of just a good rinse with hot water, and an occasional squirt of scrubbing bubbles, thats all I do.

[Doog]

I work with someone who's FIL was admitted to the hospital for a staph infection on his neck/face. But they was thinking the cause was an ingrown hair.
First time really heard of it.

[greenhornet7897]

I soak my razor in a barbicide jar after every use it santizes and cleans the soap scum off.

[Picaro]

DE's flush clean much better than multi blades. But the thing is that staph and strep and their ilk, love to grow in some moist hair and skin deposits. Even some razor rash can be the result of mild infections. With DE's and straights, general hygeine is usually enough protection.

[Oscroft]

Some even have even observed the aerosol effect whereby after you flush a mountain of poo, small water droplets fling out from the toilet across the entire room, onto you face, lips, ears, nasal passages, eyes, and any other object that happens to sit in your bathroom
Close the lid before you flush?

[binowatch]

The entire world is covered with a fine fecal patina! As noted above your bathroom is a veritable volcano of potential pathogens. The razor should be kept clean-this is pretty well accomplished with daily use with shave soap and lots of hot water before and after use and the regular change of blades. If there is gunk on it which prevents this level of cleaning it needs a scrubbing. You don't share your razor. After shaving you rinse carefully-I always relather and use that to wash with. The real role of alum, witch hazel and alcohol based AS is antiseptic. Lastly, the wounds of shaving are usually superficial and the face/neck are very vascular which make infection less likely. As I recall one of the discoverers of King Tuts tomb died from and infected shaving cut!!

[Blue Raccoon]

this was probably more than most people cared to know but pretty much fact! this is why I always wondered why in some of the pictures posted you see brushes, razors, etc.. lines up around the sink. there is all kinds of stuff flying around in the bathroom.





Well. sorry to tell you, but despite your housekeepers efforts, your bathroom is virtually a fecal playground (amongst many other forms of bacteria and virus). Flushing the toilet after a prodigious bowel movement, the fecal matter on your hands that you cannot avoid, and the general moist/warm environment of your bathroom means that you have significant amounts (significant as in lots but not really harmful) of fecal coliform bacteria on your door handles, shower curtain, shower handles, sink handle, razor, tooth brush, listerine bottle, etc etc. Your bathroom is like a jacuzzi of feces at the microscopic level. Some even have even observed the aerosol effect whereby after you flush a mountain of poo, small water droplets fling out from the toilet across the entire room, onto you face, lips, ears, nasal passages, eyes, and any other object that happens to sit in your bathroom. Couple this with the considerable amount of feces that actually is on your hands (no a small paper tissue does not act as barrier between hand and moist/warm fecal matter). Now since you most likely a civilized man you wash your hands quickly which actually only eliminates some of the fecal bacteria on your hand which then proceeds to be transferred to your doors, sandwich, wife's hair, remote, cell phone, or whatever u touch. In fact while your bathroom is a fecal 4th of July, most of the rest of your household objects that you handle are lathered (in a microbe kind of way) in fecal bacteria. While there is some question about the aerosol effect, there is no question that when you brush - you are tasting poo, when you shave you are rubbing a few fecal microbes into your face, etc etc....in total, there is nothing to worry about as it is very unlikely you could sick or an infection or whatnot from your bathroom, but make no mistake after about 12 hours after the housekeeper disinfects, you are once again housing your very own fecal colony in your house. Now if you only pass waste once per month than you may have almost no traces except for that massive amount of microscopic fecal smear that soap and water will not lift - even the cute antibacterial ones are no match for the fecal lake on your palm. Of course anyone else in your home who touches anything, such as the housekeeper, is likely to be leaving behind her own microbial fecal colonies on your kitchen surfaces, tables, door handles, and whatever else she touches when you are not looking. But like I said, do not fret, and u likely wear AS, so even while you are ensconced in your own and others in the world fecal overcoat, even a good fecal swamp that is your home cannot overpower (scent wise) a good splash of Clubman.

[Topgumby]

Bah, humbug! I'll admit the fecal patina that other members have so oddly, and at length, described with what can only be called a laudable level of obsession is good for all of us in a Nietzsche sort of way, but the name of the site isn't "Bowel and Blade". Cease with the poo palaver, already!

I think sanitizing razors is highly over-rated.

In fact, I shave straight away with with any vintage razor I acquire, as I figure the microbiological beasties that have survived the years starving away on those hunks of steel and brass deserve a good feeding, and what better way to commune with the spirits of our wet-shaving ancestors than by accepting their traces into the bloodstream.

Only a few, unimportant parts have fallen off me after years of this sort of thing, and I find myself becoming more and more like the dearly departed former owners of my razors with each passing day. You can't shave against the grain of the sands of time, after all.

[john shea]

Our body surfaces are colonized by bacteria of various species (normal flora). Most of these bacteria are harmless under ordinary circumstances and may protect the body from being colonized by harmful bacterial species. Sometimes we are carriers of potentially harmful bacteria which may cause an infection at a time of low host defense system resistance. Any small break in the skin can potentially cause an infection, but usually doesn't. The environment is full of bacteria which are usually controlled by our natural resistance to infection. Sterilizing instruments that may break the skin helps prevent person to person disease transmission such as hepatitis.

It is good to keep razors as clean as reasonably possible. If you want to also disinfect razors, I suggest a short dip in an alcohol bath or Barbicide followed by cleaning and drying. Disinfection is a necessity for razors that will be used by more than one person. There are razors such as the Wapi intended for medical use which are made entirely of stainless steel so that they can be autoclaved between uses. Autoclaving is the gold standard for sterilization, but the steam would destroy most razors. It is important to remember that using a sterile razor will reduce risk but not guarantee that an infection will not be acquired from the bacteria on the skin or from the environment.

HTH

[DaveNJ74]

You can't just blame the razor, it could have been caused by other things as others have said.

Clayton

Yes I agree, could be anything. Does he use a DE or one of those bright orange 7 blade jobbers?

[oc_in_fw]

fecal playground... jacuzzi of feces... fecal 4th of July...fecal colony in your house...fecal lake on your palm...microbial fecal colonies on your kitchen surfaces

Sounds like a regular party going on :biggrin:

[Stubblefield]

It could have been . . . the hand that touched the face...Bingo. We have a winner.

[ikeyballz]

no difference from using a DE, a cartridge, or even an electric razor right? Just wash your hands and face often, clean out any cuts and use an alcohol based aftershave. Bacteria is EVERYWHERE anyway.

[mchad21]

It is important to remember that using a sterile razor will reduce risk but not guarantee that an infection will not be acquired from the bacteria on the skin or from the environment.

HTH

Impossible to shave with a sterile razor, unless you're in a Class A (100) room or within a biosafety cabinet. The second it comes out of the autoclave, it is no longer considered strerile. It could also contain pyrogens (endotoxin) following the autoclave cycle....so depyrogenation would be the gold standard. Could you imagine having to depyro your razor for an hour or so at 250C between each use?

Now this is getting a little crazy..

[yung puck]

Barbacide bath for mine just to be safe

[johnnyxxl]

um I have yet to sterilize any of my gear I figure my grandfather used the razor. I washed it but that is all I have not had any gear i didn't know the source so far

[Joezie]

I swirl my razor in 93% alcohol after each shave but after reading this I might have to invest in some barbacide.

[Picaro]

Can we have a sub-forum for faecal matter ?

[miamimoe]

This.


I swirl my razor in 93% alcohol after each shave but after reading this I might have to invest in some barbacide.

[turtle]

This brings up a question I've had for a while. Is scrubbing bubbles safe for the satin finish on a Merkur Futur?

The finish is somewhat fragile. Do not use bleach solution as it will dissolve the finish (been there done that, got the spots and freckles on my Futur to prove it). Barbicide does not seem to have any detrimental effect on the finish but I would not leave it in for any length of time just to be on the safe side.

Warm water, dish soap, and a soft toothbrush is more than acquitted to clean any soap residue that might accumulate.

[Legion]

I found my new puppy licking my shaving soap yesterday. If we stopped to worry about every possible source of germs we will eventually be walking around with tissue boxes on our feet, Howard Hughes style.

I give all vintage razors a clean and then a swish with alcohol before the first use. After that I just cross my fingers and hope for the best.

[bkfist]

I swirl my razor in 93% alcohol after each shave but after reading this I might have to invest in some barbacide.

WHAT in the world have YOU been reading on this post? The parts that make you feel better and feed your desire to swirl your razor in the 93% alcohol? (BTW the cheaper 70% is a better disinfectant than the 93%)

Re-read the post, forget your paranoia... If you rinsed your razor in hot water, followed by dunking your razor in bleach, followed by alcohol, followed by battery acid, followed by ethylene oxide sterilization, followed by heating it to red-hot for 1 hour, then stored your razor in a drawer, cabinet, bathroom or any place outside of a sterile environment, you might as well have stopped at the "Rinsed with hot water" step.

Your skin, sink, mouth, lips, sink handles, towel and most likely the water you are rinsing your face in, contain *FAR* more bacteria, spores, viri, fungi etc. than the surface of your razor or blade. Unless you are not going to rinse and dry your face, or use your hands to apply after shave, and are using sterile gloves (and putting on a fresh pair before touching your razor again) to turn your water off and on, and ABSOLUTELY not rinsing your razor in dirty, FILTHY sink between passes, forget the paranoia about sanitizing your razors, you are simply wasting your money and time.

The OP's friend's skin infection quite possibly DID come from shaving, but almost certainly did NOT come from bacteria or other pathogen on the razor.

edit: Sorry, that first sentence sounded a bit harsh, I didn't mean it to sound quite that way, but really, for sanitary purposes, it's not at all necessary, or beneficial, although some people say it helps them reduce soap scum - soft water works a LOT better- :)

[Geckotek]

Well. sorry to tell you, but despite your housekeepers efforts, your bathroom is virtually a fecal playground (amongst many other forms of bacteria and virus). Flushing the toilet after a prodigious bowel movement, the fecal matter on your hands that you cannot avoid, and the general moist/warm environment of your bathroom means that you have significant amounts (significant as in lots but not really harmful) of fecal coliform bacteria on your door handles, shower curtain, shower handles, sink handle, razor, tooth brush, listerine bottle, etc etc. Your bathroom is like a jacuzzi of feces at the microscopic level. Some even have even observed the aerosol effect whereby after you flush a mountain of poo, small water droplets fling out from the toilet across the entire room, onto you face, lips, ears, nasal passages, eyes, and any other object that happens to sit in your bathroom. Couple this with the considerable amount of feces that actually is on your hands (no a small paper tissue does not act as barrier between hand and moist/warm fecal matter). Now since you most likely a civilized man you wash your hands quickly which actually only eliminates some of the fecal bacteria on your hand which then proceeds to be transferred to your doors, sandwich, wife's hair, remote, cell phone, or whatever u touch. In fact while your bathroom is a fecal 4th of July, most of the rest of your household objects that you handle are lathered (in a microbe kind of way) in fecal bacteria. While there is some question about the aerosol effect, there is no question that when you brush - you are tasting poo, when you shave you are rubbing a few fecal microbes into your face, etc etc....in total, there is nothing to worry about as it is very unlikely you could sick or an infection or whatnot from your bathroom, but make no mistake after about 12 hours after the housekeeper disinfects, you are once again housing your very own fecal colony in your house. Now if you only pass waste once per month than you may have almost no traces except for that massive amount of microscopic fecal smear that soap and water will not lift - even the cute antibacterial ones are no match for the fecal lake on your palm. Of course anyone else in your home who touches anything, such as the housekeeper, is likely to be leaving behind her own microbial fecal colonies on your kitchen surfaces, tables, door handles, and whatever else she touches when you are not looking. But like I said, do not fret, and u likely wear AS, so even while you are ensconced in your own and others in the world fecal overcoat, even a good fecal swamp that is your home cannot overpower (scent wise) a good splash of Clubman.

hahaha, I knew someone would bring this up. I beg to differ. I'm not trying to say it's bacteria free (not even completely fecal free), but some of us are a bit cleaner than you think. I guarantee my bathroom is not a "fecal playground" as you've described. Not to mention that you seemed to ignore the part of my razor not being exposed to the air in my bathroom, my toothbrush is also covered. And I'm not stupid enough to flush with the lid up.

So yeah, look all you like for a "fecal swamp" in my home; you won't find it. I've lived around too many medical professionals and germophobes in my life. Some of it has rubbed off (and I don't mean fecal matter.) That includes a much longer hand-washing routine than the average guy (and yes...with anti-bacterial soap.) Oh, and I'm single so no wife or other family members around to foul things up either.

[Legion]

It is probably worth mentioning that there is a squillion times more bacteria on your stainless steel kitchen sink than there is on your porcelain toilet bowl. And dog spit is less germy than people spit. So when you kiss your wife goodbye tomorrow morning, it would probably be more hygienic if you kissed the pooch instead. And rinse your vegetables by flushing.

Stop worrying about it. It is all safe enough as long as you aren't sharing your razor with random strangers.

[Geckotek]

Yeah, I wouldn't make the same argument about my kitchen sink. :001_unsur

[JoeBass]

I always splash a few drops of alcohol based aftershave on my blade and let it sit while I lather up, but I'm admittedly quite out of my mind when it comes to this kind of thing. :001_tongu

[aceinyerface]

I wouldn't spend a great deal of energy on it. Your whole body is a microbial playground.

http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/normalflora.html (http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/normalflora.html)

Table 1. Bacteria commonly found on the surfaces of the human body. width="469" style="color: rgb(24, 96, 90); font-weight: bold; width: 469px; height: 729px"
|-
| BACTERIUM
| Skin
| Con-
junc-
tiva
| Nose
| Pharynx
| Mouth
| Lower
GI

| Ant. ure-
thra
| Vagina
|-
| Staphylococcus epidermidis (1)
| ++
| +
| ++
| ++
| ++
| +
| ++
| ++
|-
| Staphylococcus aureus* (2)
| +
| +/-
| +
| +
| +
| ++
| +/-
| +
|-
| Streptococcus mitis
|

|

|

| +
| ++
| +/-
| +
| +
|-
| Streptococcus salivarius
|

|

|

| ++
| ++
|
|

|

|-
| Streptococcus mutans* (3)
|

|

|

| +
| ++
|

|

|

|-
| Enterococcus faecalis* (4)
|

|

|

| +/-
| +
| ++
| +
| +
|-
| Streptococcus pneumoniae* (5)
|

| +/-
| +/-
| +
| +
|

|

| +/-
|-
| Streptococcus pyogenes* (6)
| +/-
| +/-
|

| +
| +
| +/-
|

| +/-
|-
| Neisseria sp. (7)
|

| +
| +
| ++
| +
|

| +
| +
|-
| Neisseria meningitidis* (8)
|

|

| +
| ++
| +
|

|

| +
|-
| Enterobacteriaceae*(Escherichia coli) (9)
|

| +/-
| +/-
| +/-
| +
| ++
| +
| +
|-
| Proteus sp.
|

| +/-
| +
| +
| +
| +
| +
| +
|-
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa* (10)
|

|

|

| +/-
| +/-
| +
| +/-
|

|-
| Haemophilus influenzae* (11)
|

| +/-
| +
| +
| +
|

|

|

|-
| Bacteroides sp.*
|

|

|

|

|

| ++
| +
| +/-
|-
| Bifidobacterium bifidum (12)
|

|

|

|

|

| ++
|

|

|-
| Lactobacillus sp. (13)
|

|

|

| +
| ++
| ++
|

| ++
|-
| Clostridium sp.* (14)
|

|

|

|

| +/-
| ++
|

|

|-
| Clostridium tetani (15)
|

|

|

|

|

| +/-
|

|

|-
| Corynebacteria (16)
| ++
| +
| ++
| +
| +
| +
| +
| +
|-
| Mycobacteria
| +
|

| +/-
| +/-
|

| +
| +
|

|-
| Actinomycetes
|

|

|

| +
| +
|

|

|

|-
| Spirochetes
|

|

|

| +
| ++
| ++
|

|

|-
| Mycoplasmas
|

|

|

| +
| +
| +
| +/-
| +
|-



++ = nearly 100 percent + = common (about 25 percent) +/- = rare (less than 5%) * = potential pathogen

[Legion]

*Hijack alert!*

It is sort of off topic, but does anybody think that a lot of modern parents are out of their mind when it comes to sterilising everything their babies come into contact with? I have friends who sanitise everything, use those alcohol hand wipes a thousand times a day, and basically have their kids living in an antiseptic bubble.

IMO there is a direct link between all that, and all the food allergies kids have today. Peanut allergy? what is that?? When I was a kid I don't remember a single child at my schools having that. Now it seems quite common. Personally I am blaming weakened immune systems caused by not getting toughened up to germs when they are babies. Babies crawl around on the ground. They put weird things in their mouths. This is normal and it builds up their system to fight nasties when they are older.

*Hijack over.*

[jtb]

Faceterbating with dirty hands?

[Picaro]

Agreed, the whole germ phobia antibacterial marketing phooee, is a load of .....well...faecal matter ( back OT sort of).

But, I think you will find, if you go back to your laboratory the fact that a lack of fresh foods in the diet will be more closely linked to the increase of allergies and auto- immune disorders.

[Legion]

Agreed, the whole germ phobia antibacterial marketing phooee, is a load of .....well...faecal matter ( back OT sort of).

But, I think you will find, if you go back to your laboratory the fact that a lack of fresh foods in the diet will be more closely linked to the increase of allergies and auto- immune disorders.

Yeah, maybe. But I still think kids are going to be weaker in the long run if you don't let them roll in the mud sometimes.

[oc_in_fw]

Yeah, maybe. But I still think kids are going to be weaker in the long run if you don't let them roll in the mud sometimes.

kids will be weaker because of devolution- in the animal kingdom, the weak and stupid die. In the human species, they are protected.

[Picaro]

Motorcycles evolved in order to continue natural selection in humans

[monkeyhanger]

i boil the kettle and pour it straight onto my razor head shortly before shaving, i figure this will kill any freaky germs.

[Scott0079]

Don't cut yourself, problem solved....like the old story of the gentlemen leaving the restroom and a guy yelling out "Hey didn't your mother teach you to wash your hands"? Nope, she taught me not to piss on myself.

[Artimid]

You know Scott, I always hated that quote. I had a guy give that to me before, when I had to point out that he had two things to consider (I was employed doing drug testing) a) Fine, don't wash, but 240 other people have walked through that door today, and I can't ensure it is clean after every one of them, b) your genitals would need to be power washed with sand and chemicals to be anywhere near as clean as the neutral stuff coming out of it. I am not a clean freak, but I most certainly do scrub my hands.. several times, I do use clorox wipes on my desk, keyboard, phone, mouse, and so anything else I will touch throughout the day at my area, and yes I do use a paper towel on every door handle until I am safely able to walk without obstruction.. but I honestly have worked too long with people who were unclean and developed this as a way to keep myself slightly healthy. >_<

Anyways, I AM going to try that dry back thing I think on some of my gotten gains. So thanks for the Amazon link about the sterilization vs disinfectant. Also, the list of stuff on the human body will certainly haunt me when I am scrubbing in the shower. Thank you for that. Also, last but not least, sorry for your friend, but it is safe to shave. I would think if the reaction happened an hour later, and the way it happened, it almost sounds like an allergic reaction to something. I KNOW the doctors said one thing, but doctors also sent my sister home for being pregnant, drunk, on drugs, and on the fifth visit? Oh, her appendix just burst and she is going to die very shortly if we don't operate, hee hee, sorry we missed that all these times. They also removed a good junk of organs from my grandmother, listing a new one as "the problem" every few days until eventually they had nothing else they could safely remove and found the actual issue.

So I take hospitals with a grain of salt. ^_^ For all that was known, it was possibly an off brand, expired after shave, or old soap that had something on it as the most likely cause.

[Scott0079]

You know Scott, I always hated that quote. I had a guy give that to me before, when I had to point out that he had two things to consider (I was employed doing drug testing) a) Fine, don't wash, but 240 other people have walked through that door today, and I can't ensure it is clean after every one of them, b) your genitals would need to be power washed with sand and chemicals to be anywhere near as clean as the neutral stuff coming out of it. I am not a clean freak, but I most certainly do scrub my hands.. several times, I do use clorox wipes on my desk, keyboard, phone, mouse, and so anything else I will touch throughout the day at my area, and yes I do use a paper towel on every door handle until I am safely able to walk without obstruction.. but I honestly have worked too long with people who were unclean and developed this as a way to keep myself slightly healthy. >_<

Anyways, I AM going to try that dry back thing I think on some of my gotten gains. So thanks for the Amazon link about the sterilization vs disinfectant. Also, the list of stuff on the human body will certainly haunt me when I am scrubbing in the shower. Thank you for that. Also, last but not least, sorry for your friend, but it is safe to shave. I would think if the reaction happened an hour later, and the way it happened, it almost sounds like an allergic reaction to something. I KNOW the doctors said one thing, but doctors also sent my sister home for being pregnant, drunk, on drugs, and on the fifth visit? Oh, her appendix just burst and she is going to die very shortly if we don't operate, hee hee, sorry we missed that all these times. They also removed a good junk of organs from my grandmother, listing a new one as "the problem" every few days until eventually they had nothing else they could safely remove and found the actual issue.

So I take hospitals with a grain of salt. ^_^ For all that was known, it was possibly an off brand, expired after shave, or old soap that had something on it as the most likely cause.

Take my quotation with a grain of salt too. I firmly believe in washing your hands, in fact I'm almost OCD about it myself. My point was that the infection, if that's truly what it was, had to have somewhere to get in hence the don't cut yourself part.

[badgerRN]

As a Nursing Student, I feel compelled to respond to this.
Short Version for Germaphobes: Keep you razor clean, but it not necessary to sterilize you are extremely unlikely to get an infection. Now, if you freak out easily about germs, I would stop reading now.

It is very unlikely that you can get an infection from a razor for several reasons.
1. Most people have a functioning immune system.
2. The basic (pH) properties of the creams and soaps aren't the best things for bacteria. (In fact regular soap is just as effective as antibacterial)
3. Hot water is also not the best for bacteria.
4. Most people use an aftershave that contains alcohol.

Truth of the matter is while you are unlikely to get infection from a razor, even with a sterile razor, a sterile brush, you can still introduce bacteria into your wounds. Why? Your body is composed of a community of around 4-5 Trillion Cells on best estimate. Only about 1 Trillions of those are you. The other 3-4 Trillion are bacteria, most of them in your gut, mouth and skin. Without them we would have skin infections, bleed to death, or have severe nervous system impairments. These bacteria make Vitamin K which helps with clotting, and B12 which helps the nervous system function. Your skin is crawling with bacteria that do nothing more than take up the real estate on our skin and out compete pathogenic bacteria. Every now and then, people get these "good bacteria" into a wound and they can infect a wound, this is rare, but happens.

Sharing Razors and blades can lead to an infection, but most people don't do that.

The one thing that can throw a wrench in the works is, where do we shave? The bathroom? What is in the bathroom? The toilet. When you flush the toilet, millions of E Coli and other bacteria that are naturally in our waste get blasted into the air landing on our shaving brushes and razors. This can in rare case (when the list above just doesn't work for whatever reason) can cause an infection.

Now, as you are going to the bathroom and throwing the contents of your shaving den into a bucket of bleach, allow me to let you know what I do.

1. Keep the Toilet lid down when flushing (After the flush you can put it back up to make the wife/ significant other happy)
2. Wash my face well before shaving with hot soapy water
3. Rinse my razor well with hot water before and after the shave
4. Every time I change my blade, I take regular dish soap and scrub all of the parts of my DE, and leave it apart to dry.
5. I also make sure I dry my brushes on a towel and hang them bristle down to dry.

Hope I did not freak everyone out to much, but the big point is there is a chance to get infection from your razor, but you are more likely to get an infection from scratching yourself with a fingernail.

[inspiringK]

:w00t:Topgumby, you keep the oddest pets!

[badgerRN]

You know Scott, I always hated that quote. I had a guy give that to me before, when I had to point out that he had two things to consider (I was employed doing drug testing) a) Fine, don't wash, but 240 other people have walked through that door today, and I can't ensure it is clean after every one of them, b) your genitals would need to be power washed with sand and chemicals to be anywhere near as clean as the neutral stuff coming out of it. I am not a clean freak, but I most certainly do scrub my hands.. several times, I do use clorox wipes on my desk, keyboard, phone, mouse, and so anything else I will touch throughout the day at my area, and yes I do use a paper towel on every door handle until I am safely able to walk without obstruction.. but I honestly have worked too long with people who were unclean and developed this as a way to keep myself slightly healthy. >_<

Anyways, I AM going to try that dry back thing I think on some of my gotten gains. So thanks for the Amazon link about the sterilization vs disinfectant. Also, the list of stuff on the human body will certainly haunt me when I am scrubbing in the shower. Thank you for that. Also, last but not least, sorry for your friend, but it is safe to shave. I would think if the reaction happened an hour later, and the way it happened, it almost sounds like an allergic reaction to something. I KNOW the doctors said one thing, but doctors also sent my sister home for being pregnant, drunk, on drugs, and on the fifth visit? Oh, her appendix just burst and she is going to die very shortly if we don't operate, hee hee, sorry we missed that all these times. They also removed a good junk of organs from my grandmother, listing a new one as "the problem" every few days until eventually they had nothing else they could safely remove and found the actual issue.

So I take hospitals with a grain of salt. ^_^ For all that was known, it was possibly an off brand, expired after shave, or old soap that had something on it as the most likely cause.

You should look into the hygiene hypothesis. I am all for cleanliness, but it makes sense. The hypothesis states that we are making ourselves sicker by keeping our kids and us ultra sanitary. Research has shown evidence that the parents who HEPA filter, bathe their child in hand sanitizer, and do not expose their children to germs have sicker childhoods than parents who let their kids play outdoors and eat dirt.

[Bimmerman]

Boiling water and some of the other measures some of you guys take would make me quit shaving! It makes me wonder if the ones who use such extraordinary measures to clean their razors also "dip and swirl." in a sink full of water. So, prior to filling the sink, was the sink also disinfected as well? If not, your super-clean razor will be rinsed in a sinkfull of diluted toothbrushing spit, "fecal patina," and who knows what else!

[Jawaburger]

Even with the lid down on a toilet there is plenty of room for "matter" to escape out the sides while flushing. Unless your lid and seat seal against the toilet ( I have never seen one that did).

[Geckotek]

Even with the lid down on a toilet there is plenty of room for "matter" to escape out the sides while flushing. Unless your lid and seat seal against the toilet ( I have never seen one that did).

Mine is some hollowed out type of seat that would jetison anything that escapes in a downward motion toward the floor. So while I don't fool myself into thinking that nothing is escaping, I'm certain it's not flying up onto my counters. Also, the type of flushing action your toilet has makes a difference. Some are stronger and more prone to creating aerosol. Others, not so much.

[davros]

Just to steer the conversation away from poo, its at least plausible that shaving increases the risk of skin infection precisely because of the antibacterial effects of soap, aftershave, and removing a lot of the outer layer of skin with a sharp blade. If a lot of the relatively benign bacteria that normally live on the skin are removed or killed, its potentially easier for more hazardous organisms to take hold.

[inspiringK]

Just to steer the conversation away from poo, its at least plausible that shaving increases the risk of skin infection precisely because of the antibacterial effects of soap, aftershave, and removing a lot of the outer layer of skin with a sharp blade. If a lot of the relatively benign bacteria that normally live on the skin are removed or killed, its potentially easier for more hazardous organisms to take hold.

This makes some sense.


Though, I would not put myself on the waiting list if Ogallala came out with a new rebacterial aftershave splash:lol::lol:

[kingfisher]

Wow. Seriously?

Of all the posts in this thread, I like Ken's best. Does anybody remember that little understated gem of wisdom? To paraphrase, it basically said that he has been shaving for 40 years, has never sanitized a razor, and has never had a shaving-related infection.

People need to get over the germophobia! I'm a full-time infectious diseases doctor and I see the worst and most devastating infections in the hospital. I don't sanitize my razor. I don't use alcohol, I don't use Marvicide/Barbicide......I don't even use Scrubbing Bubbles. I rinse it off with water and put it into its stand. And yes, the stand is in the bathroom. I've been shaving since 1973 or so and, like Ken, have yet to have a shaving-related infection.

[_JP_]

This thread is great fodder for the germophobes. If you are one, then proceed to freak out over this.

If you're concerned about the toilet being a source of contamination, then close the lid! That's what it's there for.
(Geeze, we survive public restrooms)

Careful with the bleach. Bleach does cause corrosion on some metals. I know for a fact that it will make stainless steel rust.

I agree with the doctors that being cut by the razor led to the infection. Create an open wound and it's the perfect path into the body. I don't agree that the razor was harboring the infection. It could have come from too many other sources, and was likely on the skin before the shave began. I would be interested to know what pathogen is behind the problem.

[Bimmerman]

Wow. Seriously?

Of all the posts in this thread, I like Ken's best. Does anybody remember that little understated gem of wisdom? To paraphrase, it basically said that he has been shaving for 40 years, has never sanitized a razor, and has never had a shaving-related infection.

People need to get over the germophobia! I'm a full-time infectious diseases doctor and I see the worst and most devastating infections in the hospital. I don't sanitize my razor. I don't use alcohol, I don't use Marvicide/Barbicide......I don't even use Scrubbing Bubbles. I rinse it off with water and put it into its stand. And yes, the stand is in the bathroom. I've been shaving since 1973 or so and, like Ken, have yet to have a shaving-related infection.
But, but, but... they're germs! Germs are germy and ... icky!!! LOL!!!

[phillylion]

How do they know it was due to not sanitizing the razor? While the infection may have started at the site of a razor nick, It could have been the brush that applied lather, the hand that touched the face, the towel that dried the face........

Exactly. And, the razor doesn't ever cut you--it would be the blade which is originally sanitized. Unless you used the blade several times, eventually nicking yourself, after the blade picked up a bug. Or maybe your hands picked up the bug and you touched your face, as described above.

[rxonmymind]

How do they know it was due to not sanitizing the razor? While the infection may have started at the site of a razor nick, It could have been the brush that applied lather, the hand that touched the face, the towel that dried the face........

Well thought out....

[Picaro]

Wow. Seriously?

Of all the posts in this thread, I like Ken's best. Does anybody remember that little understated gem of wisdom? To paraphrase, it basically said that he has been shaving for 40 years, has never sanitized a razor, and has never had a shaving-related infection.

People need to get over the germophobia! I'm a full-time infectious diseases doctor and I see the worst and most devastating infections in the hospital. I don't sanitize my razor. I don't use alcohol, I don't use Marvicide/Barbicide......I don't even use Scrubbing Bubbles. I rinse it off with water and put it into its stand. And yes, the stand is in the bathroom. I've been shaving since 1973 or so and, like Ken, have yet to have a shaving-related infection.

Gotta love those gun-ho doctors---read http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23372117-doctors-who-dont-wash-hands-kill-more-people-than-drink-drivers.do

Its not an isolated study, theres plenty more.

[jcwit]

Wonder if his dog licked his face after shaving, We all know where that tongue has been.

[Alraz]

Another one of those.... :)

Al raz.

[DachsieSlave]

Looks like it has all been covered, but I just went through this, but no where near my face. I had an abscess that went from nothing to larger than a deck of card in three days. Had to have the tissue cut out, not just lanced. Then spent a week in the hospital on IV antibiotics. It was MSRA staph. I asked the Dr. how you get that? Her answer,"a clogged pore, ingrown hair, anything that might break the skin. We all are covered in staph. It happens quite often."

[Bimmerman]

Gotta love those gun-ho doctors---read http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23372117-doctors-who-dont-wash-hands-kill-more-people-than-drink-drivers.do

Its not an isolated study, theres plenty more.
This article deals with handwashing, not razors.

[Deltaboy]

I rinse them off and let them air dry. Used ones I boil or scrubbing bubbles and a RA soak.

[imfallen_angel]

Interesting thread.

I've always known that bacteria don't survive very well on dry surfaces.

Some viruses and such can, but not really if you rinse with hot water and dry it.

I might be new to DE shaving, and really having fun with it, but after close to 30 years of shaving with cartridges and electrics (that all ripped my face off, which is why I decided to finally try DE), I've never had trouble.

I always made sure that the cartridges were clean, by rinsing under hot water until nothing was left on the blades, and the electric ones, I never did anything.

As far as what I'm doing now, I rinse with very hot water (regular tap hot), open the butterfly up to let the air through a bit better so to have it dry. I usually keep a enough lather to wash my face with my brush and rinse with a facecloth (as hot as I can), and then apply the aftershave (OS), which I rinse afterwards a bit so that it's not too strong smelling.

Then again, by the time I've done my lather, my hands and face have been washed.

I'm waiting for a Gillette (adjustable) which I will make sure to clean it well before first use (including a ultrasonic cleaner), but afterwards, I don't think that I'll really be that concerned.

[Alphonse]

Don't shave while using the toilet, unless it's the day after Thanksgiving and you just need to save a some time before heading to walmart at 2 am.

# Thread Closed #

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Nope. Never. Not ever.

OMyMyOHellYes

[inspiringK]

Nope. Never. Not ever.

OMyMyOHellYes

................ I believe your signature contradicts your statement:confused1:confused1:confused1

[judgelevi]

Don't shave while using the toilet, unless it's the day after Thanksgiving and you just need to save a some time before heading to walmart at 2 am.

# Thread Closed #

Haha +1
You've gotta remember that believe it or not, humans have actually survived for a long period of time in a bacterial infested environment, so there's no need to worry so much. Simple: don't touch poo and wipe it on your face (hard to resist, I know). The skin barrier is very protective and the only way for staph to infect is to get through the skin layer. Cut yourself? Make sure to disinfect quickly and forget it. I rinse my blade with 70% EtOH but I don't feel the need to barbicide every time.

[GDCarrington]

Purchased old razors when they come in get cleaned in hot water if metal, or if plastic scrubbing bubbles and 10 minutes in a Marvicide soak before polishing.

For razors in my rotation, a quick shake of isopropyl alcohol to dry the razor thoroughly. That is inhibit rust on blades (and maybe internal mechanics of the razor) so they will last as long as possible.

If that seems excessive to some, then so be it.

[dferrari]

Maybe it is a little too late to reply to this thread, however...

I recently moved to Singapore and, immediately after arriving, I got a skin infection that I got while shaving. At the time I was just using the same cartridge razors that I had been using for years (in fact, that's when I started googling up alternative shaving methods and discovered this site and got hooked on wet shaving). The infection cleared up after a week of antibiotics, so it wasn't too huge a deal, even if it was quite annoying while I had it. In the end, given that I hadn't changed anything in my shaving routine (splash face with water, cover it with a thick layer of canned goo, do several passes with Gillette or Schick), I concluded that the source of the infection couldn't be what I was using, but what I was doing prior to shaving. I then realized that I was using public transportation for the first time in years and likely picking up a lot of bacteria on the bus and train with my hands, then rubbing my face with them. As a solution, I now wash my face throughly with a cleanser before I shave and the problem hasn't reoccurred. Like the other posters, I don't think that the problem was with the razor itself, or even with the blades.

[richardgleaton]

Well there are some people who used to sanitize their razors..To boil or clean the razor is also a good option sometimes..Byt as per my opinion I just wash my razor and use it..There are some antiseptic solutions also for washing or rinse the razors..

[Bimmerman]

"... using public transportation for the first time in years and likely picking up a lot of bacteria on the bus and train with my hands, then rubbing my face with them."
" ...I don't think that the problem was with the razor itself, or even with the blades."
Winner, Winner, chicken dinner!!!!

[DOLLARBILL]

Im NOT a Doctor so I really can not say if its true or not! All I know is Ive been shaving some 45 years and other than a used razor have never done anything but rinse in Hot water and Dry ! Noe if I use Old Blades (New Old Stock ) I do put them in Barbicide before using only as a precaution !
Enjoy Your Shave !

[gearchow]

Maybe it is a little too late to reply to this thread, however...

I recently moved to Singapore and, immediately after arriving, I got a skin infection that I got while shaving. At the time I was just using the same cartridge razors that I had been using for years (in fact, that's when I started googling up alternative shaving methods and discovered this site and got hooked on wet shaving). The infection cleared up after a week of antibiotics, so it wasn't too huge a deal, even if it was quite annoying while I had it. In the end, given that I hadn't changed anything in my shaving routine (splash face with water, cover it with a thick layer of canned goo, do several passes with Gillette or Schick), I concluded that the source of the infection couldn't be what I was using, but what I was doing prior to shaving. I then realized that I was using public transportation for the first time in years and likely picking up a lot of bacteria on the bus and train with my hands, then rubbing my face with them. As a solution, I now wash my face throughly with a cleanser before I shave and the problem hasn't reoccurred. Like the other posters, I don't think that the problem was with the razor itself, or even with the blades.

A rule that we follow around here is that whenever we come into the house from out in public, we wash our hands.

Now I 99% shave after taking a shower or at the very least washing my face which means my hands too. I've never had a bacterial infection due to shaving (knocking 3 times on wood to chase bad juju away).

-jim