Face sweating after shave - why?

**Steelforge** · 09-13-2006, 01:00 AM

Hi all,

I've noticed something odd since I started wetshaving. For about an hour after I shave I sweat (a lot!) from my top lip and around my chin area. It's not a general sweating problem, it's just these areas and only after shaving.

It makes no difference if I use alum or not, skin food or not, different soaps and creams etc. It seems to do it always immediately after shaving and lasts for an hour or so. Also, it seems to be worse if I have gone too close and have razorburn.

Any ideas? Is this part of the reaction the skin has to a close shave?

Thanks

**Jonnybc** · 09-13-2006, 01:07 AM

How odd... I have never experienced this but I am quite liberal with my cold water splash and after that I soak a flannel in very cold water and hold it against my face a few times. I use the same one as I used for the hot towel routine before I shave.

**Mama Bear** · 09-13-2006, 01:09 AM

Iwan, you need to cool down....Oh, I thought you said swearing......

Hope it's not my soaps!

We were talking about adding black pepper once I believe....

Sue (Mama Bear)

**Steelforge** · 09-13-2006, 01:18 AM

Heh heh no it's not your soaps Sue.

I always do several cold water splashes so I don't think its that. All I can think of is that it's a reaction of the skin to being shaved close and drying out, even though I apply loads of water and GFT skin food afterwards.

I guess I do sweat quite a bit anyway in hot weather (my forhead etc), as I'm carrying a bit too much extra weight at the moment. but this is sweating just above and below my lips.

**ouch** · 09-13-2006, 01:42 AM

Same thing happens to me, Iwan. Not my chin, but my upper lip bubbles up more than Jed Clampett's back yard. Damnedest thing.

**Stauff** · 09-13-2006, 02:49 AM

My totally unscientific guess would be that your skin is somehow saturated with moisture from your AS product. Maybe try a lighter balm or just a splash (or even just the alum block)?
Keep cool,

**ouch** · 09-13-2006, 02:53 AM

This sometimes happens when I don't use any moisturizing a/s, eg: witch hazel and an alcohol based splash. I wouldn't call Musgo Real moisturizing, but here I am sealing envelopes with my lip.

**gc_30286** · 09-13-2006, 06:00 AM

that is very odd. i never had the problem with my face but i shaved my head with a razor a few years ago and it did that. (why i dont shave it now) thought it only happened to me.

matthew

**Steelforge** · 09-13-2006, 06:23 AM

Hmmm that's very interesting, so it's not common but not just me that has this happen.

I wonder what the reason for it is?

**TraderJoe** · 09-13-2006, 07:42 PM

Sometimes my forehead sweats, while shaving, but that's because I'm using hot water, in hot weather, in a steamed room. I wonder if the glands in your lip just like to let some moisture out after being exfoliated (shaved)?

**jduffy** · 09-13-2006, 07:56 PM

I had some of the sweating issues but then I figured out I was holding my breath while I was shaving. Now I breathe slowly and deeply. Kind of a zen meditation thing and my sweating has calmed down a lot.

**PalmettoB** · 09-13-2006, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by TraderJoe

Sometimes my forehead sweats, while shaving, but that's because I'm using hot water, in hot weather, in a steamed room. I wonder if the glands in your lip just like to let some moisture out after being exfoliated (shaved)?

Also after a shower maybe? I noticed something like that a couple of times. (But I tend to sweat a lot anyway--South Carolina anytime from May to October is good for that!) Not often, and usually the forehead, like Joe, but I have had my neck get sweaty, particularly if I get heavy-handed and get a little razor burn there. The right side of my neck is my "problem" area. Maybe since the upper lip and chin are sometimes people's "problem areas", it would be from the razor burn, even if you don't get it really bad...

**yomuppet** · 09-13-2006, 08:26 PM

Maybe your body thinks the menthol (I think Proraso/Musgo have this) is an effort to cool yourself off, and it's just trying to help.

J

**Rik** · 09-13-2006, 11:38 PM

What he's not divulging is his obsession to run 5k after each and every shave.

**TimmyBoston** · 09-14-2006, 12:19 AM

I don't know for sure, but my guess is that it has to do with all the heat applied to the area during your shaving process. All the hot water, hot lather, hot brush, hot razor, hot bathroom, etc. Also the breathing issues cited by Jim above could be a cause. Are you focusing very hard while you're shaving? Your stress level could go up, blood pressure, etc that could trigger a cooling reaction (ie sweating).
Have you tried a cooling cream like Proraso or an aftershave containing menthol? That might help a bit.

**Steelforge** · 09-14-2006, 12:51 AM

Yeah those could all be factors to be honest. I shave after a hot shower and try to keep my face hydrated with hot water betweem passes/lathering.

Also I do suffer from stress and high blood pressure, which I'm receiving treatment for. Also yes, I do concentrate very hard to get the correct technique, I'm getting better all the time so I must be focussing on the job!

I guess I'll just have to live with it for now.

Edit: No I don't have any Proraso yet as it's harder to get in the UK, but I'm buying some next week when I visit the Gentleman's Shop. My usual shave creams are GFT Coconut / Sandalwood / Violet.

**bearbeard** · 09-16-2006, 01:28 PM

hyper-hydrosis.......profuse sweating! I hear that botox injections can prevent it. That is going to the extreme and you might end up looking like a chipmunk....(I KIIIIID, I KIIIIID)

It takes me sitting in front of an air conditioning vent for 15min. sometimes before I can stop myself from sweating.

**Jack Bauer** · 09-16-2006, 01:39 PM

The only time I have had that problem with my upper lip is when I use lotion after I shave. My skin is generally oily so I don't usually need to add anything to my face after I shave, only add asb to my neck area usually. I find that the shave cream and shave itself moisturize my face enough. I have only been DE shaving for a few months and they have been summer months so this may all change come fall and winter.

Chris