Grow a beard - tired of rosacea, razor rash, heat rash, allergy rash

[simon43]

For many years I've had problems with a red rash on my face which comes and goes, depending on whether there is a 'y' in the day of the week or month.

 

(This post is not about curing the red rash - I've given up on that one - it is suggestions about growing designer stubble to mask the rash)

 

Sometimes it flares up after using a wet razor (Mach Sensitive for sensitive skin)

Sometimes after I shave with an electric razor

Sometimes it flares up in the heat and humidity

Sometimes it flares up for no apparent reason at all, perhaps a food allergy.

 

In any case, the rash stays on my face for weeks at a time, leaving me looking as if I've consumed too much strong alcohol.  I use a concealer from Eucerin to mask the worst of the colour (I'm a teacher, so don't want to scare my students!!).

 

I have visited skin specialists in Bangkok, who have prescribed different antibiotic creams (which cause my face to flare up even more!). Common treatments, such as Aloe Vera also cause my face to flare up.

 

The only thing that seems to work is if I leave my face skin totally alone and don't shave - my stubble masks the red colour.

 

If this rash is Rosacea, there seems little that I can do about it because I cannot find a supplier of Mirvaso in Thailand, (a cream which shrinks the blood vessels on the face and thus reduces the red colour).  Mirvaso can be ordered online for several hundred dollars!.

 

So I'm thinking to grow some designer stubble, to mask the red colour.  My beard comes through grey/white (I'm 59).

 

Are there other posters who have designer stubble (by choice), and can advise me about what sort of electric razor to use and how to 'care' for my stubble?  I don't want to look like an unshaven tramp ????

 

 

[faraday]

Have you tried using Sudocrem, it does reduce redness, & it's only about 300 baht?

[transam]

https://www.amazon.in/Philips-Trimmer-Cordless-Corded-QT4011/dp/B00JJIDBIC

[BritManToo]

Or you could shave with a safety razor, with the grain.

I'm guessing nobody taught you how to shave properly, a forgotten art.

Multi-blade razors used 'backwards' are bound to cause razor burn on some skins.

[Peterw42]

Depending on what the red rash is , it could be made worse with facial hair.

If its psoriasis, try experimenting with diet, I have suffered the same over the years and for me its Nightshade Plants, especially capsicum (peppers), a couple of days after eating it a big flare up. 

 

[tutsiwarrior]

for many years I've used a beard trimmer on the lowest setting once per week to obtain stubble length, let grow out for a few days then run the trimmer over it again when the length starts to bother me...not the neatest of solutions but I've always been a bit of a scruff anyway...and you can also use the trimmer on the longest setting to trim around yer ears and sideburns if ye have trouble finding a barber...

 

I don't have any skin problems so YMMV...I've got a Panasonic ER2031 rechargeable beard trimmer that I highly recommend...

 

 

[thaiguzzi]

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

I don't want to look like an unshaven tramp

Why not?

Only way forward man!

[wgdanson]

1 hour ago, faraday said:

Have you tried using Sudocrem, it does reduce redness, & it's only about 300 baht?

It's great on babies bums too.

[wgdanson]

45 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Or you could shave with a safety razor, with the grain.

I'm guessing nobody taught you how to shave properly, a forgotten art.

Multi-blade razors used 'backwards' are bound to cause razor burn on some skins.

And a good quality soap/foam, or try coconut oil as a lubricant  (for your face, cheeky)

[simon43]

Thanks for all the advice.  Sudocrem gives me a rash!!  (Anything that I put on my face gives me a rash...)

 

I've carefully examined my diet, but have been unable to identify any particular allergic reaction.

 

when my skin flares up, the red patches are always exactly in the same areas of my face (forehead between my eyes, centre of chin, cheeks and above nasofolds.

[faraday]

I did suggest that it might be the water in BKK, as you said your rash was ok in Cambodia - or wherever you were, but erupted when you came back here.

 

Have you tried Aloe Vera taken directly from the plant?

 

We've got some in our garden, & find it very helpful with occasional skin issues.

[BritManToo]

26 minutes ago, simon43 said:

when my skin flares up, the red patches are always exactly in the same areas of my face (forehead between my eyes, centre of chin, cheeks and above nasofolds.

You shave your forehead????????

[wgdanson]

27 minutes ago, simon43 said:

(Anything that I put on my face gives me a rash..

Anything?????   lol

[wgdanson]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

You shave your forehead????????

They do when you go to the barbers here, a very light go-over with the razor on your forehead, right under your eyes, ear lobes, anywhere else they can see fluff growing !!!!

[simon43]

Faraday, yes I've used Aloe Vera plant stalk and applied it directly - it exacerbates the redness, as does baby lotion ????

 

No, I don't shave my forehead - the areas of redness are not only the regions where I shave - but shaving (wet or dry) certainly does cause a flare-up.

 

[Thailand J]

Try Clindalin clear gel.

[wgdanson]

14 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Faraday, yes I've used Aloe Vera plant stalk and applied it directly - it exacerbates the redness, as does baby lotion ????

 

No, I don't shave my forehead - the areas of redness are not only the regions where I shave - but shaving (wet or dry) certainly does cause a flare-up.

 

I have heard that there are many many 'Whitening Creams' available here.     LOL.

[xylophone]

8 minutes ago, Thailand J said:

Try Clindalin clear gel.

This contains Clindamycin which is an antibiotic often used on the skin in cream form, and esp for acne related conditions.

 

 

[CGW]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Or you could shave with a safety razor, with the grain.

I'm guessing nobody taught you how to shave properly, a forgotten art.

The art of shaving with a open razor is even harder than with a safety razor, extremely hard to learn when you are over 60, I decided to try last year, after a multitude of multiple lacerations I went back to multi blade. ???? 

I would consider selling my open razors ???? , give them a try and mere face rash would not be a consideration!  

I stopped using gels and foams some time back and went back to using a shaving brush and good old fashioned shaving cream, much better for me.

I have sensitive skin, the only thing I use on my face after shaving is "witch hazel" works for me.

[steve73]

Could be a histemic reaction, (urticarial/hives) - similar to nettle-rash.

I often get a rash for reasons unknown, usually around my torso, but occasionally spreading to my face as well.  Usually made worse by touching it.... e.g. shaving.

 

Try anti-histamines.  Piriton, Cimetidine, Loratidine (Clarytin), and many others..  I find Loratidine works best for me.

 

more info here... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hives

[choff56]

Have you ever tried emu oil? 

[Kerryd]

You'll actually need a "beard trimmer" rather than an electric razor. Razors usually have one setting - all or nothing. Can't adjust them to leave a stubble and the trimmers they usually come with don't work well for that purpose either.

Something like this one I just searched for on Lazada would probably do the trick. Basically it's a hair shaver/beard trimmer. You can adjust the attachment to get the preferred length of stubble and it's rechargeable. This is the cheapest one they offer so the quality is probably suspect.

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/cordless-rechargeable-electric-shaver-razor-beard-hair-clipper-trimmer-cutter-intl-i220417925-s335981560.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.59.560b5dfdz9AtXQ&search=1

You can probably find similar things in most major stores like Big C (in the toiletries section) and the larger pharmacies like Boots or Watson.

I have apparently developed the same problem a couple years ago. Can't figure out what it is but it comes and goes sporadically. My environment doesn't change significantly, nor my diet and I've never been allergic to anything in my life.

Used to shave every day in the Army but as a civvy in Afghanistan, I'd shave once or twice a week. In Thailand I was down to shaving once a week (or 10 days or so).

Then one day I shaved (in Thailand) before going out somewhere and had a bright red patch under the chin. I thought maybe it was from the motorcycle chin strap (changed helmets after that - didn't help). It went away after a few days.

But then it came back. I noticed my face was a bit itchy and thought it was because I hadn't shaved in a week or so. Shaved (same foam, same type of razor) and had some more small red patches, mostly around the chin, upper lip and the crevice of the nose (so it isn't related to shaving - or the razor/water/foam). 
Went to the pharmacy and they gave me some cream. Didn't really do much and after a couple days, the affected areas "dried" up and sloughed off. 

I gave up using the cream. Tried using some Aloe that I'd bought when I had a nasty sunburn on my hands. Worked great for the sunburn - doesn't do anything for this red patchy problem.

I thought about the "5 o'clock shadow" look but the whiskers annoy the piss out of me after a few days and I hate looking "scruffy" when I have to go somewhere to do any business (like Immigration). 

 

[pehice]

just shave at night when you won't go out right after and stay in aircon to heal the skin.

Of course shaving in the morning and going out in the heat is plain stupid.

Not complicated.

[Mavideol]

On 11/28/2018 at 8:17 AM, faraday said:

Have you tried using Sudocrem, it does reduce redness, & it's only about 300 baht?

can we buy it in thailand.... have similar problem but it also goes to my legs (behind the knee or top of the knee,itching like crazy sometimes) tried skin doctor, creams including eurecin it goes and all of a sudden it comes back, I don't drink, don't smoke and don't eat spicy foods

[simon43]

...and stay in aircon to heal the skin

 

Memo to self - install aircon in my house ????

[hugocnx]

On 11/28/2018 at 9:23 AM, simon43 said:

Thanks for all the advice.  Sudocrem gives me a rash!!  (Anything that I put on my face gives me a rash...)

 

I've carefully examined my diet, but have been unable to identify any particular allergic reaction.

 

when my skin flares up, the red patches are always exactly in the same areas of my face (forehead between my eyes, centre of chin, cheeks and above nasofolds.

And stay out of the sun. UV turns my skin super red, not sun burn.

[Stocky]

On 11/28/2018 at 8:08 AM, simon43 said:

I'm thinking to grow some designer stubble

Just grow a damn beard; designer bloody stubble, good god man next thing you'll be sporting a pony tail and getting some tattoos.

[faraday]

3 hours ago, Mavideol said:

can we buy it in thailand.... have similar problem but it also goes to my legs (behind the knee or top of the knee,itching like crazy sometimes) tried skin doctor, creams including eurecin it goes and all of a sudden it comes back, I don't drink, don't smoke and don't eat spicy food

Boots.

 

????

[JonnyMoz]

I suffered with bad rosacea for years, sometimes the flare ups would be so bad, I was embarrassed to leave the house, I’ve finally got it under control and I believe it’s because of three things I did,

 

1. changed my shampoo, I now use a mild shampoo with no chemicals, it may take your scalp a few weeks to adjust but it’s worth it

 

2. Changed my face wash, I use a soap free mild face now

 

3. Use a quality moisturisers, the one I use I get from Boots in the UK I’m not sure if it’s available in Boots over here but you should be able to order it online, it’s called Dermalex Rosacea, it is a bit pricey but you only need to use a little bit.

 

occasionally I’ll still get slight flare ups but very rarely, when I do I’ll wash my hair with nizoral anti fungal shampoo for two-three days and I use a low strength (1%) hydrocortisone cream sparingly on affected areas, this was on the advice of my doctor, and will clear up flare ups in a day or two

[balo]

On 11/28/2018 at 8:08 AM, simon43 said:

Common treatments, such as Aloe Vera also cause my face to flare up.

This is very surprising to hear , 100% Aloe Vera gel sold here in bottles are safe to use on any skin. Never heard of anyone reacting negative to that as long as its not added chemicals . 

 

I have been struggling with eczema on my leg and aloe vera gel is the only thing that will calm down the outbreak.