Razor Burn and Buttne – the Dark Side of Summer – and Your Best Solutions

Ain’t no Summer Like a Texas Summer
Cause a Texas Summer Don’t Stop… Razor Burn

Razor burn and Buttne the dark side of living in yoga pants!

Even my sweet, sweet husband has blasphemed to utter such nonsense as, “Why do women wear yoga pants everywhere?”

BECAUSE THEY’RE AWESOME. duh.

Also, because when I get up in the morning and plan to go to the gym (sometime between all the other crap I have to do) it doesn’t make sense to wear other clothes that I just have to wash. Because at the end of the day those flexible pants from God will be on my butt anyway. They’re basically multi-tasking clothes. And, us Mamas love some multi-tasking. You can wear them as straight up workout wear, you can wear them with a tunic top and cute sandals or Chucks, you can wear them to the gym, to brunch, to the library, to my couch – I feel like we may be going down a Bubba Gump road here, but needless to say they are a highly loved and versatile part of any woman’s wardrobe.

There is a reason companies can get away with selling lycra pants for $50-$100 per pair. We love them so much we are willing to invest in ones that don’t show all our goods, smooth out our cellulite, stand up to being washed frequently, and dry quickly. That last bit is the important part. Drying quickly means that they don’t stay damp against your skin or harbor bacteria. However, it’s Texas and it’s summer and in the immortal words of Nelly, “It’s getting hot in here.”

Most places around town are really good at blasting the A/C in the summer but even walking in from the car generally means instant contact with humidity and heat. We are basically walking around in a sweat ball for the next four months. Can’t be helped. And, it can lead to some more delicate and uncomfortable issues down below – razor burn and Buttne (butt acne).

While, razor burn and buttne are not the same they often have the same troublesome feeling of distress and the solutions are largely interchangeable.

Buttne

CAUSE: Usually, by friction from too tight fabric that disrupts the skin barrier providing openings that make it easier for infections (viral, fungal, bacterial) to cause unsightly and uncomfortable bumps.

SOLUTIONS:

• Get Naked: At least on your butt. Let things air out. Consider going commando under your maxi dress or switching to loose breathable underwear or loose yoga pants, at least for the summer (it’s very Bohemian).
• Get Clean: Bathe daily and gently exfoliate 1-2 times per week. Use a body wash with salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or tea tree oil and wash your yoga pants or skinny jeans after each wear – I know I don’t like washing my jeans that much, but freezing them is not a real solution for killing bacteria (it just sends it dormant and it will get back to work as soon as it thaws)
• Change: If you are dedicated to athleisure then just change into a clean pair after you get sweaty.
• OTC: Cortisone and/or antifungal creams
• RX: Antibiotics
• DIY, you may find each of these more successful if you begin with a 15 minute session with a warm water compress:
  • Aspirin Mask: Mash 2 uncoated aspirin with 8 drops of water and apply to the area, wait a few minutes and rinse off.
  • Body-Acne Spray: 2 oz. Witch Hazel, 5 drops of Lavender oil, 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil, 1 small spray bottle – combine in the bottle. Exfoliate in the bath and then spray on the area. Shake before each use.
  • Buttermilk Mask: 1 tsp. Buttermilk, 1 tsp. Raw Honey, 1 tsp. Oats – Mix the ingredients (adjust as needed if your consistency is too thin) and apply it to your bum. Let dry for 15-20 minutes then rinse off and pat dry. (FYI, Buttermilk has much higher levels of lactic acid than yogurt)
  • Aloe Vera Gel: use one without additives upto 3-4 times per day.
  • Don’t pop, squeeze, or pick! It will just make them last longer!

Razor Burn

CAUSE: Skin irritation from shaving often leading to ingrown hairs.

RAZOR BURN SOLUTIONS:

• Prevention: Yup, don’t you hate it when people tell you to shave with the grain? Me too. So I won’t. Moving on.
  • Gently exfoliate 1-2 times per week. Sugar scrubs are great, cheap, and easy. Mix coconut or olive oil and sugar to desired consistency, slather it on, rub it in (don’t dance, it might be slippery), whatever. You can even just shave it right off. Two-in-one, yay!
  • Do not use a post-shave solution containing tea tree oil, witch hazel. It will burn.
• Shaving:
  • Downgrade your blade. If you are prone to razor burn and using a quadruple blade it may be too much for your skin. Invest in a quality single or double blade and only use one pass. If you can take it make your second pass cross-grain (as opposed to fully against it).
  • Don’t shave with a dull or cheap blade.
  • Don’t press too hard.
  • Keep up the lather. If you do multiple passes reapply your shaving cream etc. But, don’t lather too much – you can clog your blade. Rinse your blade between swipes.
  • Hot to cold. Start in a hot shower or bath. Here humidity is your friend. End with a splash of cold to close your pores.
  • Shave at night when your skin will have time to rest. When you shave in the morning and go about your day sweat and other products can make skin more prone to razor burn.
• Razor Burn OTC Solutions:
  • Tend Skin is the gold standard, but it can be pricey. Check out our knock off recipe below.
  • Sensitive Skin Deodorant – any kind of invisible solid style, apply to affected area
• DIY: All of the DIYs for Buttne apply here as well.
  • Shaving Cream: There are so many options here, but anything that gives your blade a lubricant to slide over and nourishes the skin can be a winner. Some options:
    • Coconut oil
    • Conditioner
    • Homemade Shaving Cream: 1/3 cup Coconut Oil, 1/3 cup Shea Butter, 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil, 15 drops of Lavender Oil – Melt the Coconut oil and shea butter on low heat. Remove from heat and add the olive oil and lavender oil. Place in the refrigerator until solid. Remove and whip 3-4 minutes.
  • Ingrown Hair/ Razor Burn Relief:
    • Baking Soda & Water – Mix 1 cup of water & 1 Tbsp baking soda. Dab the area with a soaked cotton ball let sit for five minutes then rinse.
    • Black Tea Bags – cheaper the better, they have more tannic acid. Moisten it with warm water and rub over the area. Repeat as needed
    • DIY Tend Skin: 18 tablets of uncoated aspirin, 5 oz. 70% Isopropyl Alcohol or Witch Hazel – Crush the tablets and combine. Use a cotton pad or splash some on your hands and apply.
      • Warning: This goes against the advice above about not using a post-shave solution with burning ingredients. It will burn. Tend Skin will also burn. Maybe wait a bit before applying it.

So, get to work and get smooth!