How to Treat Razor Nicks and Cuts

Co-authored by Anthony Stark, EMR

Last Updated: November 11, 2023 Fact Checked

If you’ve ever shaved (which is pretty much everyone), chances are you’ve gotten a few nicks and cuts on your skin. They can be super annoying, painful, and can bleed a lot more than you’d think. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to treat nicks and cuts. To help you do it, we’ve put together a handy list of options for you to choose a treatment that works best for you.

1

Apply pressure with a clean washcloth or gauze.

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It’ll help stop the bleeding. One of the simplest and most effective ways to stop any minor cut from bleeding is to apply firm pressure for a few minutes. Use dry, absorbent material such as gauze or a washcloth. Press and hold it against any bleeding nicks and cuts until the bleeding stops. ^{[1]
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- Make sure the washcloth is clean so you don’t introduce any additional dirt or bacteria that could potentially lead to an infection.
- Using a dry washcloth (instead of a wet one) will help soak up any blood and help stop the bleeding.
- You can also use a clean towel if you don’t have a washcloth or gauze nearby.

2

Press a styptic pencil against the cut.

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The mineral astringents are great for nicks and cuts. Styptic pencils are an old-school tool used to stop razor nicks and cuts. It’s a small stick made out of astringents such as anhydrous aluminum sulfate, potassium alum, or titanium dioxide that help your blood coagulate and clot. Wet the tip and press it against any nicks or cuts on your skin for just a few seconds and the bleeding should stop. ^{[2]
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- Styptic pencils can leave a white, powdery residue on your skin, so be sure to rinse it off before you head out the door.
- You can find styptic pencils at your local pharmacy or department store.

3

Use an alum block instead of a styptic pencil.

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The potassium alum is great for multiple nicks and cuts. An alum block is basically like a bar of soap that’s made out of potassium alum and it works almost the same as a styptic pencil. Though it may not be medically proven, it’s a popular method people use to treat razor nicks and cuts. Simply wet the bar and rub it on your skin after you shave. ^{[3]
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- The main difference between an alum block and a styptic pencil is you can treat a larger area with the block, while the pencil is really only for spot treatments.
- In addition to being great at stopping bleeding, alum blocks have antiseptic properties that can help prevent razor burn.

4

Apply an antiperspirant that contains aluminum chloride.

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Although antiperspirant isn’t designed to treat nicks and cuts, the aluminum can help stop bleeding much in the same way an alum block can. Gently run the antiperspirant over any nicks and cuts. Just be sure to rinse off any residue before you leave for the day! ^{[4]
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5

Try a shaving nick roller and gel.

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It’ll stop bleeding and soothe your skin as well. A shaving nick roller and gel is a product specifically designed to treat razor nicks and cuts. Remove the cap and roll the tip across any cuts, applying firm pressure while you do. The roller and gel apply astringents and soothing ingredients like aloe and vitamin E to stop the bleeding and reduce pain and irritation. ^{[5]
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- Look for shaving nick rollers and gel at your local pharmacy or department store.
- A shaving nick roller and gel may not be medically proven to work, but it’s a common and popular strategy people use to treat razor nicks and cuts.

6

Apply witch hazel toner or alcohol-free aftershave.

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It’ll help soothe and disinfect nicks and cuts. Though toner and aftershave is designed to help soothe your skin and prevent razor burn, they actually also acts as great disinfectants. Apply some to your skin to help clean any nicks and cuts as well as to reduce an irritation. ^{[6]
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- Witch hazel toner is great for treating and soothing nicks and cuts in sensitive regions such as your bikini line. ^{[7]
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- Witch hazel toner and aftershave are commonly used to treat nicks and cuts from shaving, but they aren’t medically proven to work.

7

Splash cold water on your skin to stop the bleeding.

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It can help constrict blood vessels and form a clot. Razor nicks and cuts are notoriously difficult to get to stop bleeding. While it may not be medically proven, cold water may help slow down the bleeding from a cut. Try leaning over your sink and splashing cold water over the wounded area—the colder the better. ^{[8]
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- Constricting blood vessels and slowing the flow of blood helps give your body time to form a clot over the wounded area.

8

Use an ice cube instead of splashing cold water.

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If the nick or cut just doesn’t seem to stop bleeding, an ice cube is great for applying cold directly to a specific area. Grab one and hold it gently over the wound to help slow down the bleeding. ^{[9]
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9

Rub unused lip balm over the nick.

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Create a protective barrier over the wound. Lip balm, a.k.a. Chapstick, is designed to hydrate skin and keep it from drying out, but it also forms a protective layer. Apply a layer over any nicks and cuts and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, gently wipe the balm away and it’ll leave behind just enough to help nurture the wound. ^{[10]
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- Make sure you don’t use lip balm that’s been in contact with your lips or it could introduce bacteria to the wound. You can scrape off the top layer if you need to first.
- Lip balm may not be medically proven to work on razor cuts, but it can help form a layer of protection.

10

Use petroleum jelly instead of lip balm.

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It helps create a protective layer on your skin. Petroleum jelly, such as products like Vaseline, help hydrate and protect your skin. Spread a thin layer over any nicks and cuts on your skin and let it sit for about a half-hour. Then, gently wipe away the excess before you leave for the day. ^{[11]
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American Academy of Dermatology
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- Just like lip balm isn’t medically proven, Vaseline hasn’t been shown to be an effective treatment for razor nicks and cuts. But it may help keep your skin protected.

11

Use mouthwash as an astringent.

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While it’s not medically proven or designed to treat nicks and cuts, mouthwash with alcohol can act as an astringents and help constrict blood vessels, and if you have mouthwash that has alcohol, you have a ready-made astringent! Apply some directly to any nicks and cuts. It may sting a bit, but it’ll help disinfect the wound and slow down bleeding. ^{[12]
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12

Try eye drops.

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The chemicals in eye drops designed to treat red eyes constrict blood vessels. So even though it’s not meant to treat razor cuts, applying eyedrops to the wounded area may help slow down the blow of blood and give your body time to form a clot, which will stop the bleeding entirely. ^{[13]
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American Academy of Opthamologists
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13

Take over-the-counter pain meds to reduce the sting.

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If you’ve got one of those stinging nicks or cuts, the pain can be super irritating. Try taking some OTC pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to ease the pain while your skin heals. ^{[14]
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Tips

While plenty of people still use it and swear by it, sticking tiny bits of toilet paper over a razor nick or cut isn’t ideal. It dissolves easily, and you don’t want anything dissolving in an open wound. ^{[15]
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Warnings

If a cut shows signs of an infection, such as red streaks in the skin around it or oozing pus, see your doctor. They’ll be able to examine the wound and can prescribe medications that can help if you need it. ^{[16]
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If you cut yourself so deep that it’s bleeding profusely and won’t stop bleeding, seek immediate medical attention for treatment. ^{[17]
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How to Treat Razor Nicks and Cuts

Steps

Apply pressure with a clean washcloth or gauze.

Press a styptic pencil against the cut.

Use an alum block instead of a styptic pencil.

Apply an antiperspirant that contains aluminum chloride.

Try a shaving nick roller and gel.

Apply witch hazel toner or alcohol-free aftershave.

Splash cold water on your skin to stop the bleeding.

Use an ice cube instead of splashing cold water.

Rub unused lip balm over the nick.

Use petroleum jelly instead of lip balm.

Use mouthwash as an astringent.

Try eye drops.

Take over-the-counter pain meds to reduce the sting.

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