How to Quickly Stop Bleeding From Cuts After Shaving
You are in a rush to get to work when all of a sudden all hell breaks out – that is, on your face.
While shaving, you manage to cut yourself at least a little, only so that blood gushes out of it, like an irreparable leak from a faucet. You just have to make a decision: keep wiping it with toilet paper until the bleeding stops, or go to the office as Carrie.
If you’re in need of quick fixes to your problems and don’t particularly want to bandage your face, here are some tips on how to stop a (seemingly) uncontrollable cut from the rage of a dull razor.
Use a styptic pencil
A styptic pencil is considered a bleeding remedy, which means it helps to stop bleeding quickly. It is composed of aluminum sulfate and contains an astringent that contains alcohol to help disinfect cuts and clot blood. It looks a bit like lip balm and you can stock up on it at any drug store or Amazon . It’s pretty easy to use: just hold the pencil over the cut until it stops bleeding, which usually takes a few seconds (note: it can sting a little while doing its magic).
Apply some lip balm to your cut
If you don’t have a styptic pencil on hand, apply some lip balm to the cut. It acts as a sealant and works well for cutting paper (Vaseline is another good solution). While this will help seal the blood, the blood will still be visible. Go to the bathroom before your morning appointment and blot the cut with a tissue (assuming the bleeding has stopped by the end of your commute, of course).
Find alum
Alum is very similar to a bar of soap and feels like a stone, and in the event of a rather unpleasant cut, it is useful to have it in your artillery shaving unit. It is composed of potassium aluminum sulfate, the same ingredient as a styptic pencil. If you have a thick beard, you might want to buy one as it reduces irritation after intense shaving. To use alum, simply wet a block and wipe it over your face. It might be a little tricky, but you can find alum in the Amazon and some old barbershops.
Use deodorant
Listen to me: When you’re desperate, you’re ready to do anything, including applying antiperspirant to your cut. Many deodorants are actually made with some form of aluminum (called aluminum hydrochloride or aluminum chloride), which helps to constrict blood vessels. You will find the ingredient in deodorants like Ax and Dove . Read the antiperspirant label, and if you’re lucky, apply some deodorant to the cut with your finger and watch the magic happen – with the added benefit of smelling better on your face.
Apply eye drops to the cut
Used as a quick fix for anything from cuts to acne , whitening eye drops are a good temporary remedy for cuts after shaving. If you apply a few eye drops to your cut, you effectively constrict the blood vessels, which will cause blood to clot more quickly. Dampen a cotton ball or tissue with eye drops and apply them to the cut. It doesn’t work as fast as a styptic pencil or alum block, but try sealing it with lip balm so that the combination of forces can help stop the bleeding when you really need it (like a 9 a.m. standing meeting).