Philips Support

I experience skin issues after using my Philips shaver

Published on 05 March 2025

Mild skin issues such as redness, irritation, dryness, tightness, hair pulling, or nicks and cuts may occur after using your Philips electric shaver razor. While Philips grooming products are designed to be kind to your skin, such issues may occur from time to time, particularly if you have sensitive skin or are using a new shaver.

Please refer to the sections below to find out more about preventing and/or treating these complaints.

To combat skin redness or irritation after shaving:

  • Avoid pressing too hard on your skin when shaving.
  • Move your shaver in circles across the surface of your skin as you shave. This technique can reduce the number of passes you need to make on each part of your face and neck.
  • Dry shaving (without water, foam, or gel) is recommended to allow the shaver to glide across the skin in a more controlled way.
  • Avoid shaving immediately before intense physical activity, because sweat may cause redness on freshly shaved skin.
  • Apply light moisturizing lotion or balm after shaving.

If you’re using a new Philips shaver or you recently changed the shaving heads, shave regularly for 21 days to allow your skin to adjust.

If you experience a pulling or tugging sensation when shaving, your hair may be too long for your shaver to work effectively. If you haven’t shaved for 3 days or longer, pre-trim your facial hair with a beard trimmer before using your shaver for a clean, close finish.

Tip: shaver blades become less sharp over time. If you believe that dull blades may be the cause of the issue, purchase new shaving heads to restore your shaver's performance. 

To avoid dry and/or tight skin after shaving:

  • Avoid over-washing your face, because using cleaner too often can damage your skin’s protective layer.
  • Exfoliate periodically to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.
  • Regularly apply moisturizer or balm to rehydrate your skin, including after shaving.

If you’re using a new Philips shaver or you recently changed the shaving heads, shave regularly for 21 days to allow your skin to adjust.

To minimize the chance of nicks and cuts during shaving:

  • Only use your Philips shaver on the intended areas. For face shavers, this is the male beard area, including your neck and face up to your cheekbones.
  • Check that your shaver's shaving heads are undamaged and correctly installed. Replace damaged shaving heads immediately.
  • Dry shave (without water, foam, or gel) to reduce the chance of slipping and allow your shaver to move in a controlled way.
  • For wrinkles or folds on the skin, use the fingers of your free hand to hold the skin taut when shaving. Puffing out your cheeks can also help when shaving your cheeks and around your mouth.

If you’re using a new Philips shaver or you recently changed the shaving heads, shave regularly for 21 days to allow your skin to adjust.

If you have questions or concerns about skin issues after using your Philips shaver, please contact us for support.

Contact Philips

We are happy to help you

Contact Philips

We are happy to help you

Looking for something else?

Discover all Philips Support options

Our site can best be viewed with the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox.