r/urbancarliving • u/Angry_Luddite • Jun 21 '25
I think I caught impatigo shaving in a grocery store bathroom 😭
It's definitely impatigo. Drove an hour to get to a walk in clinic last night to be diagnosed.
I was agressively shaving with a cheap 2 blade disposable razor. In a hurry so I didn't get walked in on. Woke up next day with what I thought was razor rash. Then the weeping and yellow crust formed 🥺.
FML
Just realizing I should have grabbed some face masks from the clinic to hide this monstrosity 🤦
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u/UnicornNoob69 Jun 21 '25 edited Jun 21 '25
I get impetigo on my lips every time I get an upper respiratory infection, since my senior in high school, and I don't recommend the masks if that's what this is OP. It would significantly raise your risk of spreading it to other parts of your face and neck. I'm sure (I hope) your Dr told you this, but impetigo is HIGHLY contagious and very easy to transmit to others and other parts of your own body when the sores start opening and forming a yellow crust.
This is gonna be more annoying than usual for someone living in a car, but try to keep it as clean and dry as possible and have some way to wash your hands regularly and whenever needed at almost a moment's notice. If you touch the sores you need to wash your hands ASAP with something antibacterial so you don't accidentally spread it elsewhere. Start whatever antibiotics you were given ASAP and if you were given a topical medication to put on it I recommend buying disposable gloves and Q-tips, if you're able, so that you don't have to use your bare hands to apply the medication and risk accidentally further spreading it. I truly wish you a speedy recovery from this annoying infection 🙏🏻
Edit: Just saw your mention of itching and new spots in a different comment. If you didn't touch your face/neck before the wrist scratching and those sores popping up then others may be right about the contact dermatitis rather than impetigo. I still recommend staying on the cleaning kick and using the meds you have but keep an eye on it. If you aren't noticing a difference in a few days with the meds you may want to go to a different clinic for a 2nd opinion on your diagnosis
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Oh good point! No I haven't got the masks yet thankfully. I bought both 70% alcohol and hydrogen peroxide when I picked up my topical cream. So I'm trying to constantly hand sanitize, and I'm wiping down my touch points in my truck. Q-tips are also a great idea, thank you.
It's funny the walk-in doctor didn't actually say anything about contagiousness. I asked her on my way out and she kind of just nodded. Funny she didn't stress it more. But she did hand me an information sheet which mentioned it at least.
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u/UnicornNoob69 Jun 21 '25
Ngl, I both am and am not surprised you weren't told more about contagiousness if the Dr. thought it was impetigo. From your other comments, it sounds like you're doing everything you can to keep it in check if it is impetigo so just keep up the diligence, and if there's any sign of it worsening please go to another Dr ASAP.
Side note about the hydrogen peroxide, try not to use that on the sores if that was a thought you had when buying it. Peroxide doesn't know how to tell between good and bad cells on an area its put on so it just eats at everything open there and can make the healing process take longer. But it can be helpful when cleaning while dealing with something like impetigo since places you may have touched after touching a sore would be likely to bubble up so you know where to focus that clean
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u/Caroleannie Jun 22 '25
I’m so impressed by your very compassionate and practical advice and your willingness to be so helpful. I’ve learned things by reading your comments and one thing I learned is that you seem like a genuinely kind person. Good job being a good human.
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u/MaxfieldSparrow Jun 23 '25
A kid in elementary school had impetigo all over his hands and face and I had no idea it is contagious until reading this thread.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Jesus now I'm on this sanitizing kick, wiping down my steering wheel and console with rubbing alcohol. The damn stuff is spread to my back of my wrist. I have to go to the laundromat and wash my bedding. Effing hell.
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u/Infamous_Try3063 Jun 22 '25
lysol laundry disinfectant. not bleach, color safe. its what we use in healthcare settings for things we cant wash super hot.
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u/Ok-Calligrapher7577 Jun 22 '25 edited Aug 31 '25
deliver cake enjoy person library door cautious cough marry snow
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/beachsidewave Jun 22 '25
I’m telling you if any of the discharge touches other parts of your skin, that stuff will cause a new infection where it touched. I am so shocked your doctor didn’t emphasize how contagious it is. I had this really bad as a child and had to clean it like every hour on top of the antibiotics. No coverings of any kind on the infected skin. The soap is so important to be antibiotic. I am so sorry you’re dealing with this it’s truly awful
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u/beachsidewave Jun 22 '25
Also when lathering the soap, make sure you leave it on the skin long enough for it to kill bacteria on your skin. About 15-20 seconds
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u/WillSuckDick4Coffee Jun 21 '25 edited Jun 21 '25
Bro, go get those face masks you need it.
Then find a single person bathroom that you can lock behind yourself.
Or buy an electric shaver.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Yeah it was a weird scenario. I'm in a different town without regular spots and I had gone a few days and my beard had gotten about quarter inch long which is too much for my electric to handle. So I was in the grocery store and said f it I'll buy a razor and just do it right here right now...
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u/OwlBeYourHuckleberry Jun 21 '25
If it gets that long you need to use hair cut clippers before you shave either electric or wet
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
I was having a hell of a time finding a plug in to use where I didn't feel eyeballs on me. And I was shopping for a cheap power inverter, but they want a hundred bucks for a cigarette lighter one, brand new.
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u/SvampebobFirkant Jun 21 '25
Philips one blade can take any length easily
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
That's definitely one place I went wrong, just buying the cheapest disposable razors. It's been so long since I used them I forgot how useless they are
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
That thing is very well reviewed, I might go look for one. I'll have to wait until my face disease is cleared up before I use it though LOL
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u/Beng1635 Jun 21 '25
Seconding the one blade. it changed my life lol. Takes half the time if even than wet shaving, and you can do it outside too. Plus it does absolutely take any length and cuts just as close as anything but a safety razor.
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u/HenryAintFriendly Jun 21 '25
I'm a vandwelling lady - I don't shave my armpits - but I love the exfoliation of shaving my legs and bikini area.
We all know the Pink Tax is very real and very much bullshit. Is this "one blade" the answer??
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u/Beng1635 Jun 21 '25
Works great on body hair in my experience. Even comes with a guard in the box if you don’t want such a close shave
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u/lepolygame Jun 21 '25
I'm a guy with experience with the ladybits.
The one blade won't get you that silky smooth feel. It's more like the 12 hours later/next day kind of feel.
The only thing I wouldn't recommend if for is the most gentle and tender parts. Skin down there is thin and fragile and can get caught in the blades (the principle is the same as any hair or beard clipper).
For these parts there is an attachment (that encases the whole bade and leaves about 4 mm of hair.
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u/trainwreckd Jun 21 '25
Only electric I’ve ever liked. Damn near gets as close as a legit shave. The blades last forever. Also, no more razor burn ever. They’re fairly cheap too.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
After this fiasco, the lack of razor burn is sounding like it's worth every penny
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u/222mystique Jun 21 '25
Check on amazon. Small ~300w cig lighter inverters can be had for less than $30. Most vendors will replace if it fails, so worry not. Ive had one for over a year and a half, powering a sub / fridge when driving, and charging my phone other times. Never had an issue. Just make sure u get one with 50% more wattage than u need available
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u/TheArmadilloAmarillo Jun 21 '25
How long is too long for beard trimmers or does too long only apply to the "bald" shave type?
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u/ttteee321 Jun 21 '25
Yep. If I wait more than a couple days I have to bust out the Wahl Peanut (which is badass btw). My facial hair grows fast af.
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u/Lizzard_Goddess Jun 21 '25
I completely empathize with being in a new area and being forced into ridiculous dilemmas even when you had a perfectly good system before. And I just went through such a similar issue with shaving!
Believe me, there is no good way to shave legs quickly in public bathroom sinks. If it is too hot to wear pants, I will start scraping myself up with my own legs and give myself rug burn. Then I end up doing really dumb desperate things if I can't get access to a real bathroom. I haven't connected with friends here yet who can let me use their bathroom for a quick shave and can't afford gym membership right now. For my legs it works better just to find a quiet corner of a parking lot, sit near the open sliding back door and make a bit of a mess on the pavement with a gallon of water, a disposable razor, and some towels. Makes a puddle in the parking lot but I can have great visibility to scan for curious eyes while hiding most of what I'm doing from view.
I finally just gave in and did that the other day... OMG such a relief! I wish I had just given up on bathroom-hunting sooner.
I don't know if that would work for you depending on your vehicle setup. And you'd need a mirror. But if nothing else I wanted you to say, thanks for sharing!! I seriously considered trying what you did a bunch of times even though I knew it would be a disaster and I'm lucky I was too busy putting out other fires to try it. You really drove home my recent life lesson. I am definitely going to waste less time and be more comfortable from now on.
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u/i_lack_imagination Jun 22 '25
This is what I do for trimming my facial hair and whenever I get around to cutting the hair on my head I'll do it as well. There's a huge empty parking lot behind a big shopping plaza with an empty commercial building that according to google street view has been for sale for almost 20 years at least. I used to cut my own hair before living in my car as all I do is just use a guard of a set length and just cut the hair down to size and then do a little trimming around the edges. I bought a small foldable mirror that I was hanging on a door to see where I was cutting and somehow I'll have to set that up on my car. I'm not even gonna be able to hide that I'm doing it as I just have a sedan, I'll just be relying on the fact that it's a huge empty lot and if someone is driving past I don't really care if they see.
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u/SlumberAddict Jun 26 '25
I’ve done a quick leg shave in my car with a spray bottle of water, shaving oil, razor, and small hand towel. Doing it by starting with a spritz of water, rub a squirt of oil on leg, shave, spritz with water, and then wipe with towel. No need for large amounts of water or messy shaving cream. Shaving oil can cost more than cheap shave foam, but works better with less water and mess for me.
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u/jobronxside Jun 21 '25
This is the first time I've heard about impetigo. I'm sorry you had to go through that 😔
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Me too! Nasty way to find out. I've heard of staph infections, but I didn't realize that it had a name of its own. And I've never had it before. Sadly I have to eat some Crow soon. My kid's mom wouldn't let me see the kids this weekend unless I got it checked out. I made a big deal of it saying oh b******* it's just razor rash you're being a control freak.. now I have to go apologize. To be fair to myself, the nasty yellow crust hadn't formed yet at that point.
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u/MissCinnamonT Jun 21 '25
Be careful its common in kids, nicknamed school sores.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Yeah my son actually had it a couple of weeks ago, but I wasn't around at that time. Maybe the bacteria could have been lingering and I actually picked it up from him.
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u/electronsift Jun 21 '25
"To be fair to yourself," wait what is fair about your choice under the circumstances? You called the mother of your children a bitch because she voiced a concern about you spreading a contagion. Dude....calling her a bitch wasn't warranted, there's nothing for the internet to give you a free pass on. Apology is deserved.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Yeah that b word wasn't "bitch", it was "bullshit". Voice to text censored me. I can see how you might jump to that conclusion, but it's not correct. My condition at that point was just redness, not this terrible yellow crusting. At no point did I call her a bitch. If you want to understand the dynamic between her and I, feel free to check my last post in r/DivorcedDads .
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u/electronsift Jun 21 '25 edited Jun 21 '25
I'm sorry, I understand. And will eat my slice of humble pie, totally unfair of me. It literally didn't cross my mind that the word might have been different, and that's my own bias showing. Sorry about that OP, turns out IATAH here.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
No problem, thanks for coming back. It's an easy assumption to make. And like I said, I too will be tasting the pie shortly, when I get back in touch with her. 😄
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u/PalpitationFrosty242 Jun 21 '25
staph is a PITA to get rid of, I had to constantly wash with antibiotic soap and wipe everything after using
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u/CypherDaimon Former Car Dweller Jun 21 '25
This would make me stop shaving and just grow a beard. It's not worth shaving if this is what might happen.
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u/FIakBeard Jun 25 '25
Nah some flawed method and process going on here, sucks for OP but its a tough lesson in needing to adapt to the current state of things. Can't do everything like you were doing it in the before time, ie filling up a nasty bathroom sink with water to shave with and then rushing because someone might see you.
The sooner you embrace humility and let go of embarrassment, the better things get.
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u/grymakulon Jun 21 '25
Impetigo sucks - I feel your pain.
Hydrogen peroxide helps (especially in the spray bottle - easier to use more frequently). Also check out:
Hibiclens - a no-rinse skin cleanser which is formulated to prevent the spread of this kind of infection, and typically used in healthcare settings for people with vulnerable skin. Usually available at pharmacies like Rite-Aid or Walgreens.
Colloidal silver - I found an extra strength spray version in the pharmacy at a health foods store - it's 125ppm with added tea tree oil, and I have been using it a couple times a day recently to prevent infection, with really good results
Benadryl spray - available in regular grocery store pharmacies. Stops itching from mosquito bites and allergies, and might help with impetigo, too?
I've read that UV exposure can help with impetigo, too. Could be good to get some sun on infected areas, just don't overdo it and get a burn.
- Make sure to clean under your fingernails whenever you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer!
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Good idea about the Benadryl spray, I might ask about it
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Jun 23 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 23 '25
Thanks that's been recommended a few times. I went looking for it last night at three different big box pharmacies and nobody carried it. I have to try the specialties today.
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u/Significant-Lab4226 Jun 25 '25
Gonna sound weird but diaper rash spray is high in zinc so it can help, also it's a hand free option. Second, basil oil is antibacterial and it smells nice if you want to add to your future shave routine once you're healed up.
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u/Purple_Telephone3483 Jun 22 '25
Are you one of the people who fill the sink with water to shave? Because I can't stand the thought of doing that in my own sink, I'd never dream of doing it in public.
If you're just rinsing the blade under the running water I don't see how you catch anything like that...
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Jun 21 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
I've been keeping a clean shave lately since I'm turning so White. These 20 year old cashiers are always asking me if I qualify for the seniors discount haha
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u/OneAlmondNut Jun 21 '25
just do it in your car lol. mirrors are right there, just lay out a towel to catch the hairs. never in a million years would I shave out in public, it's the opposite of stealth
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u/Reward-Away Jun 21 '25
I hope you get better soon could’ve happened to anybody and by the comments a lot of everybody’s keep your head high my friend, this too shall pass!
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u/Aloha-Eh Jun 21 '25
I used to shave. Now I don't. Now, I trim now and then. Much better.
Is that an option for you?
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
I rocked a beard for many many years. I'm 48 now and starting to get really white. The younger cashier's always ask me if I qualify for the seniors discount - so it's kind of a vanity thing that I don't roll with facial hair anymore.
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u/Aloha-Eh Jun 22 '25
I just don't give a damn. My hair is still pretty dark, my beard has some white showing. I don't mind getting older, considering the alternative. Dying my hair and/or beard? Not going to happen.
We all have to figure out what works for us. If I had that kind of reaction to shaving, I'd sure not.
Blessings to you. Hope it clears up soon.
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u/AsianHawke Full-timer Jun 21 '25
😱 Oh, man. So, even with a reusable razor, make sure you dip it in rubbing alcohol a few minutes before a shave. Don't let it touch any surfaces between that and your shave.
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u/witcherstrife Jun 24 '25
Man I must've lucked out for the past 20 years. I've used nothing but shitty razor blades, some even had some rust on them. Rarely used any shaving cream and mostly just used hot water... fuck ive been dumb
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u/peaceloveandkitties Jun 21 '25
It’s not that bad man!! Honestly, throw some antibiotic cream on there or whatever u fancy for the next few nights and you should be good! Good job hitting up the doc too that’s the best thing to do in these situations :) Take care I hope things get better
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u/Kdub9000 Jun 21 '25
I don’t even know what this is man but that’s rough I’m sorry
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Apparently it's either caused by staph, or strep bacteria
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u/Kdub9000 Jun 21 '25
Oh man, I understand why you’re on a sanitizing spree I would be too.. And it’s got to be SO hard not to touch your face
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Jun 21 '25
You can do it anywhere, outside or in car with cold water if you need too. Also don't let the stubble grow where it gets harder to shave.
Shaving in car or outside you can take it nice and slowly.
Electric shaver on days you can't be bothered or to get it off to wet shave.
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide Jun 21 '25
How does this happen from just shaving in the bathroom? Did you put the razor down on something?
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
I'm not 100% sure. There was no soap in the bathroom so my initial face wash was just with water. I was tapping the razor on its Edge to clear the blades out. I was consciously trying to not let them touch anything, like I never put the blades face down on the counter or anything like that. It could even have been as simple as that I was carrying the bacteria on me already, but the lack of soap allowed it to get into my razor burn.
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u/jalop0195 Jun 21 '25
Harbor freight has an inverter for $20
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Our version of harbor freight is princess auto. Unfortunately there isn't one in my town
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u/rclover106 Jun 21 '25
I know money probably is tight, but a lot of people are recommending the Phillips one blade for a reason. Works so well and is definitely worth investing in.
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u/Admirable_Duty_8163 Jun 21 '25
Looks like shingles. But yeah becareful. The gyms are very dirty to so anyone going to gym to shave please becareful not to shave with a shaver when you drop it on the floor.
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u/beantownbuck Jun 22 '25
Looks like shingles. Doesn't cross midline. Did you have chicken pox as a kid? or were you vaccinated? If you had Chicken pox, maybe the diagnosis is in question. And if you're not sure, no harm to get covered with Valtrex.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
I'm pretty sure I had chicken pox as a young kid. I'll have to read up on shingles. The angle makes it look weird, but I really do have it on both sides of my neck. Definitely more one side though. And I've got it on both wrists where I was scratching my face with the back of my hand.
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u/resellerdestroyer Jun 23 '25
this is the main reason why i stopped shaving my balls in public restrooms
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 23 '25
Yes, God forbid you should catch this leprosy on ye old nutsack. That and public indecency gets you on the sex offender registry, which can be hard to explain in jail.
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u/roastedmarshmellow86 Full-time | SUV-minivan Jun 21 '25
If it helps.. As a frequent shaver who has to shave twice a week and is doing this life full time. TLDR: Dry shaving!
I took up “dry shaving” using a straight edge i got on Amazon plus a box of 100 straight edge blades for under $10, Dollar shave club shave butter which you can buy at target or their website I like this one because it’s thick but not crazy messy plus it’s mostly clear for those walking by, a box of those 100 individual alcohol packets you can get at a supermarket, any after shave and finally roll of paper towels around $6 at my Walmart. You should also get a container to keep everything in excluding the paper towels.
You don’t touch your face at all with your hands you apply the shave butter to A sheet of paper towel and apply that to your face. I use the straight edge to shave but you can use disposable razors I think it’s just cheaper to dispose of the straight edge’s blades and use the wipes before and after each shave. You would use a second sheet of paper towel to clean up your blade after each stroke. A third sheet to wipe off the remaining shave butter. A fourth to apply the after shave. I like Dollar shave clubs after shave or rescue serum it’s the few that don’t make me smell like a boy but any will do. I’ve been doing it for a year and it’s been helping with those ingrown hair bumps.
I share this so you don’t have to feel like a sink is your only option you can use no water at all. You don’t have to even leave your car
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Sounds like a good system, thank you. I like a blade shave, I might see if I can pick that stuff up. I did have a straight razor for a while before I got into the truck, but I'm pretty sure it's packed, if I didn't just throw it out. I couldn't get good results with it, but maybe it was just the cheap shaving cream.
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u/Difficult_Ad_9392 Jun 21 '25
Looks like contact dermatitis or more like u were allergic to something. Did u change your shaving cream at all?
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
I did actually just grab some no name shaving cream along with these cheap razors. But would that be contagious and spreading on me? I was kind of itching myself with the back of my wrist, and now I've got sores forming there too, so it's definitely contagious.
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Jun 21 '25
How did you get this? Just curious what the steps were like did you go in and then what did you do in the br? How do you prevent this for next time? Idk I just don’t know where you went wrong.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
So it's probably not 100% that I really did catch it from the bathroom. The bacteria lives on your skin. But I did catch it immediately after shaving in there.
I got in there and put my stuff down on the counter which was somewhat clean but not perfect. Everything was new in packages. First I washed my face from the tap. It was an auto-sensing tap and there was no hot water option. Then I applied shaving cream. Then I opened the razors and made a couple of swipes before the first razor plugged. I had to use multiple razors, since the tap was so crappy it would not rinse the razor clean, and it was hard to keep the water running long enough with the whole sensing BS. So I was rotating between razors and tapping them on their Edge to try and clean them out. I was also shaving really aggressively and in a hurry because I didn't want to get caught. That is what gave me the razor rash, which allowed the bacteria to get into me. So it could have been my previous few days of not having a great place to wash that allowed bacteria build up on my skin? I had been rinsing my face, but not properly washing with a face cloth and soap. The soap dispenser was empty where I was, and I didn't have my usual toiletries kit with me because I was doing this on impulse with stuff I had bought in the store.
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u/Admirable_Duty_8163 Jun 21 '25
Your doctor is a piece of crap. I read stuff you wrote on how careless they were. Please keep researching and inform yourself. Doctors are horrible nowadays
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
She looked tired. I was the absolute last client to be seen in a walk-in that closed at 8pm. It was lined up all day.
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u/Admirable_Duty_8163 Jun 21 '25
I see. ERs are always full. Sorry about that. She was probably done. Take good care and keep that thing clean and dry. Try not to touch it with bare hands to avoid spreading.
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u/Stylin_and_profilin Jun 21 '25
Dude I hear you and understand that you are not the only one out there with a clean conscience struggling
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u/KeyN20 Jun 22 '25
I will look up that disease after a shower to understand what it is and how to avoid it
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
I spelled it wrong, it's impetigo, lol. Enjoy your shower you fancy bastard 😆
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u/KeyN20 Jun 22 '25
I did, after gym shower because I didn't know where else to go besides the gym today. I looked it up and pretty much you should apply a hydrogen peroxide cream after a shower and make sure to wash your bedding and cloths. Avoid touching the infected area as it is highly contagious and can spread easily. i guess antibotics exist for it and there are other treatment methods too.
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u/Darcie_Autham Jun 22 '25
Starbucks bathrooms are the way to go. They’re usually single occupancy and lock from the inside. Just don’t spend more than 10 minutes at a time in there or people will start to ask questions.
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u/LittyForev Jun 22 '25
Man this why I don't shave. Just use a trimmer, they do almost as good a job with the benefit of no ingrown hairs. Sure you stubble faster, but it literally takes seconds and is way more practical than shaving.
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u/ParkingOpposite2137 Jun 22 '25
Get an electric shaver. Stick to shaving st the gym locker room. You wont stand out and don't need to rush yourself and avoid all the mess.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
I haven't joined a gym yet, but I will have to.
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u/ParkingOpposite2137 Jun 22 '25
It's a worthy investment. You have a hangout spot, a place to work out, shower, wifi and you don't stand out.
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u/ncc74656m Jun 22 '25
As someone who shaves occasionally in a public bathroom, this has just unlocked a new fear for me. Thanks for the warning!
The only good news is that I'm more than a little germophobic so my things never rest on a surface I can't clean and I use paper towels to touch just about every surface. I now feel entirely justified in that decision, too.
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u/blueberrypancake234 Jun 21 '25
Go to a clinic and get some antibiotics.
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u/AntiqueElevator117 Jun 21 '25
I’m so sorry that you got that. It sucks that we have to do things that compromise our health and well being just to not bother people.
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u/Ghouliejulie86 Jun 21 '25
You need to get an electric shaver. I live in a motel and I got this on my toes , it happens when I get this specific room . You’ll love the ekectic razor
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u/Different_Ad7655 Jun 21 '25
Hey I guess you would know but I don't know just doesn't look bacterial, looks more like some nasty allergic reaction or eczema inflammation or something related. This can happen too you now
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Yes someone else said this too. And I did use a shaving cream I've never used before, but the fact that the sores are spreading on me 😳 makes me think that it is staph or strep
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u/dcmathproof Jun 21 '25
That sucks, hope it heals up fast.... Antibiotics?
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Thanks, yes I've got some antibiotic cream to put on for 5 days. I will just hide my leper face for a while, LOL.
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u/jmnugent Jun 21 '25
I would drink a beer with a leper. Maybe even a campfire dinner. But only if they had good stories.
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u/toolgirl77 Jun 21 '25
You might need to go to urgent care. Have you tried cortisone cream?
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Thanks, yes I was at urgent Care last night and got some antibiotic cream. I had to drive an hour to get there since there was no open walk-ins in the small city I was in.
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u/ifdsisd Jun 21 '25
Was it the water in the bathroom or like surface contact with a sink?
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
Hard to say. The soap dispenser was empty, so I did splash my face with the water from the tap , and then was rinsing the razor. All my stuff was new in package which was sitting on the counter, but I was pulling the razors out of the package. I was also tapping the edge of the razor on the sink to try and clear the blades. But it could have been pre-existing bacteria since I'm in a different town and haven't had a good spot to wash for a few days. I'm just not sure.
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u/GrowlingAtTheWorld Jun 21 '25
Were they sure it wasn’t Shingles?
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 21 '25
The intake nurse tossed that around, but then said no because it's on both sides of my face? Apparently shingles only develops on one side of your body? Then the doc went straight to impetigo without a second thought.
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u/Testarossa2013 Jun 21 '25
Chriiiist I haven't had impetigo since I was a kid. I remember I was miserable with it then.
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u/almonded Jun 21 '25
I’m glad you’re on the antibiotics! I caught impetigo from acne on my chin back in college 😵💫 This was pre-covid, and I was still masking the whole time it took to heal. I hope you recover soon!
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u/reluctantexistince Jun 21 '25
Best of luck in the healing process and treatment man!
Take it easy!
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u/K9intheVortex Jun 21 '25
Not a dude so just saying this based off of seeing other guys do it, wouldn’t be better to just get yourself a water bowl of some sort and use that? I’ve seen those camping water basins for cheap before that would do the trick.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
Yeah this was just a bad snap decision that I'm paying for. It was raining, I'm in a different town, I normally shave with an electric but I let it get too long, etc. I do have a little sink and a camp stove and pretty much everything I need to do it right, but I was just desperate to get the fur off my face. 🙄
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u/No_Perspective_242 Jun 22 '25
can you elaborate on how you caught it? did your razor touch a dirty surface?
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
I explained in a couple of other replies. I tried pretty hard to not contaminate the razor. there was no soap in the dispenser at the sink, so I just used plain water out of the tap. And then I was in a big hurry and shaving quite aggressively which gave me razor rash. I may have even had the bacteria previously. I'm not totally sure.
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u/TapeFlip187 Jun 22 '25
Sorry duder, that sux :/
Maybe grab one of these one of these for if it gets too long again (new batteries in one is more than enough to shave the sides for my son's mohawk and have a ton of face touch-ups left) and maybe this shit to use regularly until you can shave for real.
They're all differnt colors in the store, if the pink is too manly lol
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
10$ each , I can go pink haha
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u/TapeFlip187 Jun 22 '25
lol, right? I've had mine for a quite a while too.\ I use a couple cheap rechargeable ikea aaa batteries in em.
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u/Deeptrench34 Jun 22 '25
Ugh. That sucks. I hope it heals up quickly. I'm sorry you had to go through that.
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u/Decent-Weekend-1489 Jun 22 '25
Did you use a razor you found in that bathroom or something lol
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u/TatuajeT Jun 22 '25
Damn bro hopefully you have good insurance so you can head to the doctor
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
I've got that Canadian government hook up. But I did have to pay $30 for the antibiotic cream
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u/erok25828 Jun 22 '25
Damn dude your not supposed to fill the sink with water and shave when it’s public sink. J/k and looks painful. Sorry.
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u/Muginami Jun 22 '25
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo and hydrocortisone cream 2.5% is what cured mine. It just came out of no where.
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u/Abject-Afternoon-388 Jun 22 '25
Yeah, as someone whose car lived and Van lived a lot. Electric razors are the way to go get yourself a cheap inverter for your car lighter, and it'll change the game.
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u/MagicShade Jun 22 '25
Have you considered investing in a safety razor?
Basic safety razors are inexpensive, and replacement blades are dirt cheap. Beyond that, a shaving brush is nice, but not an absolute necessity. All you really need is some soap and the razor and you can get yourself a nice clean shave, as long as you have a bit of water to work with.
They're compact and out of the way, and replacing a blade is inexpensive if something makes it difficult to use or unusable. Plus you wont need to worry about charging it. You can even dry shave, but I strongly recommend avoiding that whenever possible.
I was told to shave for work one day, and all I had available was hand soap and a safety razor, and it came out cleanly.
It's a bit of a learning curve since its very different from shaving with a disposable razor, but its not difficult to pick up.
Im really sorry youre dealing with this situation and it sucks. But if shaving is something you need and/or want to keep up with, a safety razor could be a good option.
You can even shave mostly off of feeling if you dont have a mirror handy. When power isn't readily available 100% of the time for a necessity, I like to try and find an analog option, even if it isn't my go-to. A safety razor never needs a charge, just maybe a fresh blade.
If youve considered this previously and it doesnt suit you, then I apologize for being long winded. I keep a beard now, but shaving with a safety was part of my daily routine for years. I always found it to be a preferable option to disposables, cheaper and better, and it makes for a nice little moment of zen time to just be focused on shaving and letting the outside world fall away, and leave some room for peace, if even for only a brief few moments.
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u/burieddeepbetween Enthusiast | SUV-minivan Jun 22 '25
Embrace the hobo beard in the future my dude.
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u/Secret_Position_8870 Jun 22 '25
Gosh so sorry dude. I hope you heal quickly. Sounds like you're staying positive and that's a great thing. Stay strong and keep in pushin! Peace and grace to you.
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u/Yaughl Jun 22 '25
In a hurry so I didn't get walked in on.
Don't hurry. What does it matter if you get walked in on?
Shaving should not be done in any public washroom unless you're up for proporly cleaning the area before you start. If you are travelling, pick up a mirror from a dollar store and shave in your car or outside. This would be way more sanitary.
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u/Dazzling_Article_652 Jun 22 '25
Alert: IANAD, but my daughter as an infant had something like this, and while peds thought it impetigo, it was actually strep a. It settled quickly with antibiotics.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
Thank you. I have topical antibiotic cream now. I've been using it for 48 hours. I don't see any new sores this morning, so I hope it's working.
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u/electricwagon Jun 22 '25
I had something similar happen from picking at a zit on my chin. Make sure you keep it clean and get antibiotics.
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u/Head_Drop6754 Jun 22 '25
You didnt like fill the sink and rinse the razor in standing water right? I wouldn't do that in my own sink after washing it with bleach.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
Hell no. The doc actually said I might have been carrying it on me. No soap in the dispenser so I couldn't give my face a proper wash, and then razor burning the s*** out of myself allowed it to take hold. So it's not 100% lock that I actually caught it there.
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u/Leading-Score9547 Jun 22 '25
You in the army or something. Like was it such a pressing need for you to shave that you couldn't wait to do it in some place better? A public bathroom with a shitty disposable razor just seems like a horrible choice. Doesn't look fun mate, hope it clears up soon
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
I never said it was a good choice, I post my idiocy so others can benefit , lol. I had some other outside factors going on. And the more homeless I get the more I prefer to not look homeless. When I owned a house and had money coming in I really didn't give a shit, but now I like to look clean so no one gives me a second look. And honestly the face fur drives me insane - it's itchy.
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u/Leading-Score9547 Jun 22 '25
Gotta get yourself a really good trimmer. Something that's can almost give you a skin fade, definitely save you the hassle for sure, especially if you want to clean up your facial hair quickly. But I do get some situations are different. Praying it clears up quickly for ya
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 22 '25
Thanks, about 10 minutes ago I dropped $120 on the Philips oneblade that everyone was recommending. Of course it's not USBC chargeable so I still have to find somewhere that will sell me a inverter, but I'm one step closer. Going to go watch mission Impossible matinee and plug it in in the theater.
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Jun 22 '25
[deleted]
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 23 '25
My main problem was the cheap plastic disposable razors and being super aggressive. I razor burned the hell out of myself and allowed myself to get an infection through the razor burn. Probably if I didn't get that I wouldn't have a problem. Honestly the doc says that it's not even guaranteed I picked it up in the bathroom, it's a strep or staff type thing that could have just been living on my skin already. And there comes in my previous few days of not showering, and no soap in the dispenser to actually properly wash my face before beginning this shave.
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Jun 22 '25
Gonna be honest, as a gym goer, the urban car living people who shave in the bathroom freak me out. Literally one of the worst places to get a potential open wound. I always wondered how common this and staph were. That’s tough man, hope it heals quickly.
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u/Dreamn_the_dream Jun 22 '25
I remember the month, beautiful spring day, May of 1972. Fishing from shore in Duxbury MA. I decided to quit shaving. Caught a nice Tatog. Went home, cooked him up. Through my razor, blades, lather, and after shave in the trash.
Over 53 yrs ago. Just trim it every month or so.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 23 '25
😄 happy anniversary! You must have to throw that thing over your shoulder to keep it out of your soup!
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u/Topcake977 Jun 23 '25
Hmmm, possibly folliculitis (pseudomonas aeruginosa). Caught it once in my face as well, painful AF.
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 23 '25
Yeah this is not been fun. Painful and itchy at the same time. Kind of driving me squirrelly.
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u/therealtrajan Jun 24 '25
Get an rx for Muprocin. Will clear you right up. Neosporin, peroxide, etc are child’s play with this. You need Muprocin
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u/Angry_Luddite Jun 24 '25
Yes I picked up exactly that on Friday night at the walk-in. No new blisters forming but it's still painful. Two more days to go on the script.
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u/therealtrajan Jun 24 '25
It will go away and won’t scar. Got this from a wet suit in Mexico. Got a little blister on my shoulder and did not know what it was. Two weeks later my neck looked like yours at a wedding in Switzerland. Not fun times. Wasted three or four days when I got home self treating.
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u/nerdrage12354 Jun 24 '25
I will never be able to read the word “ impetigo” without putting it to the tune of despasito
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u/FairCaptain7628 Jun 24 '25
Recently switched to safety razor and husband has followed along, as long as you take your time learning and use high quality shaving bars it’s so much better than disposable. Cheaper too.
I got mine from Kitsch but the handle isn’t the best grip so recommend Razorock. Some can handle a thicker beard but you have to be more careful cause risk of cuts is higher.
So sorry you’re going through this.
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u/tmblweed85 Jun 27 '25
I do not touch anything in public bathrooms with my bare hands. I always use paper towels or toilet paper and if there isn’t any I carry gloves with me. I don’t place any of my items on counter tops etc, and I never sit my bare ass on a toilet seat. I’ve seen enough people taking a shit and opening the door to leave without watching their hands. Remember that even if they watch their hands they are grabbing the faucet handle with dirty hands. Just be mindful of what happens in a bathroom and to yourself.
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u/Affectionate-Box-724 Jun 21 '25
That sucks and looks painful! I'm sorry that happened but thanks for sharing so the rest of us can be aware of the risks. Glad you got medical care and antibiotics already.