Folliculitis!

[Oracle]

I have been shaving my head for a little over three years with no problems until I ended up with a case of Shingles on the back of my neck a few weeks ago.  After a round of antivirals and special creams, the blisters didn't seem to be clearing up, if anything, they were worse.  My doctor the diagnosed the new blisters, which were higher up my neck, as Folliculitis.  He deducted that a bacterial infection had moved in behind the Shingle as a result of my shaving.  I was given a round of antibiotics to take, another cream, and advised not to shave that area until it healed completely.

Well, for the past two weeks I have been clipper-shaving my head and I hate it.  I want to be smooth but I  also want the Folliculitis cleared up.  Would an electric razor be prone to aggravating the folliculitis?  I can't stand this much hair for much longer!
Oracle

[Cave Dweller]

I am really sorry you are going through all that.

My only experience with an electric razor was a Norelco with the three heads. It did not irritate my skin in the least. Personally, though, I would follow the doc's advice and wait until everything clears up. From what I understand, friction from something like shaving can cause or exacerbate the condition.

[gwsmallwood]

I used to get it pretty often when I first started shaving my head.  I just thought it was normal acne until I saw my Derm for my yearly skin check.  Since it sounds like you're seeing a Derm, I would follow their instructions, but here are my tips for what they are worth.

Limit ATG passes.  I only attempt this once a week at most these days.

Consider switching to a DE Safety Razor if you haven't already.  They take more time, but my shaves are actually enjoyable now, so I don't mind as much.  My skin has been WAY better since I made the switch, and I actually shave more often than I used to.

Try shaving with cold, or even lukewarm water.  HOT water opens up the follicles and makes them more susceptible to infection.

Try using a face wash with Benzoyl Peroxide once a day.  I actually used an OXY Benzoyl Peroxide wash as part of my post shave until my skin cleared up.  After that I would recommend using it mid to late in the day instead, as it does have a tendency to sting if you have any razor burn.

If you feel like you have oily skin, stay away from lotions and after shave creams and balms.  I kept trying to go back to them because everyone stressed the need for moisturizing the face.  Every time my pores would start clogging and the folliculitis would pick back up.  I stick with Alcohol based splashes now such as Witch Hazel blends and Clubman products.

[Sir Harry]

I have sebhorric dermatitis which is similar to what you have. I was a lazy shaver but the condition improved as long as I shaved within three days. One trick you might want to try is rubbing a wet aspirin over the wet areas and let sit for a couple of hours. Another thing you might want to do is wash your bedwear a little more often. It's possible the dirt buildup on your pillowcases may be blocking your pores. Good luck and keep us posted and feel free to PM me if you have any more questions!