What Is A Styptic Pencil Made Of?

Styptic pencils contain alum, which helps stop bleeding.

Shaving can often nick or cut facial skin, and styptic pencils help stop the bleeding quickly. Although safety razors have made shaving easier on skin and reduced the frequency of cuts, styptic pencils remain essential to any shaving kit.

Active Ingredient

The active and primary ingredient in styptic pencils is alum. Alum's astringent properties cause the skin to stop bleeding and help the wound to heal.

Application

Styptic pencils can be applied to the nick or cut as soon as it occurs.

Sting

Many men dislike the stinging sensation that styptic pencils cause but continue to use the pencils because they work so well.

Other Uses

Along with stopping the bleeding, styptic pencils make the cut less visible and help seal the skin, reducing the chance of infection.

Pencil Alternatives

Alternatives to the styptic pencil include alum blocks and roll-on products containing aloe.

References

• FTMguide.org: All About Shaving
• Lee's Safety Razors: Styptic Pencils