What Is a Styptic Pen?

It is easy to slip and cut the skin, drawing blood, when shaving your chin or leg. One of the quickest ways to stop the bleeding is to use a styptic pencil.

What Does Styptic Mean?

The word "styptic" is derived from the ancient Greek word "stuptikos," meaning "capable of contracting." When you cut yourself you rupture blood vessels, allowing blood to escape. Chemicals capable of reducing blood flow by contracting the blood vessels are known as styptics.

Purpose

Styptic pens are short, medicated sticks designed to be rubbed on a cut to check bleeding and promote healing. They were common in wet-shaving kits before the advent of the safety razor, and still have a place in many shaving kits today.

Composition

Styptic pens contain an alum, such as aluminum sulfate or aluminum potassium sulfate. These chemicals contract your capillaries and stem blood loss. Titanium dioxide, talc, perfumes, waxes or alcohols may be added to blend the styptic with skin tones. These substances the ingredients together and make the pen aesthetically pleasing.

References

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Styptic
• Bray Healthcare: Product Data Safety Sheet - Styptic Pencil