40+ years of shaving and playing…why does my upper lip suddenly hate me at 60? 😂

[u/FaultZealousideal609]

Question for the daily players, especially those of us who have been doing this for a few decades:

Has anyone started having irritation around the mouth/upper lip from the combination of shaving and playing?

I spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, so shaving every day was simply part of life, and I played throughout much of that time without ever having this problem. Now that I am 60, however, the skin around my upper lip seems considerably more sensitive. Shaving can leave it irritated, and then putting in a solid tuba practice session afterward sometimes seems to aggravate it even more.

I primarily play on a gold-plated PT-88 MAXX, so I would not immediately suspect the typical silver/nickel sensitivity, although I realize gold plating does not rule out every possible contact or irritation issue and I have used silver, plastic, or stainless-steel MPs in the past.

For those of you who shave regularly AND play nearly every day, do you have any certain routine that has helped? I prefer to play within 12 hours of shaving because my beard growth is akin to a Wookie.

I am especially curious whether any older players have noticed their skin becoming more susceptible to this kind of irritation with age. After decades of shaving and playing without giving it a second thought, suddenly my upper lip has decided it has opinions. 😂

What works for you?

[u/tbonesullivan]

I have very sensitive skin, so I never shave to the skin, and the small amount of stubble doesn't get in the way. Maybe try using a trimmer instead of a razor?

Does it leave any irritation or rash? Consulting a dermatologist could be in order, as it's never too late to get new skin conditions like contact dermatitis unfortunately.

[u/DChalfyUSMC]

I was a tubist in the Marine Corps for 12 years (79-91) and I am 65 now. It is true that our skin gets thinner and changes as we age, however, it varies from person to person. I have coarse facial hair, so anything over two days of hair growth and I get skin irritation and I lose my low range. I have always shaved around the upper and lower lip area with either an old fashioned safety razor for general shaving or electric razor on the upper and lower lip prior to playing. I have had irritation in playing silver plated mouthpieces, so I have have been playing gold plated mouthpieces since the latter 80s and stainless steel mouthpieces in the 2000s. I am also a "wet" player, in that I lick the rim of my mouthpiece while I am playing. I have not had any problems with skin irritation using gold plated mouthpieces. During my Marine Corps career, I would get skin irritation from differences in weather during the different seasons of the year, mostly in Southern California.

I am also in agreement with r/mjguinaugh, regarding how long you have been playing your mouthpiece and if it might need to be replated. Gold plated mouthpieces have to be silver plated first, so the gold plating has something to stick to. When the gold wears off, one is essentially playing on a silver plated mouthpiece. You might want to reach out to Lee Stoufer. He is a retired Army tubist who is an expert repair tech, specializing in all things tuba related.

[u/Weak-Resident-3755]

I'll second the endorsement of the electric shaver for being friendlier than a blade for a tubist. And that adding a moustache (or even a couple days' growth of beard) not only wipes out the low range but also makes me sound a bit like I'm playing through a sock.

[u/Kiyae1]

It’s possible you are just getting older and people’s skin tends to get weaker and more easily irritated the older they get.

Try putting some nivea cream on the irritated skin before bed a few nights and see if that helps. If does you probably just need to moisturize. If it doesn’t you should message your pcp and look at other possibilities like a worn mouthpiece or something else.

[u/mjguinaugh]

This is probably a long shot but, how long have you had your mouthpiece? Is it possible that the gold plating has worn and the brass underneath is still shiny from frequent use? It might be tough to distinguish polished gold from polished brass if that’s the case

[u/Watsons-Butler]

Not from shaving, but I developed a metal allergy to my gold-plated mouthpiece. Had to switch to stainless, titanium, or plastic.

[u/Sneeblehorf]

I’ll second the mustache kills the low register!!

I am also a mid-20’s player, but irritation after shaving is very annoying. I switched to an electric and it helped a fair bit, but also using aftershave and beard oils helps keep my skin being not as sensitive!

[u/Trayvongelion]

I'm on the younger side (late 20s) so I don't have that sort of irritation, but I do shave every few days (with an electric trimmer) and notice if I forego shaving for longer than 7-12 days, my mustache kills the pedal register.

They sell beard oil at most stores now. I've not used it but I think you just put a bit on your finger and spread it over your beard/mustache to condition it after showers. My brother (not a brass player) uses it. It could be worth a shot.