I'm prone to similar irritation.
Things that helped me greatly:
Beard mapping, make sure the 1st pass is actually with the grain, my neck growth is all over the place. Taking the time to follow it faithfully made a surprising difference.
Try a cold water shave, still use hot water prep e.g. shower. Then cold water face splash & only use cold water during the shave. Works for me & costs nothing to try.
Perhaps put your name down for the newbie pass around box? I believe there is a mild De to try with some blades & soap samples. A great resource provided by the generosity of TSR members past/present.