Waxing has been one of the options that women have been turning to for excess hair growth. Is it as viable as it sounds though? Sure, it leaves smooth skin behind but is it suitable in a longer run? The fact that it is fairly inexpensive and can be done both; at home and in the salon by an esthetician is an added bonus and the results last several weeks. Even after all these points favoring waxing, there are some drawbacks too. These drawbacks can be life long as well. Here are a few things one must know before you adapt to waxing completely.
- It creates smaller wounds:
Waxing implies that we’re ripping hair directly from roots. Not only is the procedure painful but have you ever wondered why? It is because the hair is firmly attached to the root and is as much a part of your body as anything else. When you do pull them out, you’re tearing them out from the root, which can cause tiny wounds under the surface. Now, this is something more serious than we thought, isn’t it?
- Causing Damage to the hair bulb:
Continuous waxing over a period of time actually affects the hair bulbs. It grows finer and less dense. This might seem ideal initially but if you ever decide to take a hiatus from waxing, you might regret the finer hair. It might look good till you are regularly waxing and want the hair to be finer, but what after that? Ever wondered about the long-term repercussions.
- Red Irritated Skin:
Have you noticed that your skin looks a little blotchy right after waxing? For sensitive skins, this is an even huge risk. The desire to itch because the skin is supremely itchy is also a problem and how long does one stay strong. You can avoid hot baths or any type to friction for at least 24 hours, especially in more sensitive areas like the bikini region or the underarms, but there isn’t any permanent solution.
- Severe or chronic infection:
When we get a Brazilian wax done, the hair is removed from the gluteal cleft areas, which increases the risk of STI’s and Self TI’s. Basically, when you pull hair out of your Pubic region leaves tiny skin tears, which can get bacterial in them. This can cause surface infection or sometimes deeper cellulitis. This implies that you’re risking your body by going through a bikini wax.
- Skin Burns:
Even though the esthetician claims the wax is not too hot and that she knows what she is doing, you might get skin burns. More than Bikini areas. People who wax their eyebrow, upper lip and chin hair should be careful. If they are using any cream with retinoid like; anti-aging or acne creams, there is a much higher chance of skin damage. Retinoid causes skin cells loosening and the wax peels off your skin with the hair. Not only is this a painful procedure but also one with long tern skin issues. - Brazilian wax might leave you with viruses that leave spots down there:
The chances of contracting molluscum contagiousm from a bikini wax isn’t unheard of. It is like a viral infection that infects your skin causing smaller, shiny bumps in your vulva area/bikini line. These pimple like spots leave marks like any other acne and can cause damage to your private areas. Moreover, the chances of getting it if you are regularly getting a Brazilian done are comparatively higher. - The pores are left open and the need for TLC:
When you get your hair pulled off the scalp, the pores are left open. This leaves your skin at a very vulnerable position. There are special post-wax lotions and oils to close the pores, but if you have a really sensitive skin, you might just be in more trouble than anticipated. Regular wax can expose you to several bacterial skin diseases in the longer run and can do much more harm than good.
- Folliculitis:
It is a bacterial skin infection that can be caused due to hair follicle damage. The most common areas for hair follicle infections are the bikini area as well as your arms. If not severe, these folliculitis get better by themselves but in more severe cases, you need to go to a doctor for antibiotic prescription. Follicle infection can be highly itchy and painful. If you ever experience it, please do not wax, rub or bleach your skin for some time.
- Ingrown hair:
This is one side effect of almost every hair removal method. The tiny hair that are too stubborn to come out might coil back into the skin and look like tiny pimples. Scratching these isn’t taking you anywhere either. It can cause infections and exfoliating your skin before and after waxing is highly advisable.
- Sunburn:
The removal of tiny layer of skin with hair can expose your skin to damage from the sun. This can get much severe if you are on hormonal contraceptives. In this case, a sunscreen is a more important friend than anyone else. Sunburns can be extremely itchy and cause further damage.
Waxing causes more harm than good to your skin and hair follicles. These are just a few examples but there are chronic infections as well. Your skin is a sensitive part of your body and your responsibility. Though shaving can seem like a more expensive and tedious procedure, there are always ways to seek help. Talk to your skin specialists about a better procedure for hair removal instead of a half-trained esthetician. Your skin health is your responsibility and you must be very cautious with it.
