While there are several tools and products one can use to remove undesired body hair, the fashion industry is always on the lookout for the easiest, quickest, and pain-free method to keep hair growth at bay.
Using hair removal creams, also known as depilatories, is one such beauty regimen widely available to users these days.
Especially since the product has vastly improved over the recent years, most people prefer this option over any other alternative.
Case in point, while there was once a time when you could only purchase this accessory in the form of creams, now, these are manufactured as gel solutions, powders, roll-ons, and even sprays.
Not to mention, you can find them with distinct strength factors so that you can also safely apply them to sensitive body parts.
Considering the rising use of hair removal creams, we have articulated this guidepost for two primary reasons.
First, to inform you how the product works and its associated pros and cons. Secondly, to share a brief guide on how to treat chemical burns from hair removal cream, which can, unfortunately, happen when the product isn’t used as per the given instructions.
How Do Hair Removal Creams Work?
To understand how depilatories work, you must have a basic know-how about your natural hair structure.
In simplest terms, the primary component of hair is a type of naturally produced protein called Keratin.
This compound makes up approximately sixty-five to ninety-five percent of a single hair’s total fiber in weight, and this is precisely what keeps it well-nourished and strengthened.
On the other hand, thioglycolic acid (TGA) is the fundamental component utilized in hair removal creams.
This is a salt-like ingredient often found in sodium thioglycolate and calcium thioglycolate. On all accounts, you can detect this chemical by its pungent and somewhat unpleasant odor.
The purpose of TGA in depilatories is to break down Keratin’s structure such that it weakens the hair, dissolving the bond.
This way, when you wipe away the hair removal solution after a few minutes of application, it easily removes the hair from the follicle itself, occurring right below the skin’s surface.
The instructions on such products also clearly indicate not to use hair removal creams for more than three minutes (or whatever your choice of product proposes to you as an appropriate application time).
The reason behind this is that your skin’s top layer, called the epidermis, also contains Keratin.
Therefore, when the hair removal solution remains applied for a long time, the skin starts to form a chemical burn that is likely irritating to touch. This condition must be treated promptly before it becomes an infection.
Now that you understand how these TGA-induced products work, let’s review their major benefits and limitations before you get to learn how to treat chemical burns, should you put on the depilatory creams for far too long.
Also don’t forget to checkout what are the benefits of hair removal cream?
5 Pros of Using Hair Removal Creams
While you may realize several other benefits of using a hair removal cream at the time of application, here are the top five reasons that one should know about in advance:
1- Pain-Free Process
The one no-debate benefit of using a depilatory cream is that this hair removing process involves no pain whatsoever, assuming that you aren’t allergic to any chemical utilized in the solution.
While several people are quick to point out that shaving is also pain-free, there are ways in which hair removing creams have an advantage over them.
For example, shaving is a daily beauty regimen due to instant hair growth, which can get impossible to ignore after a couple of days. That’s because you only cut the hair at its base when using a blade over your skin.
Contrarily, hair removal creams remove the hair from the follicle beneath the epidermis, which is why it lasts much longer, comparatively speaking.
Not to mention, you don’t have to deal with the common side effect of shaving, known as razor bumps, when it comes to opting for depilatories.
2- Relatively Inexpensive
You might indeed have to use hair removal creams twice to thrice a month, depending upon your hair growth rate on different body parts, which makes it an ongoing expense.
However, that said, buying your monthly stock is still far more inexpensive than waxing your skin every other month, even with the advantage of longer results.
Moreover, while threading or tweezing is the cheapest of all methods, these are not suitable for shaving your whole legs and arms.
Plus, threading and plucking your hair from the follicle can be extensively painful, especially when you have sensitive skin.
3- Quick and Easiest At-Home Treatment
Another excellent advantage of using a depilatory cream is that you don’t need any prior experience or knowledge to use these products the first time, as long as you follow the box instructions.
Any other way of hair removal process requires practice to get the best results. This makes hair removal creams the ultimate at-home treatment.
Furthermore, since you only need to wait for three to five minutes after applying a depilatory cream and wiping it clean, this also makes it the quickest hair removal process of all.
4- Versatile Functionality
There are also various hair removal creams available in the market, specifically manufactured to tend to different body parts.
This makes it possible for users to safely remove all body hair without encountering any extra pain or trouble.
5- Smoothest Results
Lastly, hair removal creams offer the most smooth results with no pain, unlike threading, shaving, epilating, and waxing – all of which either leave bumpy or irritated skin afterward.
5 Cons of Using Hair Removal Creams
On the contrary, here are a few limitations of using hair removal creams, which you can easily avoid by knowing about them in advance:
1- Unpleasant Odor in Some Cases
The first thinga depilatory cream
Therefore, you may need to explore your options first to get your hands on a product with a pleasant overriding smell.
2- Not Suitable for Removing All Body Hair
It is crucial to remember that hair removal creams are not to be used anywhere near your eyes, nose, or ears. For that, you’ll ultimately have to stick with threading, tweezing, epilating, or waxing.
3- Different Solutions for Different Body Parts
It’s, without a doubt, an excellent point to have safe options when removing body hair on different areas when using depilatories.
However, it can also be somewhat of a hassle for some people who’d rather not switch between a selection of solutions.
4- Not Long-Lasting, Comparatively
Moreover, even though a hair removal cream can offer you smooth skin for up to a week, it’s still not as long-lasting as waxing your body hair.
5- Leaves Adverse Reactions When Misused
Lastly, and most importantly, it’s imperative to read the instructions before using a hair removal cream so that you’re aware of the time you should leave the product on your skin before wiping it clean.
Moreover, you must also refer to the expiry date before each use to ensure the product isn’t expired. That’s because if you neglect either of these points, you may end up with chemical burns on your skin.
Now that you know everything worth mentioning about depilatory creams, let’s go over how to treat chemical burns from hair removal cream so that you can act immediately before the burns turn into an infection!
A Step-By-Step Guide to Treat Chemical Burns from Hair Removal Cream
It is best to tend to the chemical burns right away when they’re caused due to an expired or extra-long application of hair removal creams.
When you know how to treat the skin immediately, you can prevent the burns from blistering too severely.
Here’s an eight-step process of treating chemical burns from hair removal cream the right way:
Step 1 – Let the Burned Area Cool Off Under Cold Water
As soon as you identify a chemical burn forming on your bare skin, you must flush the area with cold water for at least ten minutes.
You may even need to run it under cool water for longer if you have suffered a burn that’s already started to blister.
This step will ensure you’ve stripped all remains of chemicals from your skin in addition to cooling off the burned patch substantially, minimizing the redness and irritation.
Step 2 – Apply an Alkaline Cleanser
After rinsing the freshly burned skin with water, it would be best to rub an alkaline cleanser gently onto the affected area.
Considering that hair removal creams tend to be highly acidic, an alkaline cleanser can be the perfect way of neutralizing the effects of the chemical burn.
Step 3 – Use Quality Topical Creams
Similarly, the chemicals used in hair removal creams can cause inflammation and swelling when they aren’t treated promptly.
To ensure you have the best chances of reducing such risks, you must apply a topical solution, such as hydrocortisone cream, to the affected area after rubbing it with an alkaline cleanser.
Since topical creams are a significant help in cooling and soothing any burned area, these are best to bring down the swelling and inflammation caused due to usage of depilatory creams.
Step 4 – Spray the Affected Area with Neosporin
Once the chemical burn has been cleaned and cared for, your next step should be spraying the affected patch with Neosporin, a triple antibiotic ointment. This medication aims to reduce the risk of skin infections followed by minor injuries or burns.
Step 5 – Bandage the Chemical Wound
After that, you should bandage the area or wrap it up with gauze if you prefer a comparatively breathable dressing.
You must ensure your bandage job is neither too tight nor too loose so that there’s enough room to heal adequately while the burned area remains protected from bacteria.
Step 6 – Use the Cold Compression Method
If you still find your burn stinging or hurting after a couple of hours following the treatment, it’s best to apply cold compression to the affected area to relieve some pain. Plus, it would help calm down the inflammation, redness, and swelling, preventing it from becoming an infection.
Step 7 – Take a Pain-Reliever Before Moisturizing
Moreover, you can take over-the-counter pain medication to make things easier on yourself, reducing the burning sensation significantly.
Regularly applying Vaseline or other petroleum jellies on the burn can also keep the affected area moisturized so that it doesn’t dry up or flake.
Step 8 – Use Home Remedies to Your Advantage
While a chemical burn caused due to hair removing creams can be treated using the seven-step procedure delineated above easily, you might need to care for your burns a bit more when the case is more severe.
An effective home remedy to heal the burns and reduce inflammation is applying aloe vera and honey paste to the affected area for ten minutes, three times a day.
Both of these ingredients boost the healing process with their natural antifungal and antibacterial properties.
Things to Avoid When Treating Chemical Burns
Lastly, it’s crucial to stay away from ingredients that might be known for treating chemical burns but only worsen the condition in practicality.
For example, toothpaste, butter, oil, and egg whites are not just useless on burns, but they may even cause blisters in some cases.
Our Final Verdict
Whether you’re a frequent hair removal cream user or not, you can run the risk of acquiring burns either way.
Therefore, it’s best to keep a clock by your side when applying these TGA-induced solutions, in addition to checking the product’s label instructions and expiry date to minimize burn risks.
Moreover, if the burned area doesn’t start to heal within a day, even after going through the at-home treatment process, you should make an appointment with your doctor right away to prevent skin infections.
Similarly, the wound should be given immediate professional attention if you feel the burns oozing or getting progressively worse.
