As the leading provider of laser hair removal in South Africa, we understand how getting rid of unwanted, embarrassing hair can make you look and feel smooth, confident, and carefree. But before you schedule your next wax appointment, consider these unwanted “side effects” of waxing that can leave you with more than you bargained for:
1. Waxing Creates Tiny Wounds Under The Skin.
That means your skin may be exposed to harmful germs that have the potential to cause infections. The risk is significantly elevated in the bikini area, and especially in a Brazilian wax, where bacteria are more likely to be present. In addition to more superficial infections, bacteria can migrate to deeper levels of your skin, causing dangerous cellulitis infections.
2. Bikini Waxes Leave You More Vulnerable To A Viral Infection.
That causes wart-like growths around the anus, vagina and vulva. The virus, called molluscum contagiosum, can be treated, but it can take a long time for it to clear up, leaving you with unsightly bumps in the meantime.
Infection is not a normal side effect of waxing, but if a salon or aesthetician isn’t diligent about hygiene—such as not changing the wax or cleaning equipment between appointments—bacteria can be transferred from one client to the next. Symptoms of a skin infection include fever, redness, swelling, itching, warmth, or pain. If you experience any of these after being waxed, see your healthcare provider right away. If it turns out you do have an infection, it can be treated with an antibacterial cream or ointment or oral antibiotics.
3. Waxing Can Cause Persistent Skin Irritation And Redness.
Especially if you have sensitive skin. Most redness is temporary and clears up within a day or two, but you need to take special care of your skin to prevent sores and infections from developing.
Histamine reaction
Experiencing a histamine reaction does not mean that you are allergic to the wax. Creating histamine is one way the body protects itself against the stress of a perceived attack. A histamine reaction is easily identified by a rash that presents itself as welts or bumps. This reaction may happen immediately after your wax. Histamine is very helpful, and it works by enlarging the blood vessels and making them easier to penetrate. The body then swells and protects the affected area. It is the increase in size of the blood vessels that also additionally creates erythema, which is reddening of the skin.
Histamine reactions generally only last a few hours. If you experience a Histamine reaction, it can be treated either with an antihistamine cream or you can prevent by taking an antihistamine orally before your wax. We have learned that if an antihistamine cream is applied directly after treatment, the discomfort can be greatly reduced. If you are someone who seeks a more natural approach, Lavender is an essential oil with anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s gentle enough that it can be applied to the skin.
Bacterial reaction
Bacterial reactionstiny white pustules
The pustules can be irritating and last up to 2 weeks if not properly treated. The best way to treat it is by preventing it! Opt to laser instead of waxing. Bacterial reactions happen when one touches freshly waxed skin. If you are adamant that you want continue to wax, we recommend using an antibacterial/antimicrobial ointment to eliminate bacteria in the affected area. Abstaining from saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, hot tubs, sexual activity, exercise, and anything that can introduce bacteria to the area for the first 24 hours after your wax is strongly advised.
4. Bruising and Bleeding
Although it happens rarely, waxing can cause trauma to the skin. The risk is higher for people who’ve recently spent a lot of time in the sun, had a cosmetic procedure (such as dermabrasion), are taking medications associated with bruising (like aspirin, blood thinners, or hormonal birth control), or have certain medical conditions such as rosacea or phlebitis (inflammation of a vein).
If the skin in an area to be waxed is already damaged or inflamed, wait until it has healed before waxing.
5. Waxing Causes The Hair Bulb To Become Damaged.
It means when hair does grow back, it will be much finer than before. That may sound like a good “side effect,” but if you decide to stop waxing, and start laser, this causes issues as it’s much harder to treat finer hair with laser. Hair may even be too fine to laser and you may need to opt for electrolysis.
6. Hot Wax Can Burn Your Skin.
Especially if you use skin products that contain retinoids, acids, or other anti-aging compounds that make skin more tender and more susceptible to heat damage.
Laser hair removal offers a great alternative to waxing, providing long-term results you can feel confident about. To learn more about laser hair removal visit www.thelaserbeautique.co.za or call 0861 850 851
7. Got To Wait For Hair To Grow
For the best wax, length of hair is key. For maximum results, it is ideal to grow hair out to at least one-eighth of an inch before going in for your wax. This means that if you pick waxing as your preferred method of hair removal, you are really only smooth for about 1 week of the month. A week after waxing, skin starts to feel prickly and then you got to grow the hair to wax it. Not ideal!
8. All Waxes Are Not Created Equal
There are several wax options, and all are not created equal. While hard waxes are offered at many salons, hard waxes break and crack, making the wax difficult to remove and also reducing hair removal efficiency. Another major difference between the two is that while elastic wax is applied at body temperature, hard wax is applied hot, which as we mentioned, can sometimes lead to burns if not done properly.
9. Waxing & Shaving Can Cause Pigmentation
You may have read that waxing and shaving can cause darkening and darker skin patches called hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation can occur after skin lifting, burning, irritation and bruising, all of which are possibly aide effects of waxing and shaving.
Hyperpigmentation occurs when excess melanin forms deposits under the lower layer of the epidermis and darker patches begin to appear. There are two types of hyperpigmentation, Passive Pigmentation and Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH).
Passive Pigmentation occurs when an internal imbalance stimulates our melanin producing hormones and generally occurs in women around times of hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, contraceptive medication, and menopause.
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation is the result of skin trauma. When our skin is in distress, our melanocyte cell is stimulated to send melanin to the skin’s surface (between the dermis and the epidermis). Where waxing is concerned, the preventable trauma associated with hyperpigmentation occurs when the skin layers have been damaged due to lifting, burning, irritation and subsequent bruising. When shaving is concerned, the irritation of shaving causes similar effects that waxing does.
10. Waxing Can Cause Ingrown Hair
An ingrown hair is what happens when a hair curls back and grows into the skin. It’s a red, raised bump that looks like a pimple. They can be itchy and uncomfortable, and, in some instances, they can become infected and turn into painful sores. No one wants that. Even if you can’t feel your ingrown hairs, they’re frustrating to look at, especially when you want to show off your smooth skin!
Although anyone can get ingrown hairs, they’re most common among people with coarse or curly hair. They often occur when a hair follicle becomes clogged with dead skin cells. We shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour. If those particles – also known as the “dead layer” or the stratum corneum – aren’t removed, they trap hairs under the epidermis, causing ingrowns.
Here’s what an ingrown hair looks like:
Each hair follicle is connected to a small tube, which is responsible for guiding the hair to the surface when it grows back. Waxing pulls the hair so quickly that the follicle and tube become damaged. When the tube’s lining is damaged, it can’t guide the hair. The hair becomes caught under the skin, causing ingrowns. Ingrowns then cause scarring and darkening of the skin as it gets infected.
11. Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a bacterial skin infection that can result from damage to hair follicles. It’s often caused by shaving as well. One study found that folliculitis due to waxing occurs most often on the arms.
According to the AAD, folliculitis usually will resolve on its own. To help it along and to ease discomfort, apply a warm compress to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes, three or more times per day. You also should not wax (or shave or pluck) hair for at least 30 days.
Stubborn folliculitis may need to be treated with an antibiotic.
12. Waxing Is Not Ideal For Skin Health Or Anti-Aging. Waxing 100% stretches one’s skin!
After waxing, your skin might end up looking a little blotchy. It leaves your sensitive skin with some discomfort, redness, and irritation. All these reactions of the skin are a result of the force with which the hair follicles are pulled from the roots, which leaves the skin inflamed. We have read many blogs on how waxing does not stretch ones skin. The reality of it is, it does. How can it not? If a therapist has to hold your skin down to pull the wax off, then it is 100% pulling. Any pulling of owns skin is going to stretch ones skin. One doesn’t need a dermatologist or a specialist of any sort. You can see the skin stretching as the wax is pulled off. Watch this video from The Slow Mo Guys. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdM0ywYQzBs if this is not proof, we not sure what is!
13. Sunburn
Because waxing removes a very thin layer of skin along with hair, waxed areas tend to be more susceptible to sun exposure—what’s known as photosensitivity. This is especially likely to happen if you’re taking a hormonal contraceptive, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Birth control pills often are prescribed to help treat PCOS.
To prevent the ill effects of the sun on waxed skin, be especially vigilant about using sunscreen on exposed areas and/or wearing protective clothing outside—even on cloudy days.
If you have ever had a wax, you will agree that yanking hair from the root is not a pleasant experience. In todays day and age, with today’ technology and the fact that the price of pain-free, permanent laser hair removal is becoming more affordable, its really not necessary to put yourself or loved ones through the pain. A pain-free and permanent underarm laser treatment costs from R300 at The Laser Beautique.
At TLB, you are in safe hands!
- Treatments are FDA and/CE approved. Safe and effective for ALL skin types.
- Over 12 years’ experience
- The first in Africa with pain-free permanent laser hair removal safe for all skin types
- The first in Africa with comfortable permanent hair removal of all hair type including blonde, red, grey and white hair
- We are so good at what we do, we opened an Academy to teach others beautiqueacademy.co.za
- Our group have won industry awards from Professional Beauty, EOHCB (Employers organisation for Hairdressing, Cosmetology, Skincare and Beauty Industry and many other business awards
- We have featured in most South African magazines like Glamour, A2 Aesthetic Magazine, GQ, Mens Health, Woman & Home, Destiny etc.
- Celebrities, influencers and sports men and woman such as Devi Govender (Carte Blanch and Friday nights with Devi), Zoe Brown, Elton Yankees, Pearl Thusi, Faith and many more have chosen TLB as their hair removal experts.
Follow these 3 simple smooth steps:
- Book a FREE consult & test patch
- In 2-3 weeks you will be delighted with your results
- Book your 1st appointment
And voile Live smoothly ever after!
You will need 8-12 treatments every 4-6 weeks. By next Summer, you will be hair-free and carefree.
Cancel your wax, say goodbye to your razors, it’s now time to book your laser!
WWW.THELASERBEAUTIQUE.CO.ZA
