Hair removal creams are made up of different ingredients that are meant to break down the components of the hair on your body. They are formulated in various ways to target different types of hair such as fine hairs, armpit hair, etc. They can even be used for pubic hair removal. Because of the harsh chemicals used to break down the collagen in hair, there may be some considerations to take into account when it comes to sensitive skin and sensitive parts of the body. All this poses a very important question: are hair removal creams safe for everyone?
Generally, hair removal creams are safe for most people because they are designed to interact with the hair instead of the skin. However, there is a limit to what the skin can handle, especially when it comes to depilatory creams. You have a finite amount of time before your skin gets irritated when exposing it to hair removal creams to get the maximum effect in decomposing hair by the root.
Since skin is made up of similar components as hair, it is understandable that the effects of hair removal creams on the collagen of hair can also affect the collagen of the skin. The upside is that the skin is more resilient than hair and hair removal creams are designed to target specific components of hair.
What are the long term effects of hair removal creams?
Before we discuss this, let’s discuss what you can expect for the short term first. When using hair removal creams, it is important to check whether or not your skin can handle the chemicals in the product. There are creams designed for sensitive skin and others that are made especially for thick hair.
As soon as you use the cream, you will not feel anything but the cold or regular temperature of the cream working on your skin. Some people may experience itchiness if their skin is too sensitive, which is why it is important to do a skin patch test first.
For example, here is a way you can perform Veet safety precautions before using their hair removal cream immediately.
After using hair removal cream regularly, you will notice that the hair on your skin will become softer and lighter as it grows back. This is a big difference from when you use shaving cream and razors to remove body hair. When you do the former, the hair can grow thicker because the follicles are stimulated to grow faster and thicker to make up for the damaged hair.
What are the dangers of hair removal creams?
The main dangers of hair removal creams are related to skin allergies and sensitivity.
Some people with certain skin disorders are also discouraged from using aggressive hair removal methods like waxing, depilation, and epilation because doing so may aggravate symptoms.
For example, people with dermatitis, eczema, and other skin disorders are not supposed to use hair removal creams because it irritates the skin and can worsen their symptoms.
Some ingredients, especially in natural hair removal creams, could be allergens for some people. For example, bee pollen, honey, tea tree oil, aloe vera, and other ingredients may trigger allergies that can lead to rashes, infection, and at worst, anaphylactic shock.
For pregnant women who want to use hair removal creams, they should probably stick to stretch mark prevention creams instead because the chemicals in hair removal creams can be harmful to a baby or fetus.
Disadvantages of Using Veet and Other Hair Removal Creams
The disadvantages of using Veet and other hair removal creams are not as many as you may think. Here is a list of the disadvantages of using hair removal creams:
- Hair grows faster than when waxing or using laser hair removal
- The skin can get dry and flaky after continuous use
- It is more expensive than other methods of hair removal
- Messier cleanup
- Inaccurate timing can lead to injury to the skin
- Not recommended for people with sensitive skin
By identifying what can go wrong when using these types of creams, you can make an informed decision regarding the proper type of hair removal method that is ideal for you. You should, however, consult with a dermatologist before performing trying a new hair removal method on yourself.
What are the advantages of hair removal creams over other hair removal methods?
There are different ways hair removal creams have an advantage over other hair removal methods. For example, when it comes to cream vs shaving, creams win because using them causes hair to grow slower. It also means that the hair will grow softer instead of coarser, as opposed to shaving.
The likelihood of developing ingrown hairs is also lower when using depilatory creams compared to waxing, sugaring, and shaving.
Another hair removal method comes with the use of epilators or devices that rapidly tweeze the hair on your body.
Using a hair removal cream complements epilation because there is less pain and less chances of developing ingrown hair or hair follicle infections.
What are some examples of chemical depilatories you can use?
There are many brands of hair removal creams or chemical depilatories that are safe to use. You have Veet or Nair and their collection of hair removal creams for different skin types and areas of the body.
Dermology Hair Removal Cream is also a fine choice for those who want a dermatologist-approved depilation cream.
There is also the Revitol Hair Cream, which wins Critic’s Choice Awards for being one of the most useful creams for sensitive skin. You can use the Revitol hair cream for pubic hair, facial hair, the bikini area, and the general genital area if you are not allergic to the cream itself.
Conclusion
You can use the above creams for other parts of the body like the upper lip, cheeks, arms, legs, and armpits. Although it's not a permanent hair removal option like laser hair removal, you can expect great results from using hair removal creams. Expect smooth results when using these razorless shave creams because that is exactly what they are designed for.
