Why Red Skin After Waxing

Hair removal is a grooming routine for both men and women.  Unwanted hair is removed using different methods to get a clean and fresh look. Of all the popular methods of hair removal, waxing is probably the most common method used. Waxing gives longer results at a relatively lower cost. However, this method of hair removal may irritate the skin causing problems like inflammation, redness, and ingrown hair.

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What is Waxing?

Waxing is a method of hair removal in which hot or cold wax is applied to the area where body hair is to be removed. A waxing strip made of paper or cloth is pressed on the wax, which solidifies on application. When the waxing strip is peeled off, the wax comes off on the strip, pulling out body hair from the roots. Waxing is quick and effective, albeit painful.  The waxed skin remains smooth and hairless for a period of 4-6 weeks, on average.

What are the Side Effects of Waxing?

Waxing is a way of pulling out body hair from the roots. Often, the wax applied to the skin causes allergic reactions on account of the chemical ingredients and the harsh treatment of pulling out hair by force. This manifests as redness of the skin.

Waxing strips pull out hair from the roots. This may cause inflammation of the hair roots and infections. Often, ingrown hair causes a lot of pain and bumps on the surface of the skin.

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Tips to Prevent Redness After Waxing

Here are the tips to prevent inflammation and redness of the skin after waxing:

Warm Shower Before Waxing: A warm shower prior to waxing skin does help to soften the skin and open the skin pores. It is easier to pull out hair from skin that is relaxed due to the application of mild heat.

Prior Rubbing of the Area to Be Waxed: Rubbing the area to be waxed with body scrub helps to remove surface dirt and oils which makes waxing easier. A light dusting of talcum powder over the skin removes surface oils and helps wax adhere better to the skin.

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Cool the Wax Before Applying: The hot wax applied may scald the skin if hot. To prevent waxing burns, the wax should be cooled to a tolerable temperature before application.

Use Fresh Film Strips: Cloth strips used for waxing are usually washed and reused. This may cause infections that spread between consecutive users of the strips.  Using fresh paper or film strips each time instead of reusing cloth strips prevents skin infections from spreading.

USe Freshly Made Wax: Using freshly made wax made from natural ingredients like sugar and lime juice instead of chemical-based waxes helps prevent redness and allergic breakouts.

Cold Application After Waxing: Immediately after waxing, rub an ice cube over the waxed area to prevent redness.

Natural Anti-Inflammatory Lotions: Lotions made from chamomile and green tea extracts are used to soothe freshly waxed skin.