Does Waxing Create Pimples?

Waxing has become a widespread trend among the female population for its quick and permanent results. Needless to say, it can be quite painful, especially when a bikini wax is in order. While waxing is not a necessarily costly or exorbitantly painful procedure, many underestimate its ability to cause acne. After all, the process does involve tampering with the hair follicles, which act as hosts to acne lesions. There are plenty of nightmare-worthy stories documenting waxing experiences than resulted in massive acne breakouts. Oftentimes, someone will go in for say an eyebrow waxing to wake up the next morning with an ordered array of pimples lining the waxing site. While the risk of developing eruptions cannot be completely eliminated, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk.

A slight recap of how acne develops is needed to understand how waxing can cause breakouts. An acne lesion first develops when the hair follicle becomes clogged by dead skin. The entrapment of sebum inside allows the population of p. acnes bacteria within the follicle to flourish. The body attacks the bacteria, and in the end and inflamed pimple is formed.

Waxing can cause dead skin cells to get lodged into the hair follicle, and can transport bacteria to uninfected pores. The sheer force with which hair is removed can cause irritation, and alone leaves one more susceptible to acne. A good start is to make sure your face is thoroughly washed before the procedure to endure dead skin cells or bacteria won’t pose a problem. You should also alert the particular person conducting the wax to your acne-prone skin so that they can take any precautions necessary.

Having post-wax supplies ready for you at home is essential. A soothing cream or gel is a good start to provide some immediate relief. Try not play with the area for at least a day. Do not apply your acne topicals around the waxing site to allow the skin to heal.

You should always consider the alternatives before deciding on waxing. This is naturally a smart move as it can save you some money and physical pain. If you have already ruled out shaving, maybe hair removal creams are a better fit. If you are looking for permanence in a solution, laser hair removal is the way to go. It is less painful than waxing but can be quite expensive. Follow ups may be required every 6 months to a year. You don’t want to end up regretting your decision later, so give every potential solution a thought beforehand.

Tagged with: Acne • acne scars • dermabrasion • dermatologist • health • medicine • pimples • skin • skin care • zits

Filed under: Acne

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