Dautriche, says to avoid waxing it altogether.Ĭurb the pain with a pill. And if you’re prone to breakouts in a certain part of your body, Dr. And, to reduce the likelihood of inflammation, you can even rub an ice cube over the area beforehand. Dautriche, MD, PhD, a dermatology resident in Brooklyn. “Use a gentle cleanser containing benzoyl peroxide to remove oils or sweat,” recommends Cula N. So, before the wax is applied, wash away any makeup or bacterial buildup. Since bacteria is a big threat to protecting just-waxed skin, being clean is a biggie. “I recommend products with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid, lactic acid or both, as they help smooth the skin as much as possible, thereby reducing the risk of ingrown hairs and post-waxing irritation.” “Additionally, it’s important to exfoliate before waxing with a treatment that can cleanse and exfoliate to prevent bumps and reduce flaking of skin,” says Dr. Since retinoids exfoliate the skin, waxing while using retinoids will pull at your healthy skin, rather than just the top layer of dead skin cells, and cause irritation.Įxfoliate. Okereke recommends ditching your retinoid five-to-seven days before your wax. While a lot of the TLC that’ll keep your skin looking and feeling good after a wax has to do with what you do after the wax, there are a few things you can do beforehand to lessen your chances of irritation.īreak up with retinoids.for a bit. It just takes a bit of aftercare which these five experts have outlined for you below. Or, she says, they can also appear up to a week after the wax as a result of dermatitis, an allergic reaction or irritation usually caused by chemicals, folliculitis, which occurs when hair follicles have been damaged and infected, and ingrown hairs, when the hair works its way back into the follicle causing a painful pimple-looking bump-a common occurrence for those with thick and curly hair.Īll this said, it isn’t impossible to walk away from a wax with non-irritated and smooth skin like you intended. The signs of irritation or infection, small red bumps, might appear immediately after waxing, says Hope Mitchell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Ohio. Even touching an unwashed hand to waxed brows can lead to irritation. “Avoid working out right after a wax, swimming, hot tubs, and keep away from products containing pore-clogging ingredients such as mineral oil or heavy creams and lotions,” she adds. So, it’s vital you keep the recently waxed area clean and aerated, says Gina Petak, the learning program manager at European Wax Center. If these pores get infected with bacteria, pimples and other bumps are more likely to make an appearance. Okereke, MD, a Boston-based dermatologist. In the process of tearing hair from the follicle, waxing also snatches at the topmost layer of the skin leaving pores to open up, says Uchenna R. But what happens after the wax, how you treat your skin and keep the now-hairless area smooth and healthy, is in your hands. When they’re ripping a strip of cool, hardened wax from your eyebrow, upper lip, bikini, or armpit with your body hair attached to it, they’re in control. Considering they’ve seen some of your most intimate areas under bright lights, it’s probably okay to assume your waxing specialist has got a fair amount of your trust.
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