Waxing is one of the ways of removing undesired growing hairs instead of shaving. Preparedness of waxing routine starts from before, during and after waxing to thwart any unwanted effects of waxing towards the body. Any improper way of doing the waxing caused redness and inflammation, pimples, ingrown hairs, bumps, bruising, burned skin, change in skin colour and of course, the pain. Elements influencing the occurrence of waxing incidents include lack of preparation, not testing the product, not aware of the risks as well as lack of experience and first-hand practice. So, what should we do to treat our skin whenever the wax treatment went wrong? Follow advised tips below on how to treat the skin.
Take a shower
The first step to soothe the affected area of the skin is to take a shower. The usage of a slightly heated or lukewarm shower is very recommended. If the water is too hot, it might cause another problem to arise such as dryness and irritated skin. Use hydrating cleanser products instead of exfoliating products to eliminate the wax leftover.
Apply cold compress
Using ice cubes or cold compress also benefits the irritated skin to reduce post-wax inflammation. Use them several times in a day, and for ice cubes, wrap them in a thin cloth first before using it and don’t place directly on the skin as it might stick with the skin’s surface.
Adopt the use of gel or ointment
You may choose to use natural products or the topical one to treat any inflammation of the skin. For a natural route, products like Centella Asiatica, grapeseed oil, aloe vera gel, Vitamin E oil or tea tree oil will help you to soothe the irritated area. If you pick the topical ointments, consider products with polymyxin B sulfate and bacitracin zinc in the ingredients and avoid products that contain neomycin to accelerate the healing process. You may also use hydrocortisone cream, an effective topical corticosteroid to treat inflammatory skin and available over the counter without any prescription.
Wear loose clothes
Loose clothes help the skin to breathe and prevent rubbing and friction between clothes and skin. Take the full care of the irritated skin by minimalizing any direct contact with other things or it may cause additional irritation. Irritated skin usually has a slight opening or wound, so change your clothes regularly to prevent any infection from germs.
Avoid rash activities
Restraint yourself from any activities which might affect the skin after waxing. Activities such as exercise, intercourse, tanning, saunas or hot tubs can develop irritation as it involves direct friction between the skin and another. Irritated skin also very delicate to heat and sunlight, so escape your body from being exposed to sunlight and make sure you apply sunscreen lotion before going out.
Avoid perfumed products
Any perfumed products, lotions or creams contains alcohol ingredients such as ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, alcohol denat, methanol and benzyl alcohol to act as preservative substances and help the products to penetrate into the skin. These alcohols can cause dryness and breakouts to the skin and may cause terrible effects on irritated skin. Use mild odourless lotion or cream to soothe your skin or one with natural fragrance.
If you find yourself uncomfortable or the condition of irritated skin getting worst, immediately meet your doctor or dermatologist to monitor the progress of the skin. They will give proper advice on how to take care of the skin and suggest the best products to heal the skin.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
[embed-health-tool-bmi]
