Treating And Preventing Irritation From Hair Removal

One method of removing hair from your body is via shaving.The way in which you shave, as well as what you do afterwards, can help to eliminate irritation.First, shave at the end of your bath or shower.This allows the warm water to soak in and start to soften the hairs.Softening the hairs makes them easier to remove.The second way to prevent irritation is to use a moisturizing cream made specifically for shaving.One that contains oils or calming aloe vera is best.Using a moisturizing shaving cream protects the skin from distress.The third way to prevent the skin from irritation is to use a triple-blade razor.Creating the smoothest surface for shaving can prevent those little irritation bumps that may appear after shaving.Also, if you shave often enough, the skin will naturally become exfoliated and able to prevent bumps.To treat bumps, should you get them, apply a moisturizer after shaving.A lotion or cream without perfume is preferable.In the case of bumps from ingrown hairs, look for a lotion containing exfoliating ingredients, such as alpha hydrox or gycolic acid.Those with very sensitive skin, however, need to be careful.Alternatively, you may apply an antiseptic cream, found at any drugstore, to calm the shaving bumps.

Another way to remove body hair is through waxing.Prevent skin rashes by applying cornstarch to your skin prior.When the wax is applied, it should stick to only the hairs.The cornstarch or baby powder prevents the wax from sticking to the skin, thus reducing the chances for rashes.The type of wax you buy can make a difference in skin distress as well.Beeswax-based waxing products are the best for sensitive skin.This is due to the lack of artificial chemicals in the beeswax itself.Honey-based waxes will also work, as they are more natural, of course.The more artificial the ingredients, the more chances you take of irritating your skin.In the case of burns, you will want to make sure that the wax you are using is warm to very warm, yet not too hot.Extremely hot wax can certainly burn the skin.If you do develop a burn, the way to treat this would be with the application of aloe vera gel.Aloe vera gel is used on sunburned skin, so it stands to reason that it would be appropriate for cooling and soothing reddened skin due to waxing.If your skin feels too sore, you should apply a cool, moist washcloth to the area before anything else.You may want to consult a dermatologist if, worst case scenario, you burn your skin badly.This is extremely rare.If you take the proper preventative measures, this should not happen.Popping an aspirin or two at least a half hour before waxing can help as well.Aspirin acts as an anti-inflammatory.As with shaving, you'll want to also avoid ingrown hairs.You can do this via exfoliating on a regular basis, either with a washcloth or scrub in the bath or shower.

A third technique for hair removal is depilatories.These are chemical creams or lotions placed on the skin for a specific period of time that eat away at your hairs.Those who have extremely sensitive or easy irritated skin may not want to try this method.Chemical ingredients have the ability to cause skin rashes.To prevent a rash, test the product on a small patch of skin first.One of the most important things to consider when using a depilatory is not to leave it on longer than suggested.This vastly increases the irritation factor.Make sure to completely wash away the cream or lotion afterwards.Leaving any traces of the chemicals behind will only invite aggravation.Be sure to wash gently, yet effectively.You may want to use a gentle cleanser.To prevent rashes or to treat one, smooth on an unscented moisturizing lotion on afterwards.A lotion with the least ingredients is best; even better if it contains that soothing aloe vera we talked about.

There are a few other methods of hair removal that should be mentioned.To prevent any irritation issues with electrolysis, be sure to find a qualified, licensed electrologist.They will inform you of how to take care of your skin during your visit, should you decide to use that hair removal method.Another method is lasers.It is possible to develop mild skin redness; however, this can be treated by using a cortisone cream.Your dermatologist may prescribe it for you or recommend the purchase of one at your local drugstore.Next up is tweezing.To prevent irritation from plucking your hairs, tweeze after bathing or showing.This will soften the skin and make the hairs easier to remove, just as is the case with shaving.You can also apply a skin-numbing cream to your face.Do not apply too close to the eyes.To prevent further redness, pull the hair quickly, making sure you have your tweezers have a good grip on the hair.Only pull one hair at a time.If it doesn't come out easily after a couple tries you should leave it alone so you may try again another day.To treat irritation from plucking, a thin application of petroleum jelly can calm the skin.Leave on for at least an hour and then wash off gently.

Whatever hair method you decide upon, make sure to read the directions thoroughly.If you have any questions about a product you are using, call the customer service number.They should have one on the back of the product package, and it should be a toll-free call.If anything happens while removing your hair that worries you and you're not sure what to do, consult your dermatologist.Prevent and treat properly, and you should have no problems.