Hair today, gone tomorrow!
Ah, smooth silky skin – who doesn’t love that? And with supermarket shelves groaning with every cream, wax and strip you can imagine, it’s never been easier to get that smooth, hair-free skin.
But… (there’s always a but) – how safe are those products? Let’s delve into hair removal products before you slather on that cream.
What’s a depilatory product?
These products are creams, lotions, sprays or gels that are specifically formulated to remove or reduce hair on the body. They work by breaking down the protein structure of the hair so that they can be easily swiped away.
What’s actually in these lotions and creams that can do this? Depilatory products use chemicals like calcium thioglycolate or potassium thioglycolate to dissolve and weaken hair. You apply these products to your skin, leave them on for a while, and then remove them along with the dissolved hair.
Are they safe?
All these products undergo extensive testing and checks before being approved to be sold in stores, so generally, you should have no safety concerns.
The important thing, however, is to always do a little patch skin test – don’t just grab a bottle and immediately rub it all over your legs. You need to make sure that lotion or gel doesn’t affect your skin, cause an allergic reaction, burning or injury.
Also, remember that certain parts of your body may be more sensitive than others, so it's important to choose a cream or lotion that’s specifically created for that intended area. For example, using a product designed for legs on the face could cause severe discomfort or irritation.
Good to know
- Avoid using hair removal creams on sunburned or recently inflamed skin as it can further irritate and damage the skin.
- After removing the hair, rinse off the cream thoroughly and apply a gentle moisturiser to soothe and hydrate the skin. This should help minimise any potential dryness or irritation caused by the depilatory product.
- Pay attention to recommended application time. Leaving the cream on for too long can cause skin irritation or burns!
- If you feel any type of skin reaction, remove the cream immediately. Some people have extremely sensitive skin so don’t ignore immediate signs of a reaction.
- It’s tempting to use more than needed for maximum effect – but the instructions advise a certain amount for safety reasons so don’t ignore those recommendations.
- Try not to use a scented lotion, cream or fragrance on your skin immediately after as the fragrances or alcohol could cause a reaction.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, or using any medication.