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By now, just about everyone knows about waxing: the process of using hot wax to pull those pesky body hairs out from the root. It may seem like a great alternative to using razors, but this hair removal technique isn't as great for your skin as you'd think!
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That's right, even waxing comes with it's own set of downfalls! Wacing can actually lead to tons of skin problems: burns, infected ingrown hairs, and scarring, just to name a few! But, there's one downside that could scare us all away from the waxing salon forever.
You could get STIs just from waxing! Dermatologist Jessica Krant, MD said “Any infection that requires contact to spread will be more easily caught if there is any damage to the skin in the area. This can be anything from obvious cuts all the way to microscopic torn follicle roots that aren’t visible on the surface. Herpes, HPV (genital warts and possibly cervical cancer), HIV, and other STIs also have increased risk with skin trauma.”
Terrible infections can also be spread by waxing, according to Krant, especially around the Brazilian wax area. “Removing the hair, especially in the Brazilian waxing fashion, where the hairs are removed from the gluteal cleft areas, increases the risk not only of STIs but of ‘self-TI’s,’” Krant said. “In other words, pulling the hairs out of those areas increases the risk that tiny skin tears will get bacteria in them that was never meant to be inside the skin. It can cause surface infections and even deeper cellulitis in some cases.” Yikes!
So, definitely stay away from waxing! Just stick to your regular razor, or let your hair grow freely! Who cares if you have body hair, it's all natural and everybody has it. But if you really can't give up the wax, try using it about once a month at most, and doing it yourself is much more sanitary than getting it done at a waxing salon. If you can't handle the pain of waxing yourself, always check reviews before going to a waxing salon, and make sure they're a reputable place that is sanitary to avoid any of those scary risks!
