Waxing is a commonly used method for hair removal. To prevent wax bumps there are a couple of things you need to be aware of. Taking proper care does help preventing the red spots, folliculitis and rashes.
But what Should We Do for wax bumps?
In This article I have discussed,
how to prepare for waxing to prevent wax bumps, things you need to follow to prevent wax bumps, home treatment to soothe these bumps and what to do in case nothing works.
- Never exfoliate a wax bump or rash with a scrub/loofah even if rash is not painful. It does not help at all.
What Should We Do To Soothe The Skin After Waxing?
The best choice would be to apply a lotion that has Soothing ingredients. For example, aloe Vera, lavender, Chamomile, Tea tree oil.
Aloe Vera gel, Tea tree oil or Vitamin E oil helps to soothe the redness and prevents infections.
Dermatologist prescribed this cream to me couple of years back. It even treats dry patches. It is also available in lotion form. Suits all skin types.
- Elovera – Buy Now
Oatmeal based products work well to soothe the irritated skin.
Use mild or creamy moisturizing cleansers and shower gels
Use calamine lotion to help with itching and irritation. Apply on damp skin to avoid dryness or mix with your moisturizer. 🙂
This product is available in every pharmacy and does not burn a hole in the pocket. If you want an alternative Try,
- Aloe Veda Aloe Calamine Calming Skin Lotion, Buy Now
Aloeveda lotion has a BB cream like tinge and has a matte effect. Keep in mind that it will not suit dry skin or the winter climate. It is not a deep moisturizer.
Best suited for Oily Skin.
What Should You Avoid After Waxing?
Avoid these for 24 hours or until the redness and discomfort goes away,
Remember that the hair follicles are usually open for several hours after waxing. Hence avoid doing things that will irritate the skin and cause an allergic reaction.
- Avoid hot water bath for at least a day. Hot water may dry out your skin. Choose lukewarm water instead.
- Avoid exfoliating right after a wax session
- Sunlight and heat
- Intense exercise
- Tight clothes that rub the area
- Touching the area repeatedly is a no-no
There are various reasons that lead to pimples and rashes. They are,
1. Folliculitis
These rashes that resemble pimples are caused by inflammation of the skin as a result of the hair being pulled out. They definitely go away after some time.
Skin appears red and uncomfortable to touch. It may be accompanied with itching, burning sensation or pain.
2. Ingrown Hairs
When the hair grows facing towards the skin rather than outward facing the surface, it results in ingrown hair bumps. These can sometimes be painful. Ingrown hair bumps are seen in people with coarse hair.
They also appear like pimples but the hair is not visible for us.
3. An Infection
If the tiny pimples are filled with liquid, then it might be due to an infection. This can be treated and prevented with a few careful steps.
Avoid touching, picking or scrubbing the area.
Do not use the same cloth to apply hot and cold compress for different waxed areas of your body.
How To Prevent Wax Bumps?
When going for a waxing session, make sure to exfoliate your skin the night before. Make it a routine to exfoliate every other day to slug off dead skin cells.
Salicylic acid products can be used to cleanse and exfoliate the area. This helps prevent Wax Bumps.
Regular cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing is key to preventing wax bumps.
Schedule Wax sessions at regular intervals. For example, every six weeks. This prevents ingrown hair growth as it does not interfere with the natural hair growth cycle.
In case you already have wax bumps, do not use the same cloth on different areas of your body while applying hot/cold compress. This is to prevent infections from spreading.
Does Waxing Permanently Remove Hair?
When you do waxing for a long time, the hair follicles may be damaged. This in turn causes the growth of hair to slow down, become thinner and finer. In some cases the hair growth may stop forever.
But waxing is not a permanent hair removal method.
What Should We Do For Wax Bumps?
Wear loose breathable fabric. Friction might irritate the skin or cause itching depending on the type of wax bump.
Apply cold compress on irritated skin for 20 minutes. You can use a towel dipped in cold water to wrap the area. This helps soothe the irritated skin and helps reduce redness.
For ingrown hair, Apply hot compress for about 10 minutes.
Do not apply deodorant and perfumed lotions.
Use oil free products.
Do not pick on the wax bump pimples as it might cause infections or blemishes.
Scrubbing the area vigorously with a loofah to get rid of the rash might just leave the area more irritated.
Apply tea tree oil based lotions to soothe the irritated skin. Tea tree oil is also anti bacterial.
In case of itching use an oatmeal based lotion or a simple calamine lotion to soothe folliculitis
- Both cold and hot compress can be applied 3-6 times a day. Remember not to keep it longer than the above mentioned time.
How Long Does The Redness Last After Waxing?
In case of sensitive skin, it may take a few hours before the redness subsides. But in most cases the irritation usually takes around 30 minutes.
What To Do When Home Remedies Do Not Work?
You can apply ointments that has the ingredients polymyxin B sulfate such as bacitracin zinc on the pimples. Neosporin also helps with the same.
These ointments does help with healing and prevents any infection.
- Consult a doctor before trying any prescription medicines and ointments. Remember, Some medications are not supposed to be used on a long term basis.
Let me know whether you liked this article. Do you have a question? Leave a comment and I will be happy to help.
Good Day! 🙂
hi there, what to do when you have forehead rashes n bumps, one of my friend is facing problem from many years and consulted to doctors, applied home remedies also but nothing worked? she has normal skin. Do you suggest anything to try?
There are a lot of reasons for forehead rashes so it is difficult to pin point the exact cause. These are stubborn and may take anywhere between 2-3 months to heal completely.
Could it be Milia? Milia usually goes away on its own but sometimes it may be stubborn.
Dry skin also causes forehead rashes so does stress, sweat and allergies. 🙁
If you have dandruff that could also be the cause. In that case, use an anti dandruff shampoo
Are the rashes red and itchy? Then it could be fungal acne. Then applying tea tree oil and aloe vera may help.
If your dermatologist has prescribed an antibiotic ointment or a retinoid cream, continue using it. In my experience it may take up to three months for your forehead to clear up. So don’t give up and be patient.
Cleanse your skin twice daily.
Use a gentle scrub as rubbing may worsen the condition.
Clean your makeup brushes and sponges regularly.
Use skincare and makeup products that are labelled as ‘non comedogenic’. These do not clog your pores and aggravate your skin condition.
If you have oily skin, using a salicylic acid product like Sebogel may also help.
Home Remedy:
Make a face pack out of Neem leaves, pinch of wild turmeric powder,honey and apply it twice daily until the rash is cleared.
You may also add a small pinch of cinnamon powder. Cinnamon powder does not suit every skin so do a spot test first.
This face pack is antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti fungal which also detoxifies the skin.