Table of Contents
If you are not a huge fan of shaving, it is likely that you indulge in waxing regularly. This is a very effective way to get rid of unwanted body hair for weeks at a time. However, waxing does come along with the possibility of skin irritation, and many people can get huge rashes after they wax.
As much as we love smooth, healthy skin, rashes are unattractive, unpleasant, and unwanted. But don’t worry—here are some tips for helping you to avoid rashes after your waxing treatment.
Apply a Cold Compress
One of the best things you can do to calm your skin is to apply a cold compress shortly after having your waxing treatment performed. This will help to soothe the irritation of the skin and prevent unwanted rashes. It’s important that you only apply a cold compress for up to 20 minutes at a time.
Anything over 20 minutes can cause the skin to go into a protective mode in order to prevent frostbite. This will result in skin irritation instead of soothing. So apply a cold compress for 20 minutes, then let your skin rest for a bit before apply it again.
Wear Loose Clothing
After waxing, you’ll want to wear clothing that is loose and breathable. This way, it stays away from the surface of the skin as much as possible. If you wear tight clothing after the skin is already initially irritated from the waxing, you may likely experience more irritation.
Any extra rubbing or chafing can cause irritation. If possible, try to avoid having clothing on the waxed area. For example, wear shorts instead of pants if you just had your legs waxed. Another option is a loose skirt that hangs instead of clinging to your legs.
Avoid any clothes that will give your skin unwanted contact while it is getting used to the waxing treatment. This will let your skin breathe and relax.
Avoid Most Lotions, Creams, and Perfumes
Remember that anything you apply to the irritated skin can make it much worse. Products like lotions, creams, and perfumes can, ironically, further irritate your sensitive skin. This is because your skin will be especially sensitive to any foreign element right after its protective layer of hair has been stripped away.
Your body will be overreacting to anything it detects as a threat, and it will feel especially vulnerable after waxing. This is why you get rashes in the first place.
So don’t apply most lotions (with a few exceptions) for at least a few hours after your waxing treatment. This way, your skin has time to calm down the initial irritation caused by the waxing treatment.
Apply a Cortisone Cream
However, there are certain creams that are useful. Cortisone cream is a very helpful cure for irritated skin. You should opt for applying it freshly after getting areas waxed. It will work to calm down the irritation of your skin and soothe it away.
This cream creates a protective barrier that can help keep out other products that can irritate your skin after waxing it. For instance, cortisone cream will help keep your skin insulated from the potential chafing of cloth or limbs.
Undergoing a waxing treatment every few weeks compared to shaving every day can have major benefits for your life. However, when it comes to skin irritation, waxing tends to be harsher on your skin than shaving.
Therefore, you need to take some precautionary measures after your waxing treatment is over to ensure that you don’t end up with a rash. The above four tips will get you on the way to having less irritated skin and to avoiding unwanted skin rashes in the future.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
