Epilators are devices that use rotating tweezers to pull out hair from the root. They are popular among women who want to achieve a smooth and hair-free skin. However, some people may experience skin irritation, redness, bumps, or bleeding after using epilators. This can be frustrating and embarrassing, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to ingrown hairs.
But don’t worry, epilators can ruin your skin if you don’t take proper care of it. In this article, we will share some tips on how to prevent or reduce the side effects of epilating and how to treat them if they occur.
What causes epilator side effects?
Epilator side effects are caused by the friction and pressure of the tweezers on the hair follicles. When you pull out a hair by the root, you create a small wound in the follicle that bleeds and swells. This triggers an inflammatory response in your body that causes redness, itching, burning, or pain.
Some people may also develop ingrown hairs after epilating. This happens when the hair grows back in the same direction as it was pulled out, instead of growing outward. This causes the hair to curl back into the skin and create a bump or a pimple.
How to prevent epilator side effects?
The best way to prevent epilator side effects is to use a clean and sharp epilator that suits your skin type and hair thickness. You should also follow these steps before and after using an epilator:
- Allow adjustment time: Epilating can cause some discomfort or sensitivity at first. You may need a few sessions to get used to it. Don’t force yourself to epilate if it hurts too much. You can try applying ice or a soothing cream before and after epilation to reduce inflammation and pain.
- Use a clean epilator: Make sure your epilator is clean and free of any dirt, oil, or bacteria that can irritate your skin. You should also replace your epilator head regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Pre-treat your skin: If you have sensitive skin or dry skin, you may want to apply some moisturizer or oil before using an epilator. This will help hydrate and soften your skin and make it easier for the tweezers to glide over it.
- Use the right technique: When using an epilator, you should follow these tips:
- Use light pressure and short strokes.
- Move slowly and steadily over each area.
- Avoid pulling too hard or too fast.
- Don’t go over the same area more than once.
- Don’t use too much force or angle on thick or coarse hair.
- Don’t use an epilator on areas with broken skin or wounds.
- Use on permitted areas: Some areas of your body are more sensitive than others when it comes to epilation. These include:
- The face
- The bikini line
- The underarms
- The pubic area
- The legs
- The armpits
- The eyebrows You should avoid using an epilator on these areas unless they are very thick or coarse hair. You should also avoid using an electric shaver instead of an epilator on these areas.
How to treat unwanted side effects?
If you experience any unwanted side effects from using an epilator, such as bleeding, redness, bumps, ingrown hairs, or scars, here are some ways to treat them:
- Apply ice: Ice can help reduce swelling, inflammation, pain, and itching caused by minor injuries such as bleeding or redness. You can wrap some ice cubes in a cloth and apply them directly to the affected area for 10 minutes at a time several times a day.
- Use anti-inflammatory cream: Anti-inflammatory creams can help soothe irritated skin caused by minor injuries such as redness or bumps. You can apply some cream such as hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion directly to the affected area for up to three times a day.
- Use antiseptic cream: Antiseptic creams can help prevent infection caused by minor injuries such as cuts or wounds. You can apply some cream such as bacitracin cream or neosporin cream directly to the affected area for up to two times a day.
- Use steroid cream: Steroid creams can help reduce inflammation caused by severe injuries such as ingrown hairs or scars. You can apply some cream such as hydrocortisone cream or betamethasone cream directly to the affected area for up to four times a day under medical supervision.
- Use antibiotic ointment: Antibiotic ointment can help prevent infection caused by severe injuries such as ingrown hairs or scars. You can apply some ointment such as bacitracin ointment or neosporin ointment directly to the affected area for up to two times a day.
- Use aloe vera gel: Aloe vera gel can help heal and moisturize the skin caused by minor injuries such as redness or bumps. You can apply some gel from an aloe vera plant directly to the affected area for up to three times a day.
- Use honey: Honey can help heal and soothe the skin caused by minor injuries such as redness or bumps. You can apply some honey directly to the affected area for up to three times a day.
- Use tea tree oil: Tea tree oil can help fight and prevent infection caused by minor injuries such as cuts or wounds. You can apply some oil from a tea tree plant directly to the affected area for up to two times a day.
- Use witch hazel: Witch hazel can help reduce swelling, inflammation, pain, and itching caused by minor injuries such as bleeding or redness. You can apply some liquid from a witch hazel plant directly to the affected area for up to three times a day.
- Use vitamin E oil: Vitamin E oil can help protect and nourish the skin caused by minor injuries such as redness or bumps. You can apply some oil from a vitamin E capsule directly to the affected area for up to three times a day.
Conclusion
Epilators are devices that can help you achieve a smooth and hair-free skin. However, they can also cause some side effects if you don’t use them properly. To prevent these side effects, you should use a clean and sharp epilator, follow these steps before and after using an epilator, and avoid using an epilator on sensitive areas. If you experience any unwanted side effects, you should treat them with ice, anti-inflammatory cream, antiseptic cream, steroid cream, antibiotic ointment, aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, witch hazel, or vitamin E oil.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to prevent “epilators ruined my skin” and how to treat them if they occur. Remember, epilation is not worth risking your skin health. Choose wisely and enjoy your smooth and hair-free skin!
