Side Effects of Waxing Underarms at Home

Waxing is a method to remove unwanted hair from the body. The area which is waxed remains smooth longer as hair is removed from the follicles. Either hot or cold wax can be used.

Cold wax is available as a tube in stores. Hot wax may be just that or it may be a melted version of sugar with some citric acid or lemon added to it.

In the hot form, the mixture is headed to liquidise it and then slightly cooled and applied to the skin. Waxing can be used for arms, legs, bikini area and armpits or underarms. Armpit waxing hurts a lot. There may be slight pain and the skin may become red or irritated after waxing.

How to wax underarm hair at home?

The procedure for waxing armpits at home is as follows:

1. Clean the area to be waxed and dry it completely.
2. Heat the little wax and using a spatula apply a thin layer of it in a small portion of the area to be waxed.
3. Keep strips of cloth ready. As soon as wax is applied press a strip of cloth to it so that it sticks properly to the skin.
4. In one quick motion, holding an edge of the cloth, pull against the hair growth.
5. Repeat till all the hair is removed,
6. Wash off the remains of the wax.
7. Apply a soothing lotion on the waxed area like calamine or calendula.

Side Effects Of Waxing Underarms Hair

The hair in the armpit is provided by nature to protect the skin there from bacteria. Therefore, the underarm hair may cause many waxing side effects and long term disadvantages.

This method is little painful while you wax underarms or armpits because the skin is comparatively softer than other parts of body. Waxing is a forcible method so it may cause minor injuries to the skin also. Rashes may develop due to pulling out of hair from it’s root. There may be inflammation and infection due to this. As there are folds of skin under the armpit and it remains wet, there will be irritation too. Due to constant friction there can be cell mutation which may cause cancer in long run.

Does underarm waxing cause breast cancer?

There is no clear answer to this question because each human’s body is unique. Not even authentic research is done or published by experts.

Everybody’s skin and immune system reacts differently to foreign objects. Many women have sensitive skin. For some women it is possible to have serious skin problems in prolonged use of waxing, which may convert to cancer in long run.

Due to waxing underarm hair, the pores there may infected, swell and enlarged. Harmful chemicals from cosmetics or products used for the armpit sweating like deodorants and powders can easily enter the skin through these pores.

Breast cancer possibilities are rare, only if:

Lymph nodes are present inside armpits and infection can affect them as well. These glands are connected to the breast and any toxins or bacteria which enter the lymph glands can travel to the breast and from there to the rest of the body. This can cause breast cancer and diseases of other parts of the body like lungs and heart.

Safe methods for armpit hair removal

• Armpit hair can be removed by less injurious methods like cutting with a small pair of scissors or razor.
• If necessary, the area can be shaved as shaving removes hair from the surface only and is not invasive.

Some other pros and cons of waxing armpits:

Pros:

• Possibilities of ingrown hair is comparatively low than other methods.
• New hair growth is slower because follicle or root of hair is removed.
• Chances of hair thickening is less compared to shaving.

Cons:

• Waxing may cause skin darkening in prolonged use.
• It is expensive method of hair removing compare to shaving.
• Burning feeling or irritation may persist for long time, so it needs longer aftercare.
• Above all, it is a painful process and may cause permanent damage to skin and complications.