S K I N H E A LT H
ROOT CAUSE
Waxing: a Medical Aesthetician's Answer to Bumps, Burns, Irritation and itching By Amelie Harding
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appy Summer Acadiana! We are excitedly getting out of the house, enjoying this weather, and celebrating some family time out of quarantine. With the beach comes swimsuits and with swimsuits comes a bit of a taboo subject: body hair. Nobody likes feeling self-conscious in their cutest new swimsuit, worrying about hair poking out in places where it shouldn’t be. For many women, shaving in intimate areas and other areas of the body cannot only be painful, but can often result in ingrown hairs, irritation, itching, and unsightly red bumps. So what do we do About all this hair while avoiding that irritation?
We wax. First things first...it can be a bit much. Waxing can be a very uncomfortable or embarrassing experience for many people, but rest assured that your aesthetician has waxed many others and to her, this is just her job. There is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of, this is what we do and we love to help. Secondly, let’s address the number one question we often get about intimate waxing: how painful is it? I’m going to be frank: it is not something that many people necessarily look forward to. It can be uncomfortable if it has been a while since you have had that area tackled. The good news is it’s always worth it.
The temporary discomfort is always worth the long-term benefits. What are those benefits, you ask? Regular waxing can cause trauma to the follicles that you are having treated, resulting in less hair growing back and also possibly growing back thinner and less coarse in the future. You’re also left with less itchy, red, bumpy skin in that area. Red bumps caused by razors can be just as embarrassing as actual hair “down there." With waxing, you’re left with a very smooth soft surface that looks great in any swimsuit. Another benefit is how long it takes for the hair to grow back. Unlike shaving where the hair is removed on the surface of the skin, waxing removes the hair all the way down from the root which means it will take much longer to grow back. Most people will find that the skin is smooth and hairless for about 3 to 4 weeks. Also remember that waxing is not just for intimate areas. Waxing is ideal for legs, under arms, backs, and all other areas of the body where we tend to grow unsightly hair. After a service, you can expect your technician to go over detailed aftercare instructions that will keep your skin happy and healthy. Always look for a technician that practices proper sanitization in a clean, well-kept waxing area. I hope everyone is enjoying this summer with their family and loved ones. Please be safe and enjoy yourselves.
Amelie Harding is a medical aesthetician, owning and operating Amelie Aesthetics Studio in Youngsville, LA where she offers a wide variety of customized facial treatments, along with threading, waxing, and eyelash services. Amelie was born and raised in Lafayette and is a proud single mother to two children, Zoe (16) and Henry (8). 38
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