Is shaving legs healthy? The dermatologist explains what the risks are

What can epilation lead to? What mistakes do we most often make when shaving unnecessary hair? Which depilation methods are good for our skin? Doubts are dispelled by Dr. Joanna Sułowicz, MD – a specialist in dermatology-venereology and a doctor of aesthetic medicine SCM estetic in Krakow.

  1. Shaving is one of the most commonly used methods of getting rid of unnecessary hair
  2. It doesn’t take much time and, unlike hair removal, it doesn’t hurt
  3. However, this does not mean that it is an ideal method. Innocent shaving your legs can lead to serious skin problems
  4. More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.

If not shaving, then what?

Hair removal, including hair removal on the legs, is one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed by women. Apart from a few disease entities, this procedure is performed mainly for aesthetic reasons. For this purpose, razors were first used, then depilatories, and recently, hair removal lasers have become more and more popular.

In the case of traditional methods of shaving, i.e. razors and epilators, depending on the thickness and speed of hair growth, the treatment should be repeated every 1 to 3 weeks. In most cases, these treatments are well tolerated, but some people, especially those with delicate skin, may experience irritation.

Moreover, patients, especially those with strong hair, tend to develop ingrown hairs and, in more severe cases, to folliculitis. In both cases, the chronic process may lead to post-inflammatory discoloration and even atrophic scarring.

How to shave your legs to avoid skin problems?

To minimize the risk of irritation, use specialized foams for the shaving procedure and never, even if you are in a very hurry, do it on dry skin!

In addition, after the treatment, it is advisable to use moisturizing and soothing preparations and preparations containing urea in a concentration above 15%, which will make the epidermis gently exfoliate, preventing the problem of ingrown hairs. In more severe cases of folliculitis, it is even advisable to use topical antibiotics. With this type of problem, it is best to visit a dermatologist.

However, in the event of a cut during shaving, the wound should be disinfected, and in the event of an infection, a local antibiotic should be used. Prevention is important because the site of injury may become the entry point for bacteria leading to, among others, the development of acute rose, which is an inflammatory skin disease, most often localized in the lower limbs. Its consequence may be chronic limb edema.

In people who, despite the use of appropriate care, still have an intense problem of skin irritation or ingrown hair, leading to folliculitis, laser hair removal is a recommended alternative. Currently, in beauty salons and aesthetic medicine there are many devices that allow you to get rid of unwanted hair and what is important – more permanently. However, it should be remembered that for the treatment to be effective, usually a series of repetitions is required, depending on the device used, at intervals of 2 to 4 weeks.

Are you looking for an effective and safe method of epilation? Go for a skin revitalizing epilator. You can find this model in Medonet Market.

We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time we devote it to the diet. Do you have to stick to it 100% to stay healthy and feel good? Do you really have to start every day with breakfast? What is it like with sipping meals and eating fruit? Listen:

Leave a Reply