Underarm Waxing 101: What to do before, during & after

Hair removal from the armpits is not only recommended for aesthetic reasons but also for better hygiene and to minimize body odor. And waxing is considered to be one of the best means hair removal for this body part. This is because this method of hair removal helps you get rid of dead cells, along with unwanted hair, giving you enviably smooth armpits. However, if you are new to this and wondering how to wax armpits, here are some useful tips to ease the process.

 

Underarm Waxing Tips 

Before you do anything else, choose the right product. This is where Veet® Wax Strips With Easy Grip™ - Bikini & Underarm – Sensitive Skin prove their worth. Formulated with Vitamin E and Almond oil, this product is especially created for the sensitive parts of the body. Here are the steps to follow after choosing the product:

Step 1: Check the Hair Growth: The length of hair is important because if it is very short, the wax strips might not be able to grip them properly, while long hair proves to be painful to wax. Experts recommend about a quarter of an inch growth. If the hair is longer, you can use a pair of scissors to trim them. 

Step 2: Prepare the Underarms: Consider exfoliating the armpits with a scrub in order to clear away all dirt and unblock follicles. Using hot water can also help soften the hair and skin and allow for easier waxing. However, make sure you pat the area completely dry. You could use a light dusting of talcum powder to ensure that any remaining moisture is soaked up. Remove the excess powder before you start applying the wax. 

Step 3: How to Wax Armpits: Get to the waxing process right away. For this, stretch your arm upwards so that the skin in the armpit is tightened and no folds occur. If you are using product that needs heating, make sure you test the temperature before applying by placing a drop on the inner wrist. It is recommended to spread a thin layer of wax and on a small area. Remember to spread the wax in the direction of hair growth. Now place the wax strip, pressing firmly down in the same direction. Grasp the end firmly and pull off in one clean stroke in the opposite direction. Do this quickly like ripping off a Band-Aid so that the pain is minimal? 

Step 4: After Care: As soon as you pull of the Veet wax strip or any other strip for that matter, place your palm on the waxed area and press down firmly to soothe the skin. You can even apply a cube of ice to stop the pain. Check the armpit in the mirror, in case some stray hairs are left behind, repeat the process before moving on to the other one. It is advisable to avoid deodorants and moisturizers for a few hours after the process. However, remember to clean both armpits of all the leftover wax.

Does dermabrasion remedy acne marks on the skin?

Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are excellent options for those battling acne scars and pitted skin.

If only there was a magic wand to erase the signs of aging and acne from your skin! Aging, stress, harsh weather and erratic lifestyles all combine to dull the skin and create many problems for it. The skin becomes lifeless, dry, develops fine lines and acne. 

In fact, you can make your peace with aging, but acne is a different story altogether. Not only does it look unseemly, it leaves behind ugly scars when it goes away. Almost all acne leaves scars, whether it is a little spot or a large pit on the skin. Soon, the surface of your skin becomes undulated. This uneven complexion must be disguised under many layers of makeup – and the marks are still visible sometimes.

There is no cure for pitted skin. The skin may take years to restore its surface, and even then, the pits remain to some extent. Hence, more and more people are being forced to approach their dermatologists for a lasting acne marks removal treatment. Hearteningly, such a treatment is available through dermabrasion and microdermabrasion.

Why dermabrasion for acne marks removal?

The procedure uses a special technique whereby tiny hard crystals are hit on the skin’s surface at a consistent speed so that they exfoliate the upper layer. Once the upper layer is gone, the skin can work on creating a smooth new layer that is free of age spots and micro-bumps on the surface. This technique is useful in removing the discoloured acne marks but not for deeper scars. However, it should not be used on darker skin tones or sensitive skin.

Sensitive skin and all skin types can use a technique called microdermabrasion to remove the acne marks such as spots and surface patches.

However, laser skin resurfacing may be required to restore the skin’s surface to a smooth level. This technique uses a laser beam to slough off the upper layer of the skin, and this removes pits and bumps. You must follow strict post-treatment care because skin resurfacing often leaves the skin raw and sore for a few days. The treated skin must be allowed to heal with the aid of doctor-approved creams and ointments, and must not be exposed to sunlight till given permission to do so. 

After about two weeks, the skin begins to look and feel normal, but there might be some extent of peeling. The dermatologist will schedule a follow up meeting to monitor the healing process. If the skin is sore or painful even after two weeks, meet your doctor again.

It is better to take the dermatologist’s advice on proceeding further with any acne marks removal treatment, and to find out the possible risks and side effects.

Have warts? No problem

You do not need to bear the embarrassment of warts any more. We present easy fixes to remove your warts.

You love everything about your appearance – after all, you take great pains to make sure that your hair is styled right, your skin is glowing and your clothes sport the latest trends. You receive compliments galore for the way you dress and present yourself. 

And then something happens and you get really depressed over it – you develop a wart on your cheek, and it’s the first thing anybody now sees!

While they are terrible to look at and seriously embarrassing, warts are actually harmless most of the time. They are generally painless and may appear in ones or twos. Most people who develop warts might have just one of them anywhere on the body. However, watch out for entire clusters of warts developing on the skin, because this means that you need to see a doctor pronto!

Though they may be painless to the touch, warts should ideally not appear on the skin at all. Their presence indicates that the skin has developed – and is currently harbouring – the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that causes warts to appear on the skin. If the HPV spreads on the skin unabated, it may cause clusters of warts to appear. You need to worry when this happens, or when the wart is sore and painful. Some warts also ooze out a clear fluid – this is indicative of a deeper disorder within.

But while all of this is absorbing information, you just want to know how to remove warts. This query is easily answered if you take one basic principle into account: since warts are caused by the HPV, it is important to kill off the HPV so that warts may also disappear. Any wart removal technique must be focussed on this fact. However, the HPV is a resilient virus and it often reappears within a few days in some cases. Also, warts removed might reappear at the same site in a few days. Hence, the wart removal process must ensure that the HPV at the site is eliminated completely.

* It is possible to eliminate the HPV – and hence the warts – by drying it out. Try fermenting the wart with a hot compress at least twice a day. The HPV will fizzle out and the wart will flatten and shed.

* You can kill the HPV and the wart(s) by applying acidic substances to the site. Try the juice of lemons, tomatoes or simply vinegar on the wart and on the surrounding skin. You will notice that the wart begins to reduce in size and darkens. Continuing this remedy will ensure that the wart dries out completely and falls off.

* It is easy to remove a wart with a narrow base – simply twine a fine thread or a hair around the base. You will notice that the thread or hair becomes slack in a couple of days – this means that the wart has reduced in size. Tighten it further and repeat till the wart sheds on its own. This technique starves the wart of blood circulation, killing it gradually.

* If you are too squeamish to deal with your wart yourself, ask your doctor for wart removal medication, or to surgically remove the wart. Post the removal, the site must be kept clean and infection-free. Once the site dries, apply lemon juice to it every day to prevent a recurrence of HPV.