What's Better for Acne, Shaving or Waxing?

The question we are going to answer in this article can be a little bit embarrassing for most people. Similar to having acne, it’s one of those unspoken problems that feels like talking about it will only make it worse somehow.
 
But we are here to remind you that having unwanted hair is completely normal and can be relatively easy to deal with. Although it’s not typically a topic of daily conversation, it is something that we want you to feel comfortable discussing freely with your skincare professional.
 
There are a lot of options for getting rid of unwanted hair, but the most popular are shaving and waxing. That is because they are the most accessible, cheapest, and the easiest to do.
 
While waxing may be a preferred option for some because of the longer regrowth periods, it’s not always the best. It is clearly the more painful choice, as it rips hair out at the root. It also causes the most irritation to the skin. Particularly when skin is sensitive, it is more prone to acne or ingrown hairs, which can become incredibly inflamed or even infected as a result of the pulling and ripping motion of waxing.
 
Shaving, on the other hand, usually only causes irritation if the skin is being too exfoliated or dried out. An easy way to avoid over exfoliating is to use exfoliating cleansers a little less or shave less frequently. Sidenote: you obviously do not want to shave directly over active acne, as that can increase the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of your skin.
 
The best method of shaving is to use a disposable single blade razor and only use it once. This is to prevent infection and the spread of harmful bacteria. Typically, we would recommend to always shave with the grain of the hair, as this creates less friction on the skin. This is also the safest method of dealing with unwanted hair as long as you are using new razors every time.
 
Please know that the old wives tale you may have heard about hair growing back thicker, darker, or scarier are simply not true. This is because the fine, translucent hair on your face is vellous hair and is found on your face, chest and back. This is totally different from terminal hair, which is far coarser and grows on your head, underarms, pubic area and brows. Because vellous hair is so fine and different from terminal hair, cutting it or shaving it does not make it grow in thicker or feel stubbly afterward. Men’s facial hair is terminal hair, ours is vellous.
 
If it becomes a concern, to help deal with ingrown hairs and shaving irritation, you can use BPO Scrub to help soften the skin and loosen the hair. This help you get a closer shave. Then use Gentle Wash for the actual shaving part to reduce friction. While there are different skin types, and a variety of acne prone triggers, it’s important to be aware of any ingredients you put on your skin. Using the products mentioned above, you will have peace of mind knowing that there are no pore-cloggers in your shaving regimen, decreasing the likelihood of ingrown hairs, irritation, and breakouts.
 
Let us know if you have any other questions by giving us a call at 385-274-0671. Or you are welcome to book an appointment with us on our website at Acne Services.