Once you’re done with an epilation session, the last thing you’d want is to neglect your skin care. Ignoring post-epilation skin care can lead to unwanted side effects like infections and ingrown hairs. This step is crucial, especially if you’re new to epilation and unsure how your body reacts to it.
After epilating, it’s important to prevent infection, soothe inflammation, and avoid ingrown hairs. There are various ways to achieve this, so continue reading for an overview and choose what suits you and your skin best.
Preventing Infection After Epilation
Understanding the Risk
When you use an epilator, you’re effectively removing hairs from the root. This process creates minor injuries in the hair follicles, leaving the epilated area vulnerable to infections for approximately 24-48 hours.
Minimizing the Risk
Given the susceptibility of newly epilated skin to infections, it is crucial to take immediate steps to minimize the chances of exposing your skin to bacteria or other germs that can lead to infection.
Cleanse the Skin for Infection Prevention
Pre-Epilation Preparation
Ideally, you should have already cleaned your skin before beginning the epilation process. Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure that the epilator head is thoroughly cleaned. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of infection.
Post-Epilation Cleanup
If your skin is already clean after epilating, simply use a clean towel to wipe away any excess hairs, and you’re good to go.
However, if you didn’t clean your skin before starting the epilation process, now is the time to do so. Gently cleanse the skin using a mild soap, and then carefully pat the area dry with a clean towel.
On-the-Go Solutions
In situations where a shower or sink is not readily available for thorough cleansing (such as during travel), you can opt for topical over-the-counter antiseptic sprays or cleansers. Personally, I recommend Bactine for this purpose. Not only does it function as an antiseptic, but it also contains lidocaine, which helps alleviate the pain associated with epilation. If you choose a different antiseptic, be mindful of avoiding alcohol-based ones, as they tend to irritate and dry the already sensitive skin post-epilation.
Maintaining Clean Skin
Avoiding Contamination
After achieving clean skin, it’s essential to maintain its cleanliness until the risk of infection subsides. Although it’s tempting to touch your smooth skin after epilating, refrain from doing so with dirty hands.
Minimizing Sweat-Related Risks
Sweat can serve as a medium for transporting bacteria, so it’s advisable to avoid activities that induce excessive sweating, such as intense workouts, for approximately 24 hours.
Fresh Clothing for Added Protection
Ensure that you exclusively wear fresh, clean clothing to minimize the chances of introducing germs or bacteria to the epilated area.
Addressing Accidental Contamination
In the event that you inadvertently touch your skin or expose the epilated area to germs or bacteria, simply cleanse the skin again and gently pat it dry with a clean towel. Alternatively, you can use a topical antiseptic product for added protection.
Soothing the Skin After Epilation
Skin Redness and Inflammation
Upon using an epilator, it’s common to experience skin redness along with minor pain, swelling, or signs of inflammation. While mild redness typically resolves on its own, there are various methods and resources available to alleviate discomfort and aid in the recovery process.
Ice for Swelling and Pain Relief
To reduce swelling, pain, and irritation, apply a cold compress, a bag of frozen vegetables, or a cold, wet washcloth to the skin for up to 20 minutes.
Numbing the Pain with Lidocaine
If lingering pain persists, consider using a topical product containing lidocaine, such as Bactine, which not only helps numb the area but also serves as an antiseptic to prevent infection.
Opting for Loose Clothing
To prevent skin irritation, it’s advisable to wear loose clothing for 1-2 days following the epilation process, as tight garments may cause friction.
Utilizing Cortisone Cream for Inflammation
If you experience histamine bumps, a rash, or inflammation, an over-the-counter cortisone cream can provide relief.
Avoiding Harsh Products
Within the first 24 hours after epilation, it’s best to steer clear of harsh or drying products, including perfumes, tanning products, deodorants, or those containing alcohol.
Soothing with Aloe Vera Gel
Applying Aloe Vera gel, either from a bottle or straight from an Aloe Vera leaf, can soothe the skin without causing breakouts while providing moisturization.
Reducing Irritation with Sudocrem
Using Sudocrem on the epilated skin helps reduce irritation and has the added benefit of containing antiseptic ingredients to prevent infection.
Consulting Your Pharmacist
Don’t overlook the expertise of your pharmacist, who can offer personalized recommendations for topical or oral medications based on your specific symptoms.
Tips to Prevent Ingrown Hairs After Epilation
Minimizing Dry Skin and Dead Skin Cell Buildup
Epilation often leads to the development of ingrown hairs, which can be bothersome. When the hair is pulled from the root, new hair grows back and needs to find its way to the skin’s surface. However, if the skin is dry or if dead skin cells clog the hair follicles, the hair can become trapped beneath the surface, resulting in ingrown hairs.
Moisturize Your Skin After Epilating
To prevent dry skin, it is essential to moisturize your skin within 24 hours of epilating. Some individuals may experience breakouts if they moisturize too soon due to irritated pores and skin, so it may be necessary to wait for an hour or more before applying a moisturizer.
Opt for a gentle moisturizer that is free of alcohol and fragrance, especially if you are applying it to acne-prone areas like the face. Aloe Vera gel is an excellent choice, as it not only reduces inflammation but also moisturizes and exfoliates the skin. Remember to clean your hands before applying the moisturizer to freshly epilated skin. Continue moisturizing your skin daily or as needed to prevent dryness.
Exfoliate Your Skin After Epilating
To eliminate dead skin cells, it is recommended to exfoliate your skin approximately 2–3 days after using an epilator. This allows time for any irritation to subside and gives the pores a chance to heal and close. Consistent exfoliation every 2–3 days is beneficial for preventing ingrown hairs.
There are two primary methods of exfoliating your skin: friction-based or using a chemical product.
Friction-based exfoliation involves gently removing dead skin cells by rubbing the skin with an exfoliation cloth, glove, loofah, or pumice stone. For better results, consider using an exfoliating scrub.
You can create a cost-effective moisturizing exfoliation scrub by mixing brown sugar with coconut oil and adding a few drops of lavender essential oil. However, there are numerous ready-made products available, such as the highly recommended Soap and Glory Flake Away Body Scrub.
Alternatively, you can use a chemical exfoliation product like Tendskin. These products contain ingredients such as acetylsalicylic acid that effectively remove dead skin cells and free ingrown hairs without relying on friction.
After Epilation Creams Explained
If you have come across discussions about after epilation creams while researching epilation, you may be wondering what they are and what they do. After epilation creams are specially formulated creams, lotions, or topical products designed for use after hair removal methods that remove hair from the roots, such as waxing or using an epilator.
These creams typically contain ingredients that reduce wax residue and soothe the skin. Some may also possess antiseptic properties to prevent infection, while others aim to slow down hair growth.
➡️ Two popular after epilation creams are GiGi Post Epilation Lotion and Parissa Azulene After Waxing Oil.
Considering the Value of After Epilation Creams
Unless you specifically desire a growth inhibitor to slow down hair growth after epilation, after epilation creams are usually not necessary. Often, you pay a premium for a product that claims to offer multiple benefits, but you may not require all the included ingredients. Since you are not waxing, there is no need to remove wax residue.
Instead, you may have better results by using affordable products that target specific issues you may experience after epilation. For example, if you have histamine bumps, a budget-friendly tub of cortisone cream can be highly effective.
Final Thoughts
After epilation, it is crucial to follow certain practices to achieve the best results while minimizing side effects. This section outlines the steps you should take to prevent infection, soothe the skin, and avoid ingrown hairs.
Although the after-care steps may appear overwhelming, here’s a secret: I rarely follow most of these steps regularly and still experience minimal side effects from using an epilator. For instance, I often epilate my underarms with a dirty epilator head, then simply cleanse and exfoliate with a loofah and regular soap in the shower. Afterward, I apply deodorant immediately and sweat profusely. Surprisingly, I only experience mild redness in my underarms—no major inflammation, pimples, infections, or ingrown hairs. However, the results may vary for different areas of your body.
So, while it’s best to start with all the steps outlined in this post to familiarize yourself with epilation and how your body reacts, you can adjust your routine over time. Remember, even if you don’t adhere to every step perfectly, it’s unlikely to be disastrous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Should I use coconut oil after epilating?
Coconut oil is known to be comedogenic, which means it can cause pimples. If you don’t have acne-prone or dry skin, using coconut oil as a moisturizer after epilation is generally fine. However, if you prefer a natural alternative, I recommend jojoba oil, as it is non-comedogenic and doesn’t become rancid like coconut oil.
Question: Can I use deodorant after epilating?
After epilating, it is advisable to wait until any irritation subsides, typically around 12–24 hours, before applying deodorant. This prevents further irritation to the skin and avoids introducing bacteria from the deodorant stick. Epilating your armpits at night can make it easier to wait before using deodorant immediately.
Question: What is the best lotion for after epilation?
For immediate post-epilation care, I recommend using Aloe Vera gel to soothe and moisturize the skin. Two other excellent options are jojoba oil and Sudocrem.
Add comment