Side Effects of Veet Waxing Strips

Veet Waxing Strips is a hair removal system with wax pre-pasted on the strips so you can avoid the hassle of heating and applying wax when removing hair. To use, you simply remove the adhesive backing on the strips, apply to your skin and then tear off against the direction of the hair growth. But these strips are not without their own risks and side effects. Those who are new to waxing or have sensitive skin may experience more severe reactions.

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Pain

If it's your first time waxing and you've chosen to use Veet Waxing Strips, you should know that waxing can be painful, especially for those with sensitive skin. The cold wax of the strips is applied to the skin, and it adheres onto hair that is an eighth of an inch in length or longer. When you pull the strip off, the hair is ripped from the pores. The pain from tearing the hair out can be matched by the pain of tearing the strip from your skin. Veet recommends that you wax your legs first, before trying a more sensitive area of the body.

Reaction

Using a new product on your skin can cause a reaction for those with especially sensitive skin. Bumps, redness and swelling could be part of an allergic reaction if you've never used Veet Wax Strips before. The Veet Wax Strips manufacturer instructions caution all users to complete a test patch before applying the wax strips to a larger portion of the body. Apply the strips to an inconspicuous area, tear off and wait 24 hours before proceeding with the hair removal on the rest of your body. Watch for any signs of an allergic reaction.

Infection

Waxing can take off the top layer of the skin, according to Women's Health magazine, so it's important to take precautions against infection. The waxing can remove tiny pieces of your skin's surface, leaving you more susceptible to germs and eventually infection. When you use your Veet Wax Strips, do so in a hygienic manner. Wash your hands throughout the process and apply the strip to your skin only once; using it again and again can push bacteria back into the skin. Watch for signs of an infection, such as pain, redness, swelling and discharge.

Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs are a fact of life for many who choose to use waxing as their main form of hair removal. If you don't remove the hair completely in the first pass, the shortened or broken hairs left behind can curl backward and puncture the skin, leaving you with a painful red bump. When waxing with Veet Wax Strips, ensure that you don't have any "half-pulls," where you grasp the strip and pull, yet remove only part of it from the strip. This can result in hair breakage that can become painful ingrown hairs.