What are?
Depilatory creams are cosmetic products intended for removing unwanted hair. Simple to use and available for purchase at any supermarket, they guarantee a reasonable result, but their use can cause irritation in the skin.
How do they work?
The removal of hair by depilatory creams is guaranteed by the presence of keratolytic substances (usually calcium thioglycolate) combined with others with caustic effect (such as sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide). Thanks to these ingredients, depilatory creams act by breaking up the disulfide bridges that make up the basic protein of hair, called keratin. The gradual dissolution of its structure means that the hair is easily removed with a simple washing or by rubbing with the appropriate sponge.
Results
The results obtained with the use of depilatory creams are quite good, as at the end of depilation the skin is completely smooth.
However, although quite effective in removing the hair shaft, depilatory creams do not affect the follicle, which is why the "smooth skin" effect vanishes already after 4-10 days.
From this point of view, their effectiveness lies halfway between razor and wax.
Side effects
Since keratin is a normal constituent of the skin, the application of depilatory creams can cause irritations, even important ones. Consequently, it is always advisable to test the product in advance on a small area of the skin, leaving then 24-48 hours to evaluate the degree of aggressiveness.
If the test has had a negative result, the product can be spread with special gloves, leaving it to act for a time varying from one to ten minutes (depending on the product used). This time interval is essential to allow the cream to "dissolve" the keratin structures of the hair; in this regard it is important to respect the manufacturer's instructions, avoiding to leave it in situ longer.
In addition to the possible appearance of severe irritation, the use of depilatory creams can cause side effects such as redness and dryness of the skin.
The use of a post-depilatory moisturizing cream prevents the onset of redness and other inflammatory phenomena. It is also important to protect the skin from the sun in the 12 hours preceding and following the treatment.
Advantages and disadvantages
In light of what has been said so far, therefore, we can state that the main advantages of depilatory creams are:
- Duration of "smooth skin" effect greater than the classic shaving depilation.
- The depilation with these products is absolutely painless.
- They are easy to use because they are available in ready-to-use packages.
- They are relatively inexpensive products.
The main disadvantages of depilatory creams, instead, consist of:
- Hair regrowth is faster than the classic wax (which, on the other hand, is more painful).
- The use of these products is not indicated in case of very sensitive skin, as it can cause very serious skin irritations.
- Depilatory creams are not suitable for removing unwanted hair in particularly delicate areas, such as armpits and groin.
- The smell, very often, is unpleasant and pungent.
Contraindications
The application of depilatory creams is absolutely contraindicated in the presence of:
- cuts;
- Abrasions;
- Burns and burns;
- Cracking;
- Showy boils;
- Injured skin in general.
In the same way, to avoid important and annoying inflammatory reactions, they should not be applied on the mucous membranes and in the surrounding skin regions.
Finally, for preventive purposes, the application of depilatory creams on the face is not recommended.
