Stripping pubic hair can irritate skin and lead to infections Eveline Gan eveline@mediacorp.com.sg SUE Zhang got hooked on Brazilian waxing seven years ago. Today, the 28-year-old marketing executive continues to be faithful to her painful bi-monthly regimen, during which a therapist strips off every hair from the pubic area. This is despite having gone through several unpleasant waxing treatments, including one traumatic occasion when a patch of her skin was ripped off by an inexperienced therapist. “This occurred a long time back, when waxing was not that common. There was bleeding, but I didn’t see a doctor because I thought it was normal. I was lucky I didn’t get an infection,” said Sue, who has a permanent scar to show for her ordeal. As genital waxing becomes increasingly popular — Strip, a local waxing operator, estimated a 300-fold increase since it started offering Brazilian waxes in 2002 — it is not uncommon to hear of treatments that go awry. In fact, the bikini wax was almost banned in New Jersey last month after two women were reportedly hospitalised for infections after undergoing the procedure. One of them filed a lawsuit. The ban was eventually overturned when salon owners launched a protest. Although lawsuits over waxing complaints are unheard of here, doctors Today spoke to said they have seen their share of patients who complain about post-waxing problems such as skin irritation, infection and ingrown hair. Each month, obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Watt Wing Fong of Raffles Hospital attends to one or two patients who have an infection in the pubic area. Dr Lawrence Khoo, a consultant dermatologist at Dermatology Associates, sees up to 20 patients each year for skin problems that occur after waxing. BUMPY SKIN: A COMMON AFFAIR Post-waxing skin irritation is a fairly common complaint. So are skin pigmentation changes, said Dr Khoo. He explained that skin irritation is common because the groin area is generally more sensitive than other parts of the body. The skin around the genitals tends to be thinner, too. Another grouse is ingrown hair, which causes the skin over hair follicles to swell. Said Amanda Koh, 25, a public relations consultant who waxes every two to three months: “It’s very common, but it’s not that serious.” DON’T UNDERESTIMATE A SKIN IRRITATION But skin irritation can become serious if it leads to an infection, said the doctors. Most of the patients Dr Watt sees suffer from folliculitis, a condition which causes inflammation or pain due to an infection of the hair follicles. A few patients also develop tiny boils around the genitals, she said. “Waxing traumatises the hair follicles, allowing bacteria in the skin to gain access to it. This results in infection. Sometimes, inflammation in the skin can also result in blocked oil glands. They may become swollen and subsequently become infected with bacteria,” explained Dr Watt. Infection can also occur when hygiene standards are not up to scratch. “If the therapist carrying out the procedure has a skin infection, it can spread to her customer through skin contact,” said Dr Khoo, who said that light-based hair removal may be another option for those who want a “longer lasting” method of hair removal. But it’s a worry that’s uncalled for, said Strip’s spokesperson, Ms Janet Lim. She told Today that, in general, waxing hygiene guidelines are upheld stringently. “We keep any health risks under control by using a new hygiene pack for each customer. This pack includes disposable wooden spatulas, cotton swipes, gloves and cleansing wipes,” said Ms Lim, group PR manager for Spa Esprit group, which owns Strip. “We also don’t do double dipping. Our waxing spatulas are changed after every application because we know what a great breeding ground a warm pot of wax is for bacteria,” she added. Is it really cleaner being hairless down under? “You’ll feel cleaner after a Brazilian wax, especially when you have your menses,” said Sue Zhang, an avid waxing fan. Like Sue, many people and waxing salon claim that hairless genitals are “cleaner”. But this is not true, said obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Watt Wing Fong of Raffles Hospital. Although some conditions such as pubic hair lice and pre-surgery preparation require the removal of pubic hair, Dr Watt does not recommend Brazilian waxing. After all, pubic hair has its functions. “For example, pubic hair protects the genitals against friction during sexual intercourse, keeps the genitals warm and even prevents dirt from entering the genitals. Furthermore, the process of hair removal may sometimes cause more problems such as skin irritation and infection,” said Dr Watt. Don’t wax if you ... ... have a skin rash or infection. ... are consuming or applying any accutane, retina A, AHA acid or Vitamin B supplements. These products thin your skin and can lead to skin tearing. ... have undergone chemotherapy or radiation treatments as they may cause changes to your skin. ... are in the first trimester of your pregnancy. Seek approval from your doctor if you want to wax after your first trimester. http://www.todayonline.com/articles/312377.asp