Some hair removal methods may irritate your skin if you have psoriasis. However, you can take precautions such as moisturizing and testing out products on a small patch of skin.
If you live with psoriasis, it’s important to exercise additional caution when it comes to hair removal.
Even a minor injury — like skin irritation from a hair removal cream or nicks from a razor — could cause a psoriasis flare in areas where you didn’t have lesions before.
Shaving cuts hair at the skin’s surface but leaves the root in place. It’s an inexpensive way to eliminate unwanted hair, but the results usually last for only a few days.
Shaving can irritate your skin and
You can safely shave with psoriasis, but it is important to take extra precautions to avoid cutting your skin.
Tips for shaving
- Apply a gentle moisturizer or shaving gel first. This creates a smoother surface and reduces the chance of the razor cutting or nicking your skin.
- Consider investing in an electric razor. This may be less likely to cut you.
- Toss disposable razors or change the blade after five to seven shaves. This can help reduce skin irritation, ingrown hairs, and infection.
- Shave slowly and with a light touch. This can reduce the likelihood of nicking yourself.
- Move the razor in the same direction your hair grows.
- Apply a mild conditioner designed for sensitive skin after shaving.
Applying wax to your skin and quickly removing it pulls the entire hair out.
On the plus side, waxing results can last for a few weeks or more. The potential downsides are pain, skin irritation, and a possible burn if the wax is too hot.
Because irritated skin is more likely to develop flares, this is one technique you may want to skip if you have psoriasis. If you decide to try waxing, here are some ways to do so safely.
Tips for waxing
- Test out the wax on a small area of skin first. Any redness, discoloration, burning, or pain is a warning to avoid the product.
- After you wax, apply a gentle oil-free moisturizer. This can help to reduce irritation.
- Make sure your aesthetician doesn’t dip the wooden stick into the wax more than once. Double-dipping could spread bacteria to your skin.
Threading rolls a piece of twisted thread over your hairs to pull them out. It has the precision of plucking, but it can be much faster. The results can last for 4 to 5 weeks.
This technique works best for small areas, like the eyebrows. Threading often leaves the top layer of skin intact, so it might be less irritating than waxing. Still, it can injure the skin enough to trigger a flare.
If the beautician’s hands or the thread are unclean, a threading session could also spread germs to your skin.
If you want to try threading, make sure your aesthetician has experience. Ask a friend for a recommendation or check the salon’s reviews. Make sure the aesthetician washes their hands and uses a clean piece of thread to prevent infection.
Depilatory creams use thioglycolic acid to break down unwanted hair and dissolve it off the skin. They are often easy to apply, and the results can last longer than shaving.
The scent of these products can be a big turnoff for some people, since it often compares to rotten eggs. Plus, depilatories can be irritating to the skin.
Tips for depilatory creams
- Try out a quarter-sized amount of depilatory cream on a small area to see how your skin responds. Any redness, discoloration, burning, or pain is a warning to avoid the product.
- Wash your hands right after you apply the cream.
- Follow the package instructions. It is important to know how long to leave the cream on your skin.
- Apply a gentle, fragrance-free skin care product afterward.
This hair removal method shocks the hair follicle with an electric current. The current destroys the follicle, which causes the existing hair to fall out and prevent new hair from growing.
You may need several sessions to remove every unwanted hair. But once the hair is gone, it can be gone for good.
The process might be uncomfortable for some people. A board certified dermatologist, or a specialist known as an electrologist, should perform your electrolysis. A board certified professional with experience can reduce the chance of stirring up a psoriasis flare and may provide results that work for you.
A laser vaporizes hair with a beam of light. The treatment may feel like pinpricks or a rubber band being snapped against the skin. You may receive a numbing gel before the treatment.
When done professionally, it usually takes between 2 to 6 sessions, and results may last for months or years. When done by someone without experience, it can leave burns and other skin damage that could set off a psoriasis flare.
Tips for laser hair removal
- Contact a board certified dermatologist who has experience in laser hair removal. They can help you determine whether you might be a good candidate for this option.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on how to care for your skin afterward.
- Avoid the sun until your skin heals.
Psoriasis may complicate hair removal by making your skin more sensitive. However, most methods of hair removal can be done if the proper precautions are taken, such as switching out razor blades frequently and moisturizing your skin afterwards.
You should always talk with your dermatologist before trying a new technique. Ask which method can be safest for you, and how to remove hair to avoid damaging your skin.