Kayla Young
Waxing is a great way to remove hair, and keep it off! But it doesn’t just remove hair. Waxing also removes dead skin and it increases the time it takes for your hair to grow back. By waxing, you’ll have healthy skin and fewer flaky skin cells on your body.
In this article, we’ll answer the question “Does Waxing Remove Dead Skin?”. We’ll explain how waxing is beneficial to your skin and what exfoliation techniques can help you optimize your results.
In the end, you’ll understand how excess dead skin can ruin the quality of your skin. Fortunately, you can preserve your skin health and prevent ingrown hairs from appearing with the right waxing techniques.
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Does Waxing Remove Dead Skin?
After waxing, you will likely experience some soreness, redness, bumps, and possible blood spotting on your skin.
Don’t worry.
This is a normal reaction because your skin is recovering from the wax.
When waxing, not only are you removing the hair follicles from the root, but you’re also removing dead skin.
The outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, is made up of dead skin cells that will gradually fall off, revealing fresh skin cells underneath. Waxing speeds up that process, pulling off those dead skin cells and bringing out the new cells.
As a result, you’ll have smooth skin that lasts for up to 6 weeks.
This is better than using shaving with shaving creams. That’s because the wax penetrates the skin more powerfully. Some waxes use butter and oil to improve your skin tone and texture.
Before scheduling your next wax appointment, exfoliate your skin beforehand.
Doing this will loosen the dead skin cells that can clog up pores, and will remove some skin.
Through exfoliation, you’ll reduce the pain throughout the waxing procedure, making it easier for both you and your esthetician.
What is Dead Skin?
Did you know that your dead skin cells account for 18 out of 23 layers of your skin? As humans, our skin cells are always replaced with newer ones.
On average, we shed up to 30,000-40,000 skin cells a day.
Expect to see turnover at least once a month for normal skin cells.
When shedding dead skin cells, your skin goes through a process called desquamation. This process involves removing the dead skin cells and making room for the newer ones.
However, there are times when the dead skin cells are difficult to shed. When this occurs, they can build up and look like flaky skin.
Knowing the causes behind dead skin can help you find a waxing routine that works best for you.
What Are the Causes of Dead Skin?
Throughout the desquamation process, newer skin cells are made in the top layer of the skin and travel to the surface. The new skin cells remove the dead skin cells, causing them to flake off and get replaced by the new skin.
If this process is delayed, you’ll notice more dead skin cells rising from the surface.
Your Cleaning Routine
Cleaning your skin regularly helps remove dead skin cells that are flaking. If you stop washing your face for a few nights, you’ll start to notice a build-up of oil and dead skin cells.
This can result in a dulled expression or acne breakouts.
Excessive Sun Exposure
Becoming too exposed to the sun speeds up the production of dead skin cells. Frequent exposure to the sun leads to symptoms such as loose skin, age spots, and wrinkles. If you like tanning, stick to self-tanners or follow our outdoor tanning tips.
Aging
Our bodies start to lose their fast skin cell turnover rate as we age. This is more common in women and on the neck and face.
Children and babies have healthy glowing skin because their skin cell turnover rate is fast.
In fact, a child’s skin cell turnover rate is double the production rate as an adult. Most adults aged 60+ have at least one skin condition.
Types of Exfoliation
Exfoliating your skin is your first line of defense against dead skin cells.
To do it properly, you must apply a warm washcloth across the face and clean your face before starting.
Avoid sensitive areas such as the lips or around the eyes as it will cause further skin irritation.
Chemical Exfoliation
Chemical exfoliation uses a mild acid to dissolve dead skin cells. Most skincare products have a small number of chemicals, making them safe to use. However, chemical exfoliants are not suitable for people with sensitive or dry skin because excessive use can lead to irritation and dryness.
For chemical exfoliants, consistent usage can prevent skin irritation. People shouldn’t use chemical exfoliants more than once a week. Your dermatologist will give you advice on which product will work best for your skin.
Retinol
Retinol is Vitamin A and is used to treat severe acne breakouts. However, extensive use of Retinol can cause skin inflammation. Patients that are suffering from rosacea or eczema should stop using it.
See also:
- Retinol and Sun Exposure: What’s The Deal?
- How Long Do The “Retinol Uglies” Last?
- Can Retinol Make Dark Spots Worse?
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)
BHAs are used to unlock pores and are suited for oily and combination skin. Salicylic acid is a common form of BHA that medical professionals use to tackle acne scars.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
AHAs like The Ordinary Peeling Solution dissolve the top layer of skin and reveal newer cells underneath. The use of AHAs helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and the sizes of your pores.
Manual Exfoliation
Manual exfoliation is a process where you rub the exfoliant across your skin. By doing so, you’ll use a scrub or a brush to remove the dead skin cells on your face physically.
Washcloth
If you have sensitive skin, you can use a washcloth for exfoliation. Grab an ordinary washcloth and fill it with warm water. To exfoliate, start by rubbing the face in small circles.
Cleaning your face before exfoliating helps open up the pores. Thus, resulting in clearer skin and fewer dead skin cells.
Brush
There are many brushes available, from bristle brushes to sonic facial brushes. Some brushes are too harsh for the face and work great on the body and legs. Others, like facial brushes, are excellent for the face, and don’t involve any chemical treatments.
How to Reduce Dead Skin Via Wax?
Depending on how much hair is on your body, you can opt for soft or hard wax treatment. If you have sensitive skin, hard wax is the better option.
Hard Wax removes the dead skin cells by attaching itself to your body and removing the hair from the roots.
During this process, the dead skin cells are removed. This gives your body the ability to let new skin cells grow.
Unlike shaving and other skincare techniques, it will take longer for the dead skin cells to reappear, and the hair will come back thinner.
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