Skip to main content

Hives from Waxing

Once in a while, I have a client who experiences hives immediately after a waxing. They can be small itchy bumps right where hairs were or larger welts that look like mosquito bites. The hives only last a short time. An hour at most. Typically, hives on the area that was waxed first, are already fading by the time the waxing service is completed. 
hives from waxing
This is a histamine reaction. The body is reacting to the hairs being pulled out. The body is perceiving the hair removal as a threat. The immune system springs into action producing histamine to fight the threat, like an allergic reaction. Does this mean my client was allergic to the wax? No. The body is reacting to the irritation of the hair being pulled out not the wax itself, producing inflammation and hives as a defense mechanism.

Calm the Reaction

There are some things you can do to calm the reaction. You could take an anti histamine allergy medication such as Zyrtec before you get waxed. After waxing, apply a thin layer of an anti histamine cream such as, Benedryl Cream, to help stop the histamine reaction. You can also try a thin layer of a cortico steroid cream, such as hydrocortizone cream, to help calm the inflammation.

See me at Styling Point in Media, Pa. for a perfect waxing!

 I have also heard that hives and excessive redness occur when there is too much acid in the body. Taking an antacid, such as Tums, about 20 minutes before waxing will help calm this type of reaction. A salt water compress after waxing will also calm the reaction.

 You can choose to wait it out. The hives will go away on their own.

 Read about sensitive skin care products

It's never too late to start taking care of your skin. You can see me at the salon for a skin consultation, facial, other skin care services including waxing or to purchase Yonka Skin Care Products.  Styling Point 610 566-1070

Have a Beautiful Day!
xo
Jill
Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist
PS: Thank you for using my amazon affiliate links💋
I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you that keep my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸  

 Wedding, special occasion or everyday makeup and skin care services available in the Philadelphia, Pa. area. Visit my makeup page for more information!

Labels:
Location: Old State Rd, Media, PA 19063, USA

Comments

  1. TheMomSeptember 22, 2017 at 6:00 PM

    My welts don't go away, they turn into water-filled blisters like cold sores. I'm in a dilemma. My skin is so sensitive it reacts negatively to epilating/waxing and I seem to be allergic to chemical depilatory products.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JillOctober 31, 2018 at 1:46 PM

    You may be allergic or have over reactive sensitive skin. If the blisters are small like little pimples, sometimes removing bacteria by applying an antiseptic compress to the skin before and after waxing plus using wax formulated for sensitive skin eases the problem. You should probably stick to tweezing, threading and using an epilator or consider eletrolysis. Electrolysis is a permanent form of hair removal that may work for you. The hairs are treated one by one using an electrical current. It's time consuming but the hairs are gone for good!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

White Bumps Under Eyes: Milia

Have you noticed that you have little white looking bumps under your eyes? Some people call it chicken skin because the bumps look like plucked chicken skin. 🐔 Most likely those little white bumps are milia. They can feel hard or pearly. These bumps are not acne. Milia can occur when dead skin cells become trapped beneath the outer layer of skin. Keratin becomes trapped and builds up. A small benign cyst can form which is the milia. It's a cyst!?! Don't let that word scare you. They are harmless, but unwanted bumps.  They can occur on any area of the skin that tends to be on the dry side. They cannot be squeezed out like a blackhead or pimple because they have no opening. A layer of skin covers them. A hole must be created in them using a needle, then they can be extracted out. Read more about blackhead, whiteheads and blind pimples This is a common problem for the under-eye area. It is a dry, delicate area of the skin. I see it a lot on my clients. Heavy products
Post a Comment
Read more

Dermatofibromas

This post is all about dermatofibromas and some remedies to help make them look better and ways hide them. It includes my Amazon Affiliate Links to help you find the products I talk about. Q. I have this brown bump on my leg that won't go away. What can I do about it? A. It could be a dermatofibroma. I see them often on my leg waxing clients. A dermatofibroma is a tan to brown benign raised bump more common in women than men and occur commonly on the legs. The bump feels hard under the skin and can be itchy, tender and easily irritated. A doctor will tell you not to worry about it because it's benign, but it's kind of ugly! Dermatofibromas are also called Benign Fibrous Histiocytomas. They are the result of some sort of injury to the skin such as an ingrown hair or a bug bite.  Be careful when shaving because a dermatofibroma may bleed and become sore if nicked. Don't think you can get rid of it by shaving it off. It will be an awful looking sore and will j
3 comments
Read more

Why does my lipstick change color on my lips?

So, you found a gorgeous shade of peachy nude lipstick.... right on trend. It looks amazing in the lipstick tube but when you put it on, it turns orange within 15 minutes!  It happens to me all the time. Pigments in the lipstick react with the chemistry of the skin and change color. This color shift is due to the pH of the skin. Our skin has an acidic pH of 4.5 to 5.5. It varies slightly from person to person which is why lipstick changes on some people and not others.  The oil, sweat and bacteria on our skin create a protective layer called the acid mantle with its pH of 4.5 to 5.5. The acid mantle can change due to how we treat our skin.  The skin pH can change due to the environment.  The sun, as well as pollution, can affect skin's pH.  What we eat can affect the pH of our skin.  Sweating and cosmetic products can also change pH.  The skin will always try to get back to 4.5-5.5 no matter how we abuse it.  Use gentle pH balanced skin care products, eat a healthy diet w
Post a Comment
Read more