In 1844, the first depilatory cream was created for public use in the United States of America. The man who created it was Dr. Gouraud. I can only speculate that the chemicals in this type of depilatory cream may have not had many side effects. Depilatory creams use harsh chemicals that destroy hair follicles.
But those days have changed. Technology has gotten better and these products have been mass marketed to the general public and international markets. They are just another product in the product lineup for huge brands.
I will begin to deconstruct the main chemicals that are in these depilatory creams and why it may cause some side effects.
NOW LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF THE HAIR REMOVAL CREAMS THAT CAUSE THESE SIDE EFFECTS.
The chemicals that destroy hair follicles.
Nair (well known hair removal product) contains two active ingredients. Those two are called CALCIUM HYDROXIDE (LIME) and SODIUMHYDROXIDE (LYE). These two chemicals when used together work together to heighten the PH level of your hair, this enables the cream to break down the hair.
Other mixtures enable the chemical known as POSTASSIUMTHIOGLYCOLATE (talk about a little later in the article), which will break apart the bonds within the hair follicle, this weakens it enough for you to simply wipe your hair off.
Sodiumhydroxide…
Is mostly used in drain and sanitary cleansing products. It encouraged an acute, dangerous alopecia (hair loss that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles). Can cause changes in hair structure.
Its counterpart Calcium hydroxide, aka lime milk orslaked lime. This is a compound you’ll mostly see in solvents, cement or cleansing agents. Let’s say for whatever reason you were to ingest a product with the compound included in it.
You would have severed stomach aches. Aches and pains from the damage around intestines.Calcium hydroxide can cause burns in the intestinal tract when ingested.
Burns around the digestive tract would equal internal bleeding. Therefore, many products you see will state “keep away from children.”
This compound may cause a difficulty of breathing.Remember when I wrote about the depilatory creams harsh smell, well, certain people may have a reaction to this, and cause a difficulty with their breathing.
Their throat may begin to swell, obviously making it hard for air to reach the persons lungs.
This can also cause the decreasing of blood pressure and the person may faint.
Hearing, Smelling, and tasting may be affected because the eye, nose, and throat may become irritated. As far as your eye, you may succumb to blurred vision or you may temporary vision loss.
Burning sensation all three of these sensory organs. You can expect to develop a strong cough due to throat inflammation, or expect to scratch at your eyes and nose due to inflammation.
THAT WAS FOR NAIR. NOW WE ARE ON TO ANOTHER POPULAR DEPILATORY CREAM (VEET)
Their (Veet) products contain thioglycolic acid and potassium hydroxide. Just like the Nair product ingredients. These compounds do a good job of breaking down the bonds of the hair follicle.
Thigolgycolic acid is colorless liquid and comes with a strong, odor. (maybe that’s where these depilatory creams get their smell from.
It can create severe burns on your skin. Like its other chemical counterpart, it too can cause severe problems along the skin layers,eyes, and digestive and respiratory tracts.
When you are purchasing a depilatory cream and you want to investigate the ingredients. I want you to remember these names. Because thioglycolic acid is known as other things such as…
Mercaptoacetic, thiovanic, thioglycolic acid. Acetomercaptan ,Mercaptoacetate, 2-Mercaptoacetic acid, 2-Thioglycolic acid.
Thioglycolic acid is a compound that is a reactive reducing agent that has a high reaction when used with other chemicals.
Thus, making it incompatible with air, bases, and even metals. It isn’t flammable. This comping can cause inflammation of the mucous membranes with in the body and the eyes and skin.
It’s a known fact that it can cause the severe burns and eye inflammation I have been writing about with the other chemicals.
POSTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, another chemical that destroys hair follicles
Is also known as lye. Manufactures include this product in cleaning products, and has been used in products in industrial and medical diagnostics. They can cause the same problems if not more harsher effects than its thioglycolic acid counterpart.
HOW DO DEPILATORY CREAMS WORK?
See, dilatory cream shave certain chemicals that enable it to dissolve the bonds in the hair follicle just below the surface.
That is why it grows back in a short amount of time. So, basically, you can have a stubble free silk smooth skin for about three to four days.Or it could come back faster depending on your bodies hair growth.
Every product for beauty or hair care has enough chemical agents in them in order to render them effective. So even though certain depilatory creams are very effective. They can also be dangerous on the skin.Causing such problems as…
They can also be dangerous on the skin.Causing such problems as…
Skin Irritation
Using these creams might affect your skins sensitivity. Whenever I apply these creams, I always get a tingly feeling. I would probably think that the cream is working its magic.
But then the feeling disappears once you wash of the product. For me, I don’t have sensitive skin.But for others with sensitive skin. They may have this feeling hours long after they finish applying the cream.
You may even expect maybe even a RASH OR DRYNESS to occur. It may be the equivalent of having a sunburn. A small sunburn.
QUICK NOTE: MANY OF THE PRODUCTS THAT USE THESE MAIN CHEMICALS ARE VERY SMALL AMOUNTS. THE SYMPTOMS I DESCRIBED FROM USING THE PRODUCTS WITH THESE CHEMICALS MAY HAPPEN ONLY BECAUSE OF YOUR BODIES SENSITIVITY OT THEM. IT PROBABLY WON’T HAPPEN TO NORMAL PERSON SKIN WITHOUT THAT MUCH SENSITIVITY.
Chemical Burns
Another thing when using these depilatory creams are chemical burns. See, your hair and skin are made of cells (everyone knows this) but they are equipped with certain proteins and amino acids in them.
Hair will break down quicker and much more often than skin does. When the creams are applied this allows the chemicals in the creams to destroy the hair follicles.
But, if you plan on keeping the creams on your skin for a lot longer that is required for it work, then you neglect to wash off the leftover residue from the cream, then the chemicals will get a chance to eat through your skin. Thus, causing a chemical burn.
Allergic Reaction
Everyone’s skin is different. It may have a different color, texture, etc. They also have different allergic reactions to whatever chemicals, creams, ointments, or whatever you put on your skin.
They are ways of identifying certain illnesses if you are having an allergic reaction. Then once you finish applying the cream, you would see a certain amount of swelling or redness with in the area.
In some cases,you might have pain, a certain burning sensation on your body part area.
Lingering Smell
If you use these depilatory creams as I do. You will expect a nasty smell, or a not so pretty smell. A lot of these manufactures companies will do their best to remove the smell to make it more consumer friendly.
More consumer-friendly product makes more sales. But regardless of their efforts, there are still a bad smell to them.
The odor, in which you probably already assumed is caused from the chemicals with in the cream. Hours after I finished applying the cream. The smell still lingers. Its annoying. Very annoying.
Now these side effects can be minor but in today’s climate may be more than just minor. See, in today’s climate, depilatory creams only last a few days before you must start the whole process over again.
You will have to deal with the smell, and the mess that comes with it. Therefore,manufacturers have increased their chemical compound within their products.This can be good and bad.
Good in that they will remove more hair, thus making the smooth hairless skin last a bit longer than expected. Bad, because it will cause a heightened level to these side effects, stronger rashes, stronger allergic reactions, and smell.
Especially towards mature (older) and sensitive skin.
With continuous use, the area of your body that you apply these types of creams may change color. So, suppose you apply it to your face to get rid of your facial hair. 3, maybe 4 months down the line, your skin tone may change.
Skin Rashes and Skin Burns
Skin exposure may cause skin related side effects. See,that word “skin exposure.” The main point of using a depilatory cream is to expose it on the skin.
So, if you have severe skin sensitivity you may want to watch out for the skin rashes and skin burns. If you leave your skin exposed to the toxic substance (calcium hydroxide) can lead to death of your skin cells.
Skin lesions may be a problem for you. Now granted, its not say if you use a depilatory cream you will get these certain side effects. Because the amount of the two active chemical compounds found in the creams are different when they are added to other types of products.
But if using them for long amount of time. If you use them for years and you swear by it. Then you will want to be very careful.
References:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/30277-calcium-thioglycolate-side-effects/
https://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1848.pdf
https://oureverydaylife.com/what-is-the-active-ingredient-in-nair-12148618.html
Further Reading
A lot of people tend to use depilatory creams in their most private areas. even though you’re not supposed to. So, after reading this and you still feel a little worried about the side effects from these creams. Grab your razor and home shaving cream, I wrote some guides on shaving your pubes and, face, and butt.
Conclusion:
You want to avoid any side effects. Then follow the directions of the depilatory cream down carefully. Creams are manufactured for certain areas of the body. So, if the cream states it’s for the legs, then use it for the legs.
If it’s for the face, they use it for your face, etc., you get the picture. Anytime you buy a depilatory cream, then you’ll see they recommend a patch test on a small part of your body for about 24hours. Rub a small amount on a small part of your body, keep it on for the recommended time, rinse it off, wait a whole day.
Check back to see if you are experiencing an allergic reaction. Remember the chemicals that destroy hair follicles may not do much damage since its in small quantities, so I don’t want you to freak out.
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