Why You May Break Out After Grooming Your Eyebrows, According To Our MUA
Does your skin break out after threading or waxing? As it turns out, habitual eyebrow breakouts after a visit to your esthetician are nothing to worry about. "There [are] several factors that play into this," celebrity hair and makeup artist Denise Madrigal of Cloutier Remix explained to Glam in an exclusive chat. "And do not worry, this is totally normal."
In fact, it's common to notice rashes or bumps in the areas around your eyebrows after many hair removal methods, including waxing, as the wax pulls at the delicate skin when removing the hairs (via Healthline). The damage to the skin leads to inflammation and can cause a rash known as folliculitis to form around the eyebrows. "Another reason for burns on the skin is due to the wax being too hot! Your esthetician should always do a test strip on herself before directly applying [it] to your skin," Madrigal warns.
In some cases, forcefully removing hair from the follicles also leaves them vulnerable to bacteria, so the bumps may become infected and fill with fluid (via Healthline). Infected bumps may persist for several days, but, for the most part, inflammation and bumps from waxing or threading tend to heal on their own. Still, despite being pretty common, post-grooming breakouts are inconvenient and uncomfortable, which is why we spoke to Madrigal to learn the best ways to prevent and treat pesky bumps or pimples around your eyebrows.
What to do after a salon appointment to ensure smooth-sailing healing
Immediately after a grooming session, try to soothe the inflamed skin to accelerate your healing and prevent bacteria from entering the exposed hair follicles. "Icing your skin when you get home will help close your pores to prevent breakouts, followed by a light layer of pure aloe vera," Denise Madrigal told Glam in our exclusive talk. To do this, use a cold compress on the area for 10 to 20 minutes, which will also help lower inflammation, per Healthline.
"If the [wax] burn is a bit more severe, apply a topical antibiotic ointment cream and take a Tylenol to reduce pain and swelling," Madrigal added. While your skin heals, try not to touch or pick at the area, as you may introduce bacteria to the sensitive skin. Keeping the skin clear of bacteria, dirt, and sweat wards off infection and prevents acne. As such, avoid activities that cause intense sweating for at least 24 hours, as sweat further vexes the skin and increases the risk of infection, according to Healthline.
What to avoid after a brow sesh for happy, healthy skin
In addition to keeping the area clean, it's important to reduce damage to your already sensitive skin. "If you use any type of retinol, you will definitely experience burns on your skin after your wax," Denise Madrigal exclusively revealed to Glam. To prepare for your session, you should "stop the use of retinol at least 72 hours before your wax service." Madrigal also recommended wearing SPF after threading or waxing to "protect that new layer of your skin [that is] forming."
It's also best to avoid wearing makeup after a fresh wax or threading session, as many cosmetic products tend to clog pores and cause acne. Beauty tools such as makeup brushes and sponges also act as breeding grounds for bacteria, which increases the risk of infection and irritation, per Healthline. Once your skin heals, prevent dead skin cell build-up between appointments by cleansing and exfoliating with a chemical exfoliator such as salicylic acid. You may also continue using retinol in your skincare routine once healed.
To sum it all up, the best course of action to treat and prevent annoying breakouts after an eyebrow wax or threading appointment is to keep the area clean. Soothe the skin and avoid anything that will irritate the skin around your brows. If your skin doesn't heal quickly or evenly, reach out to a dermatologist who may recommend anti-inflammatory ointment, such as cortisone cream, to apply after your appointment.