Waxing vs. Shaving

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dreamintwilight

dreamintwilight

Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
2,384
Ever since I started on Humira a year ago, and then Imuran a couple months later, I've been more wary about things that may put me at a greater risk for infections.

Prior to starting all the medication I was an avid shaver, especially in the nether regions, but have basically just keep it neat and tidy for fear of exposing myself to bacteria with all tiny nicks and cuts you get from shaving. I don't even shave my legs as often--maybe once a week or every other week (it's cold, so having hairy legs isn't too big of a deal right now).

I've always been curious about waxing and if anyone on immune suppressants does it. Have you had any problems as compared to shaving or vice versa? I hate how bumpy my legs are after shaving, so I was considering waxing, but don't have any experience with it. It would also be nice to not have to shave as frequently!

Any input would be nice. :) I've never known anyone that actually gets regular waxing done, so I have no frame of reference. Thanks ladies!
 
Oh, good lord, I never even thought about it while I was on Humira, Metho and Pred!!! I use Veet or Nair and have never had a problem. I also get my 'stache and lip waxed every other week. And I'm sure the cheap Asian nail place I go to to get waxed isn't the picture of sanitary!
 
Haha, Amy. Yeah...I also have no ide what to consider if I did go to a waxing place. I've heard horror stories about staph infections after getting waxing done. Yikes. Maybe I should revisit Nair. I tried it back in high school, before I got over my nerves with razors and it didn't seem to work for me. Maybe I didn't leave it on long enough or something. Maybe the bottle was old. How to know if it's working? My husband said he used it once (no idea for what haha) and his skin felt tingly while it was on. It definitely wasn't like that when I used it, but he is extra sensitive to certain fragrances and soaps too. Does it tingle for you? How long do you leave it on for? And how long before you have to do it again for your legs?
 
I've been to the asian salons before for waxing. Only legs, eyebrows, bikini. Never had a health issue with it.
 
I shave and haven't had any issues.....I haven't tried waxing...something about that 'ripping' that gives me the willies! :)
 
Marisa - I don't know how long ago high school was for you (considerably less than it was for me LOL!!) but I find the Veet formulas very good and easy to use, and quick! They also don't smell as bad as in the old, dark ages when I was in HS.

The Veet I use on my bikini line only takes about 5 minutes. I don't wax down there b/c I can't bear the thought of hanging it all out there at the salon!

I have to do my bikini line and legs every week or so in the summer. In winter all bets are off and I go months sometimes! It's growing in thinner now, not sure if it's because of the continued use or b/c of age!!
 
dream - Only meds I've been on is a mix between Asacol, Entocort, Prednisone... Sorry.

Jess
<3
 
Amy - high school was...about 12 years ago for me. I'll have to try out the Veet stuff and see how it works. Thanks :) Once a week is still better than every 2-3 days. Any advice on ingrown hairs? I get those on my legs all the time and it's so annoying.

Jess - Thanks anyway for the input. ;)
 
I have an unusual way of removing the hair from my naughty bits. I use this stuff called Magic cream. It's kind of like nair, but it's made for African American men to remove the hair from their head. It works really well!
 
MissMandy - How did you figure out that would work?? Haha.

I actually tried the new Veet lotion about a month ago and I think it was too strong for my skin because I noticed lots of cut-like sores on my skin afterward. And I only left it on for the recommended amount of time. I saw that there was a formula for sensitive skin, so I don't know if I might try that or not. I'm kind of not wanting to buy another bottle of stuff I ultimately won't end up using. So, I've been shaving again as of lately.

Amy - Do you use the regular Veet formula for legs or the sensitive? I can't tell if all those sores on my legs were from previous tiny knicks I had on my legs from shaving that I couldn't see and maybe the lotion irritated them. Because the directions say not to use on any open wounds or cuts. SO, I don't know. I thought I had waited at least a week, if not more, between shaving and using the lotion to make sure any cuts I may have had were healed. So, I don't know...I was weary of trying it on my bikini line if my legs were in fact sensitive to the lotion. Didn't exactly want to kill my bikini line with it! Haha.
 
I'm wanting to hear the great answer to this thread as well! My legs I shave once a week now. Yeah, that's all I can stand to bend with. Parastomal hernia. As for the 'wee bits', I cant see em anymore and I suspect I look somewhat like a Yeti by now?? :ylol: I should remind you all I weigh a whopping 105 lbs, so it's not fat causing the lack of view, its the hernia.

If I have myself waxed...or use Veet or Nair, and it causes rash or sores, does that not make me more prone to infection, espcially if I use Imuran or such?

Misty
 
Misty - That's kind of what I'm wondering with your last question ;) I think potentially it could mean if you have any cuts or sores they could take longer to heal and may become infected. But, it sounds like the majority of women here shave and do fine. And that's giving us tons of tiny cuts on our skin we can't even see ;)

I have no experience with waxing at all and don't know anyone who does either, so I'm pretty much dumb as far as it comes to that. I've heard horror stories about people with normal functioning bodies that get terrible infections after getting waxed professionally. Though, I guess you never know how clean places like those are, even if they are following the cleanliness standards. With all those horror stories, waxing sounds terrifying, but I was hoping to maybe find a balance of good stories on here. But, so far no one waxes! LOL

I'm on Humira AND Imuran, so I want to be careful, but I also don't want to be a Yeti either! ;)
 
dreamintwilight said:
MissMandy - How did you figure out that would work?? Haha.
Click to expand...

LOL I can't take the credit for it, unfortunately! I am a member of a couple different message boards for mothers, and the info was passed on to me from them LOL It WORKS! If anyone is interested, I can give some tips and tricks for using it, and where to find it!
 
I have waxed every other month for nine years. I can't stand shaving and have never tried nair or anything. I even get waxed while pregnant. I have never had an infection, but I have had bad waxes; as in, they hurt like heck! I find one person that I like and I keep seeing her. If you have any questions let me know!
 
That's good to know, Ashley. What do you typically look for in a good wax technician? Are you on any immune suppressing drugs? That's my main worry with infections - being extra susceptible and all.
 
I look for someone that is quick and uses both the hard wax and the soft wax. Soft wax is used for like your eyebrows....a good tech will take about 30-45 mins for a full Brazilian wax, which is what I do. Also, my tech uses a numbing cream, which is nice.

I was on remicade and imuran and I never had any problems. (Both of the drugs failed for me.) I am no longer taking anything.
 
Thanks for your input, Ashley :) That makes me feel less paranoid about getting it done! Did you mention to your technician that you had a compromised immune system at all?
 
I didn't mention my immune system. I actually didn't think about it being a problem. I might bring it up my next appt., but thus far; I have not had a problem with waxing.
 
emr52 said:
Mandy I am curious about this stuff! Where can it be bought? :D
Click to expand...

You can find it online at amazon or any store that carries products for African American hair care. It's called Magic Cream and you can get in it either a powder form that you mix with water or in a cream form. One tip I have heard but never tried is to put cotton balls in your hoo ha (LOL sounds weird I know!) so that none of the cream gets in places that it shouldn't be. I use an old credit card to scrape the cream off and then get in the shower and use a washcloth to wash and remove the rest of it. You also want to make sure that the hair isn't too long or it won't work as well so I trim it short before, and don't shave before or after because that will irritate the skin. If you miss some hair just wait the next day to reapply and do it again. If I have a "special" date night planned I try to do the hair removal a couple of days before! Let me know if you have any other questions!
 
I guess I forgot to mention that the Magic Cream is to remove the hair on your bikini area, I have never used it on my legs or anywhere else. I just shave my legs the regular way with a Venus Embrace razor, the one that has 5 blades, it seems to work really well and I haven't used another razor since I started using that one
 
I am on 6-mp and I just use a razor. My Nurse Practitioner who does my yearly exam said to buy only disposable razors, shave your private area first, then your legs, then your arms and throw it away. She also said to follow up with an antibacterial soap like dial right after shaving. I get ingrown hairs really easily and they do get infected if I reuse a razor. If I use a new one every time I don't have a problem. Ever since I followed her advice I have not had any issues.
 
When I used disposables, I always did private area last. If you have anything there (i.e. warts), even if you don't know or can't see them, then you will spread them to other parts of your body by doing that area first. I understand doing that area first, as that's when the razor is sharpest. Maybe use a second razor?
 
If someone has warts or something they should probably use a second razor. The NP told me to do that area first because you don't want to introduce bacteria from other parts of the body. That area tends to be covered up a lot and doesn't get a lot of air to keep bacteria from growing. Mostly, though she said you can reuse a razor on your legs but use a new one every time if you are going to shave your bikini area because you don't want a razor that has been damp and sitting in your shower. The order that you shave might not matter as much as the re-use.

If anyone is concerned about immune suppression, then it is worth getting disposable razors in bulk. Don't take chances with bacteria growing on them.
 
I vote we look like Yetis for winter!!! :ycool:

Sorry, couldnt help myself. I have waxed...I have the BEST beauty therapist in the world. Never an issue since I've been to her. She's AMAZING. And no pain, no trouble, no infection. And, she's reasonably priced as well. Does my eyebrows too.
 
Yup, my place takes care of me too. No need to worry about razors down there thankfully. Now, if this rain will let up, I'd like to go down to the pool tonight. :D
 
I am currently saving up for laser hair removal, just because I don't want to even bother about removing hair! I'm actually wondering about the Tria home laser system. Has anyone ever used that?

But I use a razor and am just careful to change the blade frequently and to always wash after shaving, so there isn't much chance of getting an infection.
 

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