Sunday, May 11, 2008

Hair be gone - depilatories

Depilatories (such as Veet, Nair) contain chemicals that dissolve the proteins in the hair so the fibers break off. The chemical process is actually a more extreme version of the permanent wave process, which is also related to hair relaxers.

Since skin is made of keratin protein, it can also be attacked by the thio reaction. Beware of skin burns or irritation of the hair follicle (folliculitis). Using depilatories can sometimes cause ingrown hairs as the broken hairs grow beneath the surface of the skin. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions and test a small patch to assess for irritation or allergic reactions. Don't ever use these products on eyebrows, near mucous membranes, or on broken skin.

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