On one hand where the timely occurrence of periods is an indication of good health, there are things that people ask us not to do during this time of the month. There are many do’s and don’ts that our mothers have asked us to follow right from the start. From avoiding hair wash to not drinking cool drinks, there are many things that we have been asked not to do during this time of the month. Where menstruation is a totally normal process that every woman goes through monthly, there isn’t anything to be ashamed of or worried about. Out of many period myths, one of them states that “a woman shouldn’t get waxed or threaded while on her periods.” Believe it or not, they say what they say. Read along to more all about this prevailing period myth and to find out if it is true or not with Dr. Shashi Shokeen, Aesthetic Physician, MBBS, IFAM.
Is Waxing during Periods Safe?
Image Credits- The Independent
Also Read: 7 Things You Need To Know About Brazilian Wax
Where scheduling salon appointments for getting various beauty treatments done has become a part of many women’s routine, getting waxed is something that comes on top. Where the beauty and entertainment industry has taught us that getting rid of body hair is important for women in order to look beautiful, we have stopped embracing our body hair and try to get rid of it as soon as possible. When it comes to getting waxed, a lot of planning goes behind it from booking an appointment to creating a free spot in the schedule and planning your ootd. When you put so much thought into several things before your waxing appointment, have you ever bothered to give a glance at your menstrual cycle? Well if your answer is no then here is why you should take it into consideration.
Hormonal Play
During menstruation women experience three of the major cycles, namely estrogen, progesterone and testosterones. The fluctuation in these hormones affect a person’s skin in different ways.
Where women refrain from getting a brazilian wax done during that time of the month, it is not just the bikini area but the other parts of your body as well. From underarms to legs and from brows to that back, one should sit back from getting waxed upon any part of their body while on their periods. The simple science behind thi is that while you are on your periods, your skin tends to be very sensitive which makes the process of waxing even more painful and uncomfortable for you. Not just causing an unbearable pain but, getting waxed while on your periods can also lead to bruising and lead to some or the other kind of skin infections.
Image Credits- Flo
Also Read: 5 Food Items To keep Your Hormonal Balance in Check
The reason behind this increased skin sensitivity is because during the first week of the menstrual cycle your body produces much more prostaglandins then it normally does. AS the production of this hormone goes off balance and it makes your skin feel tender by increasing the skin sensitivity.
When you are on your periods your hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterones are at an all time low. Due to low levels of hormonal secretion the sebum production gets affected and becomes low. Due to low sebum production the skin becomes incapable of retaining moisture and becomes dull and lifeless. Along with this the production of prostaglandins also takes place at this time and makes your skin more reactive and tender.
Expert Says
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As by now we got the hold of the hormonal play that happens inside our body during periods and the ways in which it affects our skin. As this hormonal imbalance makes our skin so reactive and sensitive it makes the waxing experience even more painful. Although it is not just the pain but even the increased risk of bruising and infections due to which people should refrain themselves from getting waxed when on their periods. Let us take a look at what Dr. Shashi Shokeen has to say about this- “If your mother has ever asked you not to get waxed while you are on your periods then you must know that it's not all a myth. There is a very logical and scientific reason behind that. As while on periods and a week before your periods as well the immunity of your body is on a little lower side. This happens as your immunity does not want you to prevent any possible chances of pregnancy. As you get yourself waxed or threaded during this time there are a lot more chances of getting infections, boils and even folliculitis.”
This article is based upon a post by Dr. Shashi Shokeen, Aesthetic Physician, MBBS, IFAM on her instagram handle
