Men and women both produce hair in the underarm region. It normally begins to appear in the early stages of puberty, continuing until the end of the teenage years. Many people in the modern world, however, consider it to be unsightly and so look for ways for simple and effective armpit hair removal.
Hair is a major cause of the unpleasant smells that often emanate from the armpit, or axilla. The reason for this is that sebum, an odorless oily substance produced by the skin to prevent hair and skin from drying out, gets caught up in it. Bacteria, which is similarly trapped, breaks down the sebum resulting in what is known as body odor.
If the hair is removed, then the smell is reduced. It does, however, have a number of uses. It helps lubricate the area between the arm and the body so preventing chaffing and irritation. It also holds pheromones, the chemicals produced by the body to attract members of the opposite sex. For those who consider it unsightly or smelly and are prepared to risk losing a tiny bit of sex appeal, there are several ways of getting rid of the offending growth. These include using a razor, depilatory creams or laser techniques. Each has its own benefits relating to cost, effectiveness and ease of use.
Dry shaving the area is one of the easiest and least costly techniques. With the armpit completely dry, a liberal dusting of talcum powder should be applied. The armpit can then be carefully shaved. The razor must be kept clear so any excess talcum powder clogging the blade should be removed. When shaving is finished, the area should be washed and dried but no antiperspirant or deodorant should be applied for at least 24 hours.
Normal wet shaving is also effective. Wet the area and liberally apply either shaving cream or soap. Holding the skin tight, shave from the bottom upwards. Rinse in warm water when finished and apply a light talcum powder to reduce irritation.
Those who prefer not to use razors can try depilatory creams. These work by breaking down the keratin in the skin and hair so that the latter is weakened and easily scraped off from the follicle. These creams are quick, painless and easy to use but can cause some skin irritation.
A second alternative to shaving is the use of wax strips. These are applied to the required area and, when removed, pull away the hair. There are a few different types on the market and users should follow the instructions that accompany their chosen product.
While all these methods are reasonably cheap and effective, none is long lasting. Shaving and depilatory creams, in fact, last only a few days. Waxing lasts longer but can seem painful when first tried. For longer lasting or permanent results, other avenues need to be explored.
The most permanent method, and by far the most expensive, is to use either laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) techniques. These treatments work by destroying the hair follicle; laser involves a solitary light wavelength while IPL uses several. Each treatment is specially designed for the individual and the best results are usually seen for dark hair on those with lighter skin.
Armpit hair removal results in an attractive, smooth and odor free underarm area. There are, however, no apparent medical benefits. It is, therefore, purely a matter of personal taste.
Hair is a major cause of the unpleasant smells that often emanate from the armpit, or axilla. The reason for this is that sebum, an odorless oily substance produced by the skin to prevent hair and skin from drying out, gets caught up in it. Bacteria, which is similarly trapped, breaks down the sebum resulting in what is known as body odor.
If the hair is removed, then the smell is reduced. It does, however, have a number of uses. It helps lubricate the area between the arm and the body so preventing chaffing and irritation. It also holds pheromones, the chemicals produced by the body to attract members of the opposite sex. For those who consider it unsightly or smelly and are prepared to risk losing a tiny bit of sex appeal, there are several ways of getting rid of the offending growth. These include using a razor, depilatory creams or laser techniques. Each has its own benefits relating to cost, effectiveness and ease of use.
Dry shaving the area is one of the easiest and least costly techniques. With the armpit completely dry, a liberal dusting of talcum powder should be applied. The armpit can then be carefully shaved. The razor must be kept clear so any excess talcum powder clogging the blade should be removed. When shaving is finished, the area should be washed and dried but no antiperspirant or deodorant should be applied for at least 24 hours.
Normal wet shaving is also effective. Wet the area and liberally apply either shaving cream or soap. Holding the skin tight, shave from the bottom upwards. Rinse in warm water when finished and apply a light talcum powder to reduce irritation.
Those who prefer not to use razors can try depilatory creams. These work by breaking down the keratin in the skin and hair so that the latter is weakened and easily scraped off from the follicle. These creams are quick, painless and easy to use but can cause some skin irritation.
A second alternative to shaving is the use of wax strips. These are applied to the required area and, when removed, pull away the hair. There are a few different types on the market and users should follow the instructions that accompany their chosen product.
While all these methods are reasonably cheap and effective, none is long lasting. Shaving and depilatory creams, in fact, last only a few days. Waxing lasts longer but can seem painful when first tried. For longer lasting or permanent results, other avenues need to be explored.
The most permanent method, and by far the most expensive, is to use either laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) techniques. These treatments work by destroying the hair follicle; laser involves a solitary light wavelength while IPL uses several. Each treatment is specially designed for the individual and the best results are usually seen for dark hair on those with lighter skin.
Armpit hair removal results in an attractive, smooth and odor free underarm area. There are, however, no apparent medical benefits. It is, therefore, purely a matter of personal taste.
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