Does Waxing Cause Sagging Skin?
There is a prominent rumor within the beauty world that waxing can cause skin sagging.
Many people believe that when waxing, the layers of skin responsible for sun protection and keeping the skin firm are removed along with the hair, leaving the skin vulnerable to damage and eventual sagging.
Does waxing actually cause the skin to sag over time?
The answer, thankfully, is no. There are many factors that contribute to skin wrinkling and sagging, but waxing is not one of them.
As long as a waxing session is done properly, with the right preparation and after-care, there should be no sagging, wrinkles, or fine lines caused.
How Did The Myth Come About?
Most of the “waxing causes sagging” myth stems from the wrinkling and sagging that often occur in more delicate areas, specifically on the face.
This is because facial skin is significantly thinner than the rest of the body, and this thinner, more sensitive skin tends to sag sooner than other areas of the body.
If a person frequently waxes this area and then it begins to sag, one might attribute it to the waxing. However, this is far from the truth.
If waxing is done properly and practiced safely, there is no reason that it should cause any sagging or wrinkling of the skin.
How To Wax Safely
Waxing, if not done correctly, can still cause damage to the skin, either by removing more skin than necessary, burning the skin due to excessive heat, or using a low-quality product that can irritate the skin.
Here are some tips on how to wax safely, preventing damage to your skin:
- Use a hard wax for the more delicate areas on the face. Hard wax adheres only to the hair, not to the skin, so it does not cause excessive pain when stripped off and will not damage the thin, sensitive skin on the face.
- Wax removal should be done parallel to the skin to preserve the skin’s structure, preventing it from being pulled upwards and leaving the skin undamaged.
- The skin should be held taut for all areas of the body, both when the wax is being applied and when it is being pulled off. This helps to cleanly wax the area and removes all the hair, so the application does not need to be repeated in the same area more than once.
- You should always use a high-quality product to ensure the waxing is done correctly the first time and to prevent any irritation or burns to your skin that could be caused by a low-quality waxing product.
- Do not overheat wax beads. If you apply wax to your skin when it is still too hot, it can cause serious burns and be incredibly painful to remove. Only heat the wax until it has just melted, and perform a small test on your wrist to ensure it is not too hot to apply to a larger area.
What Causes Sagging Skin?
For many women, approaching their 30s becomes daunting.
Suddenly, your youthful skin is starting to look and feel a little different, and you will want to start taking precautions to preserve its firmness and plumpness.
Thankfully, you can continue to wax safely without worrying that the waxing will cause sagging skin.
However, there are other factors to consider that may cause your skin to sag over time, so it’s essential to start making changes to ensure your skin remains as youthful as possible for as long as possible.
Here are some factors that cause sagging and wrinkles:
- Diet – Dietary habits play a significant role in not only our physical health but also our appearance. A balanced diet with specific foods helps the body produce the necessary substances that keep the skin looking youthful and healthy, as well as the right substances that help fight off free radicals. Free radicals weaken the skin by damaging the collagen-producing cells, which leads to wrinkles and sagging. The best way to prevent premature aging is to consume foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, soybeans, walnuts, and spinach.
- Sun damage – One of the leading causes of sagging skin is sun damage. Protecting your skin from UV damage and other extreme weather is so incredibly important. You should always protect your skin using a strong SPF sunscreen when spending time outdoors. UV rays damage the cells of the skin, which are responsible for a youthful, plump appearance.
- Genetics – Genetics also play a role in determining how your skin ages. Darker-toned skin ages more slowly than fair skin, one reason being that it fares better in the sun and does not dry out as easily as fair skin usually does.
- Hormones – Hormones play a huge role in our bodily processes and functions. Hormone loss can cause changes in the skin; for example, estrogen can help increase the acids that maintain the skin’s structural integrity and can stimulate collagen production, leading to plump, wrinkle-free skin. However, if this hormone is lacking, it can lead to a reduction in moisture, a decrease in thickness, and an increase in the appearance of fine lines.
- Smoking – Nicotine can reduce blood flow to the skin, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients, which in turn accelerates skin aging.
- Facial expressions – You may notice that some young people have distinctive lines on their faces, which are often due to repeated facial expressions, such as smiling, frowning, and squinting. These expressions leave noticeable tiny marks on the face, and as the skin loses elasticity and begins to sag, these lines become more noticeable.
- Aging – Most obviously, the passing of time and the aging of the skin are what cause it to sag. There is no way to avoid the sagging of the skin with age, but there are ways to help prolong a youthful appearance.
Educating yourself on the causes of wrinkles and sagging may help you maintain the younger, firmer appearance of your skin.
Cutting out factors such as a poor diet and smoking may help your skin resist sagging for longer. Properly protecting your skin from sun damage and other environmental factors goes a long way in preventing fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.
Related Questions
Does waxing ruin your skin?
Waxing can, at times, cause the skin to become irritated or inflamed, but it will not cause permanent damage, wrinkles, or sagging if performed safely.
Is it okay to wax your face?
It is fine to wax the hair from your face, as long as you remember that the skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body.
Waxing uproots the actual hair shafts, damaging the hair follicles. While this might sound bad, it actually is a good thing.
It reduces the regrowth of hair, and over time, your facial skin might become hair-free from waxing.
What type of wax is best for facial skin?
It is best to use hard wax for facial hair.
This is usually sold in packs of wax beads, which are melted in a wax pot or in the microwave and then applied to the skin.
Hard wax is ideal for the face as it adheres only to the hair, not to the skin, so it will not rip or damage the skin when pulled off, only removing the hair.
It is also a good idea to choose a wax that is hypoallergenic and natural, so it will not irritate the skin or cause any inflammation due to harsh chemicals or other irritants some waxes might contain.
Is cold wax or hot wax better?
Cold wax is less messy to use than hot wax, but it is often less effective and may leave some hair still on the skin after the waxing process.
Cold wax will most likely need to be applied to the same area a few times to ensure all the hair is removed, and this can become quite painful and time-consuming after a while.
Hot wax does not require strips and is highly effective in removing all hair in one swift pull, often leaving no wax residue on the skin.
Waxing – Not A Cause Of Sagging
No matter how many times you have been told that waxing will eventually cause your skin to sag, ignore it.
There is no truth in the claim, and it is another old wives’ tale, created to try to explain away the sudden aging of the skin that many women over the age of 30 start experiencing.
The best way to ensure youthful, healthy-looking skin is to practice a good skincare routine and to protect your skin from sun damage and other factors that may lead to sagging.
You deserve to wax away all you want, and you do not need to worry about any sagging while doing it!
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