There is a prominent rumor within the beauty world that waxing can cause sagging of the skin. Many people believe that when waxing, the layers of skin responsible for sun protection and for keeping the skin firm are removed along with the hair, which leaves 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 different factors that work to cause the skin to wrinkle and sag, 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 comes from the wrinkling and sagging of the more delicate areas, specifically on the face. This is because the facial skin is quite a bit thinner than the rest of the body, and this thinner, sensitive skin does tend to sag sooner than other areas of the body.
If a person waxes this area frequently, and then it begins to sag, one might put it down to being caused by 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 right, can still cause some damage to the skin, either removing more skin than it should, burning the skin by being too hot, and using a low-quality product that could 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 does not stick to the skin, only to the hair, so it does not cause too much pain when stripped off, and will not cause damage to the thin, sensitive skin on the face.
- Wax removal should be done parallel to the skin, to keep the structure of the skin intact, preventing the skin from being pulled upwards and leaving it undamaged.
- The skin should be held taut, for all areas of skin on the body, both when the wax is being applied, and when the wax is being pulled off. This helps to cleanly wax the area and helps to remove all the hair, so the application does not need to be repeated in the same area more than once.
- You should always use a good quality product to make sure the waxing is done right the first time and to avoid 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 the wax to your skin when it is still too hot, it could cause some serious burns and be incredibly painful to remove. Only heat the wax until it has just melted, and do a small test on your wrist to make sure it is not too hot to apply to a larger area.
What Does Cause Sagging Skin?
For many women, approaching their 30’s 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 the firmness and plumpness of your skin.
Thankfully, you can continue to wax safely without having to worry about the waxing causing sagging skin, but there are some other factors you should take note of that might cause your skin to sag over time, and start making changes to ensure your skin remains as youthful for as long as possible.
Here are some factors that cause sagging and wrinkles:
- Diet – Dietary habits play a huge role in not only our physical health but our appearance as well. The right diet with certain foods helps the body produce the necessary substances that help to 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 eat foods rich in Omega-3, 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 determine how your skin ages. Darker toned skin ages slower than fair skin, one reason being that it fairs 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 structural integrity of the skin, and can help increase collagen production, which leads to plump, wrinkle-free skin. However, if this hormone is lacking, this can lead to a reduction in moisture, thickness and an increase in the appearance of fine lines.
- Smoking – Nicotine can reduce the blood flow to the skin, which takes away the oxygen and nutrients sent to the skin, which then allows for faster aging of the skin.
- Facial expressions – You might notice that some young people have distinctive lines on their faces, and this is 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 is what causes it to sag. There is no way to avoid the sagging of the skin with age, but there are ways to prolong youthfulness.
Educating yourself on what causes wrinkles and sagging might help you prolong the younger, firmer look of your skin. Cutting out any factors such as bad diet and smoking might help your skin resist sagging for longer, and properly protecting your skin from sun damage and other environmental factors goes a long way to prevent 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 shafts of the hair, 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 any hair on the face. 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 will not adhere to the skin, only to the hair, 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 which 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 not as messy to use as hot wax, but cold wax is often not as effective as hot wax is, and often results in some hair still remaining on the skin after waxing. 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 fairly effective with removing all of the hair in one swift pull of the wax, often not leaving any wax behind 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 and 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!
