The practice of threading has gained popularity over the last few years as being a good option for hair removal.  Although effective, this practice may sometimes have negative side effects for the skin.

For example, those that are prone to acne may develop lesions shortly after their treatment.  Others may experience folliculitis that appear as small, scattered whiteheads or closed comedones.  There are also published case studies wherein some patients experienced wart lesions from the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).  Because threading (or waxing) can be traumatic to the skin by causing microscopic tears in the epidermis, opportunistic infections can also develop.  It is also not unusual to see a darkening to the skin in the areas being waxed or threaded in response to a constant source of irritation.

Keep in mind that the person performing the threading often uses their mouth during the process by pulling on the thread.  This is not the best practice considering the germs that are harbored in the mouth.

A much safer, cleaner and permanent option for hair removal is with class IV medical lasers.  Regardless of which hair removal method you choose, be an informed consumer by doing your research and observe the facility for clean and safe practices.

Lori Haney, RN, MEP-C

Certified Medical Laser Safety Officer