What to Know About Hair Removal if You Have Psoriasis

There are a range of methods to choose from when you’re looking to get rid of unwanted body or facial hair. Hair removal techniques like shaving, waxing, and laser removal offer various levels of convenience and results. No matter which hair removal process you use, there’s another factor to consider if you have psoriasis: how the method may impact your skin and whether it may trigger a flare.

“One of the things that triggers and activates psoriasis is trauma to the skin — anything that causes inflammation,” says Stephen P. Stone, MD, a dermatologist at Southern Illinois University Medicine in Springfield. Psoriasis lesions can often form after an injury, such as a cut or a burn, due to a process called the Koebner phenomenon, which is why people with psoriasis have to be careful to avoid skin damage.

“The issue with hair removal is that it’s causing trauma,” explains Neelam Vashi, MD, a dermatologist at the Dermatology Institute of Boston. Whether you’re shaving, waxing, or using another form of hair removal, it will involve some level of irritation or injury to the skin, she notes.

That said, whether or not psoriasis is triggered, and how severe the flare is, can vary. “It depends on the person. Some people have no problem shaving or waxing,” says Rosalyn George, MD, a dermatologist and the owner of Wilmington Dermatology Center in North Carolina.

Talk to your dermatologist to confirm that your psoriasis is sufficiently under control to attempt removing unwanted hair and to determine which methods might work best for you. Before you use any method to remove unwanted hair, be sure the skin in that area is free of any plaques, scales, redness, or other signs of inflammation or irritation.

“The most important thing is to try not to have psoriasis [where you’re removing hair],” says Lawrence Green, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, DC. He says that psoriasis flares may recur, but you can work with your doctor to keep them under control.

If you’re experiencing a flare, wait until it’s over before removing hair in that area. “If someone is flaring, the Koebner phenomenon may be more inclined to happen,” says Vashi, who notes that treatment can usually calm the skin within a week or two.

Shaving, one of the most commonly used methods of hair removal, involves using a razor to cut the hair on the surface of the skin. Unlike waxing or laser hair removal, this method doesn’t cause pain (unless you cut yourself). The trade-off is that the hairs will grow back relatively quickly, and you may need to shave every few days — or even daily — to keep your skin smooth.

For people with psoriasis, the main downside of shaving frequently is that it can irritate the skin and increase the likelihood of a flare. To minimize your risk, follow these tips:

Shower First Whether you’re shaving your face, legs, or armpits, first “let the skin and hair get saturated with water, which makes it easier to cut,” Dr. Stone says.

Use a Sharp Razor With Multiple Blades Replace the blades frequently, don’t use old blades, and opt for razors that have multiple blades, which are easier on the skin, advises Vashi.

Go With the Grain If you use a razor, be sure to shave in the same direction your hair grows — not against it — to minimize irritation. “That’s true for anyone with irritated skin, not just those with psoriasis,” says Dr. Green.

Never Shave Dry Skin Always use shaving cream to protect your skin, says Dr. George.

Moisturize After Shaving Keeping your skin moisturized reduces redness and itching and helps skin heal.

Some other common techniques for removing unwanted hair include:

Waxing Hot or cold wax is applied to the skin and then quickly removed to pull hair out. The results can last a few weeks or longer, and it can be used on delicate areas, such as the skin above your upper lip or your bikini area.

But the removal of the wax can be painful and irritating, which could be problematic for some people with psoriasis. And if the wax is too hot, it can potentially burn your skin.

Depilatories This method involves applying a specially formulated cream, lotion, or gel that dissolves unwanted hair. Some people prefer this method because it’s easy and convenient: You simply put the product on the skin where you want to remove hair, wait a set amount of time, then rinse it off with water.

“Depilatories are irritating enough that they can cause problems,” warns Stone. “We don’t recommend them for people with psoriasis.”

Laser Hair Removal This procedure uses a beam of light to destroy the hair follicle so it can’t grow back. While home devices are available, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that it should be performed by a trained dermatologist to achieve the best results.

And if you have a condition that affects your skin, such as psoriasis, it’s especially important that you ask your doctor if this procedure is right for you.

One drawback is that laser hair removal can take six or more treatments to work, but it is permanent in most cases — except for women’s facial hair. Also, laser hair removal isn’t as effective on blonde, white, gray, or red hair, and you’ll need to keep the treatment area covered and avoid the sun until your skin heals completely.

Electrolysis In this procedure, electrical currents are sent through hair follicles to damage them and prevent hair from growing. It can take several sessions and is time-consuming, but you can achieve permanent hair removal. It can also work on people with light-colored hair.

As with laser hair removal, there are home kits, but the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) cautions that you’ll be in safer hands if a board-certified dermatologist or electrologist performs the procedure.

It’s also important to know the risks: Probes that are not sterilized can lead to skin or blood infections, and electrolysis performed by someone who isn’t properly trained can cause burns and scarring. Some people also report experiencing pain or discomfort during the procedure.

“I would only suggest it for very small areas like the upper lip or chin,” says George. “I think laser hair removal would be preferable for psoriasis patients since there is less manual disruption of the skin.”

There are a variety of ways to remove unwanted hair, such as shaving, waxing, and using lasers — but each method has risks that people with psoriasis need to consider.
While trauma to the skin from hair removal can cause a psoriasis flare, your personal risk level also depends on you as an individual and on how well your illness is managed.
Before removing unwanted hair, talk to your doctor to make sure your condition is stable enough to take the risk, and discuss which methods might work best for you personally. Some people with psoriasis tolerate hair removal methods without issue.

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