How Tweezing Unwanted Hair Can Affect Your Skin

From waxing and threading to laser and dermaplaning, there are plenty of forms of hair removal, but tweezing seems to be the least daunting of all. It’s also the most accessible, considering you can grab your tweezers any time, anywhere and pluck away those unwanted hairs. But you might be surprised to learn that if done incorrectly, tweezing can have harsh consequences on your skin. Keep reading to learn more about how tweezing can impact your skin.

When to Tweeze Your Hair

Tweezing is a great option for when you want to manually pluck away hairs on small areas of your face, such as your eyebrows, upper lip or chin. It's a very precise removal process since you are individually taking out the hair, strand by strand. And while it isn’t a permanent form of hair removal, it’s a quick and easy process that can keep your eyebrows and upper lip clear of any loose hairs without having to deal with shaving cream or hot wax. 

How Tweezing Can Affect Your Skin

There are no extreme side effects to tweezing, but if you don’t tweeze properly or don’t wait until the hair is long enough to grasp, your skin can suffer from trauma, which can lead to hyperpigmentation and scarring. Tweezing hair that is too short may also cause ingrown hairs and folliculitis, which is a mild infection of a hair follicle. Not to mention, if you don’t clean your tweezers before every use, they can cause breakouts and irritation. An easy way to clean your tweezers is to rinse them with water and antibacterial soap, then gently swab them with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. For the best results and minimum side effects, it’s important to make sure you are always gentle when you pluck and keep your tools stored away in a safe and clean place. 

After you tweeze, use a gentle moisturizer, such as the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, to soothe discomfort and redness.

Photo: Chaunte Vaughn

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Your Guide to Laser Hair Removal

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Shaving the Right Way

How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs, According to a Dermatologist