Hot wax burn after depilation, waxing

A wax burn occurs when exposed to too hot melted wax - that is, such a burn is considered exclusively thermal damage. This type of injury has become most widespread with the beginning of the use of wax depilation - a popular cosmetic procedure. Less often, a burn is a consequence of careless handling of wax candles - for example, when visiting a church or at a New Year's party.

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Epidemiology

Wax burns are considered a rare complication if the procedure is performed in a beauty salon, where the cosmetologist uses special equipment that allows you to control the temperature of the wax.

However, this complication often occurs if depilation is performed at home, independently.

If the wax is heated to the right temperature, the sensations from the procedure should not cause discomfort, and the skin should not turn red, swell or peel.

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Causes wax burn

An illiterate selection of a depilatory product, ignorance or insufficient experience in performing the procedure, ignoring precautions often lead to such an unpleasant consequence as a wax burn. When performing the procedure, do not forget that the wax is heated to high temperatures, which can lead to damage to external tissues (especially if the skin is sensitive - for example, in the armpits, face or bikini area).

A wax burn can damage any skin in any area of the body. Most often, such injuries occur during depilation using hot wax, so it is advisable not to carry out such a procedure yourself, but to contact a competent cosmetologist.

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Risk factors

Risk factors for wax burns include:

• skin sensitive to external influences;
• ignorance of the rules for performing the waxing procedure;
• contacting a person who does not have the relevant experience regarding depilation;
• failure to comply with basic safety rules;
• careless attitude to the situation when handling hot wax.

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Pathogenesis

When exposed to high temperatures, coagulation reactions of proteins in the surface tissues of the skin begin. Skin cells die, undergoing necrosis processes.

The depth of skin damage depends on how hot the wax was and how long the skin was in contact with the wax.

As a rule, due to the low melting temperature, wax burns are not deep: most often, the damage is limited to I-II degree:

• Grade I – appearance of persistent redness;
• Stage II – detachment of the epidermis and the appearance of blisters.

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Symptoms wax burn

First-degree burns are characterized by persistent hyperemia of the affected skin area and severe burning pain. Edema may occur. Tissue recovery occurs quickly, within 3-4 days.

Second-degree burns are characterized by the appearance of blisters of varying sizes filled with transparent liquid content against the background of reddened skin. After the blisters open, small erosions are exposed, which eventually form a crust. Healing occurs within 1-2 weeks.

Burns of more severe degrees are not typical for wax burns: the melting temperature of the wax mass is low, and such indicators, fortunately, cannot cause a deep burn of the skin.

The first signs of a wax burn appear almost immediately after thermal exposure: a person feels acute or intensely increasing pain. With a second-degree burn, blisters may not appear immediately, but only after several hours: sometimes, instead of blisters, a soft reddish crust immediately forms.

The general condition practically does not suffer: the temperature remains within normal limits, blood pressure does not change.

Burn after waxing

Depilatory burn is a consequence of using overheated wax without preliminary protective treatment of the skin. This often happens when depilation is performed in inappropriate conditions - for example, at home.

Using wax for depilation at home is an inherently unsafe procedure. Any carelessness can lead to undesirable consequences in the form of a burn.

The correct procedure is as follows:

• the wax is heated to a temperature of about 46-47°C, and no more;
• wax is applied to the skin in the direction of hair follicle growth;
• After hardening, the wax strip is removed with a sharp movement, against the growth of the hair follicles.

In most cases, wax burns are red spots that are painful to the touch. If blisters or crust form on the surface, it is best to see a doctor.

Wax burn on face

If you use wax for facial depilation on your own, at home, it is better to use cold or low-temperature wax, which does not have a thermal effect on the skin and does not injure the superficially located tiny vessels.

Hot wax is often used by professionals in beauty salons, as it is very important to heat it up correctly, carefully controlling the temperature. Using hot wax yourself at home or with dubious specialists, you risk getting burned - after all, wax can easily overheat, and you should work with a hot product as quickly as possible (which requires certain skills).

Additional factors that contribute to trauma to the skin on the face during waxing are:

• scratches, acne on the face;
• fresh tan.

Sometimes allergic reactions on the skin of the face are mistaken for a wax burn. Therefore, before carrying out the procedure, make sure that you are not allergic to the chosen depilatory product.

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Stages

A wax burn wound heals in several stages:

1. The stage of purulent necrosis, during which the fluid inside the blister becomes cloudy. The skin at the site of the lesion may become a more intense red color. If the blisters have merged and become very large, they are opened to release the purulent fluid.
2. The granulation stage, when the blisters dry up and the skin begins to regenerate in their place. At this stage, it is very important to prevent infection from getting to the affected area.
3. The epithelialization stage is characterized by the final tightening of the wound surface and the formation of scar tissue (or without it).

Forms

Burns, according to their etiology, can be:

• thermal (arising after contact with high temperatures);
• electrical (which occur when in contact with electric current or when struck by lightning);
• chemical (develop under the influence of chemical agents);
• radiation (damage due to radiation).

A wax burn is a thermal type of burn injury, as it occurs after contact with a hot, viscous substance – wax mass.

Complications and consequences

Fortunately, wax burns are usually shallow, so this injury does not cause serious consequences. However, aesthetic defects on the skin may appear, such as pigment spots or small scarring.

At the stage of opening the blisters, there is a considerable risk of infection getting into the wound, so it is necessary to take measures to avoid infection. In no case should you open the blisters yourself: such a procedure is performed under aseptic conditions, using a sterile needle. Further treatment should consist of the use of external healing and disinfecting agents prescribed by the doctor.

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Diagnostics wax burn

Diagnosis of wax burns is based on the detection of signs of damage to capillaries and nerve endings. As a rule, this is not difficult: redness of the skin is noted, the sensitivity of the affected skin to pain is preserved.

Tests may be needed only to exclude the infection from entering the body. For this purpose, a general blood test is prescribed.

Instrumental diagnostics for superficial wax burns is usually not used.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis is carried out with more severe skin lesions:

• in case of superficial burns, only reddening of the skin or the formation of blisters is observed;
• In case of grade IIIa damage, a thin superficial scab of a brownish or gray color is formed.

In some cases, it is necessary to distinguish a superficial wax burn from an allergic reaction to the wax mass. In case of an allergy, in addition to redness, there is usually itching, swelling, and skin rashes such as urticaria.

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Treatment wax burn

It is necessary to begin treating a wax burn immediately as soon as the first symptoms of tissue damage appear, namely: reddening of the skin, burning pain, swelling. If you delay providing first aid, the risk of infection and complications increases.

As first aid, you can use the following remedies, which are often found in any home medicine cabinet:

• ointments – Levomekol, Bepanten, Argosulfan;
• Panthenol spray.

The ointments listed above are practically free of side effects, except that occasionally an allergy may develop. The action of the ointments and spray begins immediately after application: such preparations are multi-component and easy to use.

If blisters form, this slows down tissue recovery. In this situation, antimicrobial topical preparations can help:

• Tetracycline ointment;
• Streptocide ointment;
• combination products – Rescuer balm, Boro-plus ointment;
• Baneocin ointment (a combination of neomycin and bacitracin).

The frequency of application of ointments is 2-4 times a day. Alcohol should not be used for treatment - it dries out inflamed skin and increases irritation. Also, you cannot puncture blisters yourself - this can lead to infection of the wound and the development of inflammation. Such a procedure should be carried out by a doctor in an aseptic environment.

Medicines for wax burns

	Method of administration and dosage	Side effects
Panthenol spray	The spray is evenly distributed over the affected skin surface, 1-4 times a day.	Sometimes an allergy may develop in the form of itching and urticaria-type rash.
Levomekol	The ointment is applied to the burn site from the first day of injury to the fourth day, twice a day.	Rarely, Levomekol can cause allergies.
Rescuer Balm	The balm is applied to a dry wound 2-3 times a day.	The drug may cause allergies and, rarely, exacerbation of inflammation.
Bepanten ointment	The ointment is applied to the skin injured by the burn 1-2 times a day.	Very rarely – in isolated cases – an allergy may develop.
Baneocin	The ointment is applied under the bandage 2-3 times a day.	Sometimes dryness, skin allergic rash, and redness appear.

Physiotherapy treatment

There is no urgent need to connect physiotherapy during the treatment of wax burns. However, if necessary, such methods can be used to eliminate pain and accelerate tissue recovery.

The following physiotherapy procedures are most preferred:

• electrical stimulation using Hivamat equipment (a session lasts on average 15 minutes, a course includes 14 sessions);
• Franklinization (a session lasts 15 minutes, the course consists of daily sessions over several weeks);
• ultraviolet irradiation with suberythemal doses using Melita equipment (approximately 10 sessions are used every other day);
• pulsed low-frequency magnetic therapy using Polymag equipment (a session lasts about half an hour, the treatment course involves 15 sessions with a frequency of once every two days);
• helium-neon laser therapy (a session lasts on average 15 minutes, a course of 20 sessions is expected, with a frequency of every other day).

Folk remedies

There are many folk recipes for treating a wax burn. Most of them quickly heal the burn, keeping the skin clean and healthy.

• Burn ointment with wax: to prepare it, you will need 20 g of beeswax, 200 ml of any vegetable oil, 1 tbsp. of heavy cream, 1 raw yolk. Heat the oil, melt the wax in it. Cool the resulting mass to body temperature. Mix the remaining ingredients into the mass and place the finished ointment in the refrigerator. Use for wax burns daily, 4 times a day.
• Ointment for a burn with blisters: for preparation you will need 100 g of internal fat and 20 g of propolis. Melt the fat using a water bath, dilute the propolis in it and keep it on the fire for 30 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool the resulting mass and store in the refrigerator. This ointment can be used for any type of burn with blisters.

Another folk remedy is tooth powder. Mix one teaspoon of powder with a small amount of water until it becomes a thick paste and apply a thick layer of wax to the burn site. This simple method will help quickly relieve pain and prevent blisters.

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Herbal treatment

In case of wax burn, you can use juice from the lower leaves of indoor plants Kalanchoe or Aloe without restrictions. The juice can be used as a poultice, you can simply apply it to the affected skin, or mix it with honey and apply it as an ointment.

In addition, you can prepare a mixture of St. John's wort and olive oil in advance. Add half a glass of dry crushed St. John's wort to warm heated oil (200 ml) and leave to infuse for 3 weeks in a dark place. Then filter the medicine and use it to lubricate the affected areas of the skin.

To prevent the appearance of scars and pigment spots, an ointment made from burdock rhizome is effective. To prepare the ointment, we will need: 2 tbsp. of chopped burdock rhizome, 400 ml of boiling water and high-quality butter. Pour the burdock rhizome into the water and boil until the water in the saucepan is half as much. From the resulting decoction, prepare an ointment, adhering to the proportion - 1 part of decoction to 4 parts of butter. Store the resulting ointment in the refrigerator, using it during the day as needed.

Homeopathy

Among all homeopathic preparations that can be purchased in pharmacies today, the most common are those of the German company Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH. In particular, the following homeopathic remedies are suitable for wax burns:

• Abropernol - usually prescribed 1 tablet under the tongue three times a day.
• Arnica Salbe Heel S - apply the ointment to the affected areas of the skin in the morning or at night. At the initial stage of the burn, the ointment can be applied under the bandage.
• Calendula Salbe Heel S - in the morning and at night (sometimes more frequent use is allowed) apply to the affected areas of the skin, possibly under a bandage.
• Sulfur-Heel is usually prescribed under the tongue, 1 tablet three times a day.

Side effects from homeopathic remedies are rare - usually, it can be an allergic reaction to a particular component of the drug.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatments for wax burns are practically not performed, since such injuries in the vast majority of cases are superficial and heal on their own, without requiring surgical intervention.

Prevention

Hair removal with wax is a fairly common procedure. However, wax depilation can be dangerous - because if not prepared properly, there is a high risk of getting burned. In order to avoid trouble, when performing the procedure yourself, it is recommended to use warm or special cold wax.

Hair removal with hot wax is a salon method that only experienced professionals can do – keep this in mind.

We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with preventive measures, the observance of which will help prevent wax burns.

• The wax should be heated strictly according to the instructions. If you do not know how to use such material, it is better to contact a specialist in a beauty salon.
• Do not agree to the procedure if it is performed by a dubious specialist who does not have experience and appropriate recommendations.
• Waxing should not be performed if there are abrasions or wounds on the skin in the area of the procedure.
• Immediately after the procedure, apply a special healing and soothing product to the skin, as recommended by the cosmetologist.

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Forecast

In most cases, a wax burn heals without leaving any traces. Therefore, the prognosis can be considered favorable, especially if the treatment is carried out correctly. In rare cases, pigment spots remain after the burn - the result of deeper tissue damage and the lack of competent first aid.