Strange bumps on your back after hair removal is a common problem. Find out what causes them and how you can prevent them in the future. Grooming body hair can be one of the most challenging activities you will ever undergo. Back hair tends to be specially problematic, as it’s often difficult to reach and even more difficult to control.
One solution to controlling back hair is to simply remove it by waxing your back.
Though waxing can be painful for some people, the results that it can bring are undeniable. Add in the fact that it only takes a few minutes to wax large areas, and it can be one of the more attractive beauty treatments.
The main problem with waxing are the side effects that it can bring, with the most prominent being small bumps on your back after you finish waxing. Let’s observe the causes, treatment options, considerations and any other information that might help you prevent them from ruining your naturally beautiful skin.
What Causes Bumps on Your Back After Waxing?
The truth is that there are three causes that can potentially cause small bumps to appear on skin that has just been waxed. Each have an equal chance of occurring, but they all are slightly different from one another. This is why understanding what each cause of those weird bumps on your back is key to treating and preventing them in the future.
The first cause could be ingrown hairs. They’re hair follicles that either weren’t entirely removed during the waxing process, or they have grown back in a way that prevents them from emerging from the skin. Their sharp, pointed tips irritate the skin, which in turn causes a hard bump to form. You may even notice a green, mucus-like substance akin to a pimple with new ingrown hairs.
The second culprit could be an infection in your skin where the hair follicles were removed. Bacteria introduced to your skin during or soon after you complete a waxing may cause an infection, which in turn forms small bumps that may be irritating or even painful. This condition is known as folliculitis.
The last of the more common reasons that skin gets bumps after you wax it is that the skin itself is infected by bacteria. Staphylococcus is one of the most common bacteria that will cause this. The reason your skin may get infected is due to a weaker immune system or skin treatment tools that were not cleaned properly before use.
Other Factors to Consider
As stated earlier, each of these causes looks similar to the untrained eye. There are a few things you can do to tell what’s causing your bumps.
For example, the following factors make you more prone to ingrown hairs:
- Curly Hair
- Being Hispanic or African American Male
- Being Between 14 to 25 Years Old
- If your bumps are itchy or pus-filled, then it’s likely that the cause is foliculitis.
- If your skin is tender or appears to have a rash, then it may be a serious bacterial infection. If this is the case, you should seek a doctor or a dermatologist.
Preventing Bumps in the Future
A combination of over-the-counter antibacterial cream and 1-percent hydrocortisone cream is typically enough to prevent these types of problems when applied immediately after waxing.
If this doesn’t work for you, then you should consider seeking a professional dermatologist for a more personalized treatment plan. Each person’s body is unique, which means that you may require a different procedure for hair removal or merely a different treatment procedure after you finish having your back wax to prevent these types of problems. You might also want to look into sugaring as an alternative to waxing.
Important Reminders About Waxing
Your skin is living tissue, and waxing does leave it more prone to bacterial infections. This makes it imperative that any waxing facility you use be as clean and well-maintained as possible to lower the risk of complications caused by bacteria.
If you tend to have problems with waxing, then you may want to try another treatment for hair removal. Lasers, specifically YAG lasers, tend to be an effective, pain-free way to remove hair with results that last six months to many years. For a truly professional waxing experience make sure to view our services.