For most of us, a trip to the salon for a bikini wax has become part of our monthly beauty routine. However, are bikini waxes actually damaging our health?
The Irish Independent reports that a doctor has launched an appeal to the public in the hopes of reversing the bikini waxing trend.
Whether you’re a Californian, Brazilian or a very-daring Hollywood kind of girl, Dr Emily Gibson has called for an end to the “war on pubic hair” as she calls it. Dr Gibson claims that waxing our hoo-hahs for aesthetic reasons, is doing nothing except increasing our risk of infection and making us more susceptible to catching sexually transmitted diseases.
“The amount of time, energy, money and emotion both genders spend on abolishing hair from their genitals is astronomical,” said Dr Gibson, speaking recently.
And okay, it is true that we spend a lot of money in order to get ourselves hair-free and smooth. Most of us happily fork over upwards of €40 every month to have a beautician rip out our pubic hair, and we’re not even counting the amount of money we spend on waxing other areas of our bodies (under arms, legs, eyebrows and upper lips).
Waxing has become a way of life for most women.
Last year, the hair removal market in the US was estimated to be worth a whopping $2.1 billion and it is continuing to grow all over the world (no pun intended). Dr Gibson believes that this is down to the popularity in recent years of silky smooth skin, tiny thongs and the portrayal of hairless women in films and on televisions.
But should we really be baring all down there?
“Public hair removal naturally irritates and inflames the hair follicles, leaving microscopic open wounds. Frequent hair removal is necessary to stay smooth, causing regular irritation of the shaved or waxed area,” writes Dr Gibson, on a highly respected medical website.
“When that is combined with the warm, moist environment of the genitals, it becomes a happy culture media for some of the nastiest bacterial pathogens,” she adds.
According to Dr Gibson, no matter what method of hair removal that we use (be it waxing, shaving or laser treatment) “hair, like crab grass, always grows back and eventually wins.”
“Pubic hair does have a purpose, providing a cushion against friction that can cause skin abrasion and injury, and protection from bacteria. It is the visible result of adolescent hormones and certainly nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. It is time to declare a truce in the war on pubic hair and allow it to stay right where it belongs,” said Dr Gibson.
What do you think ladies? Would you happily give up your monthly wax or would you argue that as a modern woman, “bare down there” is expected of you? We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this – holla at us in the comments section below.
