Getting rid of body hair is a personal choice, there is no right or wrong answer, and if sanitized equipment is done correctly, often leaves silky smooth areas.
But now a medical expert has explained why you should never remove nose hair and revealed the terrifying results that can happen if things go wrong.
Idaho-based otolaryngologist Dr. Don J. According to Beasley, removing nasal hair with wax or tweezers can put your nose at dangerous risk.
Speaking to HuffPost, the ear, nose and throat specialist explained that the nose is a very delicate area with numerous blood vessels and mucous membranes.
She said: ‘Having a nose wax can be an uncomfortable experience, as the delicate nasal passages can be sensitive to the pulling sensation, potentially causing temporary pain, redness and irritation.’
A medical expert explains why you should never remove nose hair and reveals the terrifying consequences that can happen if things go wrong (stock image)
He also explains in detail how the hairs inside the nostrils actually have several important functions, acting as filters for the air we breathe and trapping any airborne nasties like dust and pollen.
And rather worryingly, he also points out that removing it, especially if done unsanitarily, can increase the risk of infection and complications such as folliculitis or nasal cellulitis.
Fellow otolaryngologist Delaware-based Dr. Nicole Aronson revealed that she had to drain nasal abscesses after patients tweezed their nose hairs and found embedded hairs.
He explained: ‘After a hair removal an ingrown hair occurs when the new hair regenerating from the follicle cannot break through the skin.’
And this isn’t the only hair removal method that has proven popular over the past few years.
It comes after dermaplaning or full-face shaving, has grown in popularity on TikTok and YouTube, with some tutorials quickly amassing 21 million views on the platform.
Fans insisted it ‘evened out’ their skin, making it ‘look flawless’, while famous beauties such as Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Cleopatra were all said to shave their faces as part of their routine.
But Cosmedix’s Dr Ross Perry told FEMAIL that the videos ‘give the illusion of perfection without inferiority’, explaining: ‘It’s perfectly normal to have fine facial hair and we shouldn’t feel pressured to shave our faces because someone else is doing it.
‘As we have seen with other TikTok trends, we must not start copying ‘hacks’ from TikTok users – we must always follow professional advice.’
Dr Ross continued: ‘I don’t recommend shaving your own face at home. It may grow worse and what may be considered light facial hair may become thicker again.
‘Shaving your face can cause acne breakouts or skin reactions.’
Meanwhile, he said, dermaplaning, a cosmetic procedure that removes the top layers of skin, should always be ‘done by a professional’.
There are two types of facial hair
Vellus hair is the almost invisible peach fuzz that covers most of your face and body, and its role is to regulate temperature and evaporate sweat.
Terminal hair is darker and denser. Some women have terminal hair along the upper and lower lips, sideburns, neck and chin, both types of hair can be treated with dermaplaning.
Dr Ross reveals: ‘Dermaplaning is a tried and tested method of removing unwanted hair from the face. It’s a painless way to remove facial hair while simultaneously getting rid of dead skin cells that contribute to uneven skin.
‘Dermaplaning is an incredibly popular salon treatment that uses a painless blade and can leave skin looking flawless with make-up smoothing.
‘With salons closed during the lockdown, it has become evident due to social media trends that women are now trying to shave their own faces at home.’
But Dr Ross advises against trying the trend, explaining: ‘There can be big problems with trying dermaplaning or shaving your face with a razor at home.
‘There are two types of hair – vellus hair and terminal hair. Vellus hair is the nearly-invisible peach fuzz that covers most of your face and body, and its role is to regulate temperature and evaporate sweat.
‘Terminal hair is darker and denser. Some women have terminal hair along the upper and lower lips, sideburns, neck and chin, both types of hair can be treated with dermaplaning.
‘Professional dermaplaning uses a specific type of blade, razors or just one blade at home can cause scarring, infection, ingrown hairs and sensitivity, and is a procedure you need to perform every few weeks.’
Meanwhile, he said, shaving the face of those suffering from skin problems such as ‘acne or eczema’ ‘worsens inflammation, sensitivity and pigmentation’.
‘You also need to be aware of the dreaded five o’clock shadow, especially if you have terminal hair types which can also be a problem with hair growth as they can be painful and sore bumps on the skin.
‘Don’t forget if you’re using a razor, the skin can be cut which is really sensitive and can lead to infection and possible scarring.’
Meanwhile he warned that shaving your face can actually make hair grow thicker and faster, adding: ‘Because shaving blunts the ends of the hair, just like shaving your legs it can make the hair feel thicker and stubbier as it grows but it’s not actually thicker.’