The new buzz on TikTok? Full facial waxing. Defenders of the practice claim that it is a traditional beauty technique. Others stress the risks of burns, suffocation and inflammation of the skin.
On the TikTok social network, trends and challenges come and go. The latest? People – mostly men – who wax their entire faces. Ears, nose, eyebrows, mustache, even the neck… Everything goes.
Viral videos – the first of which, above, published in November 2020, has been viewed over 85 million times – showing Dutch barber Renaz Ismael covering the entire face of his clients with wax, as well as cotton swabs which allow ventilation. The shop owner explained that this practice is common in his native Middle East, but that it increased the chances of success by covering more of the face than normal. "I am the first person in the world to have fully waxed", he told BBC News.
A practice strongly discouraged by dermatologists
But this technique, which is gaining more and more barbers and popularity on social networks, is not always well managed. She even made a few dermatologists react, who decided to speak up, in particular all members of the British Association Of Dermatologists (British Association of Dermatologists) in Great Britain, as recounted Miss.
Indeed they strongly advise against this practice to all those who are interested: "Trying to wax the inside of your nose or ears is not recommended". Wax can indeed" durge in the airways which could cause suffocation". It can go further. According to English dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto,"waxing is a traumatic process for the skin, especially sensitive areas such as those found around the eyes", she reported in the newspaper Standard. She continues: "These areas can become inflamed and irritated. In some cases tiny pimples and pus-filled bumps might develop as a result. This is called folliculitis."
An almost dangerous trend, because as Dr Anjali Mahto explains, "completely ridding your nose of hair removes a natural layer of protection against bacteria and germs. "Other practitioners warn about the risk of attacking the skin barrier, as reported by Dr Lakhani Shirin in the magazine Subway. "If you have used an exfoliant on your face before waxing, it can cause excessive exfoliation which can lead to peeling of the skin or the removal of the protective layer of the epidermis. Acne medications can also cause complications. "A challenge to be avoided therefore.
