There is a wide variety of options today through which people can eliminate their unwanted body hair.
One of these means is by applying hair removal creams.
These creams work by destroying the hairs’ protein bonds, making them easy to scrape off. Veet is a popular product in this category.
However, some hair depilatories may have links to several health issues, including cancer.
How true is this supposition for Veet? Is it healthy for use? Read on to learn the answers to these and more.
Does Veet Cause Cancer? Or Should You Avoid It?
Veet and Cancer
Talc is one of the common ingredients used to produce Veet products.
Makers of cosmetics use this mineral to provide lubrication and to make their products thicker.
It absorbs moisture very rapidly and is therefore utilized in the production of body and facial powders as an anti-perspiration agent.
However, in most cases, the same mines have both talc and asbestos deposits.
Asbestos is a dangerous substance that experts believe can cause lung cancer for people who inhale and make physical contact with it for extended periods of time.
The World Health Organization currently recognizes asbestos as a causative agent of cancer.
During the mineral extraction process, asbestos often gets unintentionally mixed up with talc.
This has led some medical experts to warn against the use of products made with talc unless the company has carried out research on their source mines to ensure that they are asbestos-free.
There is no indication that Veet has carried out such research.
Advantages of Veet
Veet hair removal is, for many, an alternative to razor shaving. Here are some of the reasons why people choose Veet over the razor.
Less stress
Shaving sticks require several continuous strokes to shave off hair. With Veet, however, the workload is a lot lessened.
One only needs to apply the product, wait for a few minutes for it to take effect, and then simply remove the already-dissolved hair with the spatula which comes with the hair removal cream.
More evenness
While shaving with a razor, it is often possible to have uneven results due to human error.
Patches of stubble can be left behind after shaving.
This is usually the case when one shaves while in a haste. With Veet, however, the result is clean and even.
Effectiveness
Shaving razors only remove the visible parts of the hair on top of the skin’s surface.
This leaves the hair roots intact under the skin. It is no surprise, then, that such hair often grows right back in one or two days.
Veet however, dissolves the hair down to its subcutaneous roots, making it take two times the usual duration to grow again.
Avoidance of cuts
Accidental cuts while shaving is a common occurrence for many people.
This often occurs when they drag the razor too hard across their skins, hoping to get the cleanest shaves possible.
These cuts may get infected and cause serious health problems.
Veet saves one from having to worry about cuts. It dissolves hair in an effective and painless manner.
Disadvantages of Veet
Veet’s downsides mainly apply to people whose skins are incompatible with the product.
It is advised to take a patch test by applying a small amount of Veet on a small portion of one’s skin about one day before full application.
This is to test if one’s skin is compatible with the product. Here are some symptoms of skin incompatibility with Veet.
- Biting sensations.
- Skin irritation.
- Discoloration of the skin (skin surface might appear reddish).
- If not washed off on time, Veet users may experience burns on their skin.
Moreover, some users might experience heightened sensitivity to the rays of the sun just after applying Veet.
It is advisable to avoid direct exposure to strong sunlight for about a day after using the product.
However, there is a range of hair removal products specially formulated by Veet for people with more delicate skins.
Is Veet Safe for the Private Area?
Information on Veet’s website cautions users against applying the product directly to their privates.
It warns that this could have negative effects.
Is Veet Better than Shaving?
Veet’s advantages lie mainly in its effectiveness, speed, and ease of use.
However, it may be argued that one can develop a comparable level of speed and similarly great results through regular practice with shaving sticks.
Experienced shaving razor users can also learn techniques to help them minimize cuts sustained while shaving.
Moreover, razors are far more cost-effective than hair removal creams.
Thus, the difference between Veet and shaving is largely a question of personal preference.
Long-term Effects of Hair Removal Creams
Hair depilatories such as Veet contain chemical ingredients such as potassium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide.
Experts warn that these could lead to several side effects such as the irritation and darkening of the skin in the long term.
Conclusion
Veet certainly presents many advantages to its users.
However, its many associated side effects necessitate careful consideration on the part of the user before choosing it.