Breakouts After Waxing Upper Lip

Updated on January 21, 2009
T.M. asks from Milford, MA
18 answers

Hi ladies,
I'm wondering if anyone else has a problem with breakouts after waxing your upper lip. I use regular drug-store wax, either Sally Hansen or some similar product (I can't remember the name of the other stuff). Both product the same effect. Within a day or two of waxing I get several pimples on my upper lip. Sometimes they're tiny whiteheads, sometimes they're HUGE welts. Either way they hurt a lot and look terrible. I know they are a result of waxing because I don't get them anywhere else. Does this happen to anyone else, and if so, do you know how I can prevent it?

Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Using baby powder beforehand and icing afterward REALLY reduced the breakout to one or two small pimples - totally manageable and nothing compared with what I had before. I'll keep doing it! Thanks again.

Featured Answers

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L.L.

answers from Boston on

Hi T.,

I have been waxing my legs, eyebrows and underarms for a very long time (15 years). A few times, I did my lip and had the same experience as you did. Yes, it felt and looked horrible. I never got to a point were it no longer happened. I thought if I waxed the lip regularly it stop but I gave up too soon.
Good Luck!
L.

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J.E.

answers from Boston on

Hi T.,
I can not use wax of any kind, brand, etc. I got severe break outs, I've never tried any other part of my face other than my eye brows and the result after getting them done is horrendous! I guess my face is just too sensitive to have it done. People have tried to convince me that it's because the wax it too hot, but I don't buy that because it's happened more than once at different places so I think I am either allergic or just too sensitive to it. I wouldn't recommend continuing getting it done.

Be well,
J.

More Answers

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S.W.

answers from Barnstable on

This use to happen to me all the time! What i do now and it prevents most of the breakout (i may get 2 white dots) is put ice in a pc. Of papertowel on my upper lip right after waxing!!! Works every time! :)

K.M.

answers from Boston on

Hi T.,

I see you live in Milford. Take a trip to see Alexandra at 123 Atwells Ave in Providence, RI(Federal Hill). She's EXCELLENT at what she does(all body/face waxing, etc.) and extremely affordable....WORTH THE TRIP! ###-###-####

Treat yourself, you'll never even know you had a wax!
Good luck,
K.

D.B.

answers from Boston on

I would go to a good salon or esthetics place and let them do it - tell them what has happened. They probably use a high quality wax and the proper temperatures that are hard to achieve at home on your own. If you are getting welts, then you are doing more damage to your skin!

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L.S.

answers from New London on

Use a little hydrocotisone. It should help. plus a clean cold pack or ice.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.F.

answers from Boston on

Hi T.,

Make sure its not to hot!! I go to a Salon instead, just make sure its a clean place. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.N.

answers from Boston on

Hey T.,

I also have sensitive skin and have found a product that not only help my skin to be more resistant to irratations, but they also have product lines for basically any of your skin care need. If you want any info let me know.My e-mail address is ____@____.com

P.H.

answers from Boston on

Do you have curly hair? if so then your hair can become ingrown and cause the problems (I hav eit and it is a pain)

If not..it could just be your skin is reacting to the the stuff you used and you need to calm it down with lotion or maybe even trying a facial.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Hartford on

Try aloe gel. The 100% natural clear kind. It works wonders for me for razor burn and irritation. Just put in on right after you wax and gently rub it in.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Boston on

IT just happened to me the other day. Finally clearing up! I do not think it is the wax because it does not happen in my eyebrow area. I used tend skin in a blue bottle. IT is suppossed to be for razor burn but, it seems to help. I am going to try the ice next time!

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S.L.

answers from Boston on

The same thing happened to me the first and only time that I waxed my lip myself. I, too, was mortified because the pimples didn't heal for a long time. I think your wax had cooled, so that when you went to pull off the wax, you really had to tear out the hairs. It might help if someone other than you removes the wax. Or, you can pay to have your lip waxed. That was my solution. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.A.

answers from New London on

I've only ever gone to a salon to get my eyebrows and upper lip waxed. Every time I go that happens to me. I've gone to 2 different salons and it happened at both. It's probably just your skin reacting to the wax. What helps a little bit for me is to re wash my face after it is waxed. It helps clean the pores out right away so the wax doesn't get in there and stay all day. I don't know if there is a real way to prevent it if you are using wax. Good luck!

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K.M.

answers from Boston on

this happened to me after going to 2 very nice salons (that used different wax products) so I gave up on waxing my upper lip. I use Surgi cream - I've never ever ever had any issues with it. It works like a charm and is much cheaper than waxing ($5 for a tube that lasts for like a year). If it was your brows or other places I'd encourage you to try again but it is really easy to use cream on this area.

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M.R.

answers from Boston on

Try putting some baby powder on your lip before you wax, and then use a cooling cream/jel after.

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G.V.

answers from New London on

Hi. You might want to buy this from www.qvc.com -- it is only $21.00 -- Emjoi EpiSlim Portable Hair Remover: "Discreetly compact, the EpiSlim cosmetic hair remover can be taken practically anywhere. It's specifically designed for delicate, sensitive areas such as your upper lip, cheeks, chin, and bikini line with a narrow strip of tweezer discs for gentle epilation. From Emjoi." I buy A LOT of things from QVC and QVC is great! Good luck! http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/para...

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S.C.

answers from Boston on

Hello,
This actually has happened to me after I have had my eyebrows waxed. I was told to use hydrogen peroxide on the area that was waxed and that would help prevent breakouts. It has worked the few times I tried this.
Good luck.
S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Lewiston on

Hi T. - I see you already got a ton of responses but one thing no one mentioned was the possiblity of pores being clogged. I know that the sally hansen stuff comes with the Azulene oil to remove the extra wax - which is awesome - BUT what does oil do? Also I think the wax itself tends to clog the pores. This happens to me quite often too. I started using a blemish control like something with salicylic acid or one of the burt's bees one as well as washing my face right after using. I also used to use witch hazel. Beware though - the Burt's bees hurt like crazy to put on right after. I don't think it has anything to do with teh wax not being warm enough or anything like that. I actually find I get less pimples if the wax didn't take as much hair off than normal - like maybe if I didn't get the wax soft enough or if the wax didn't stick well enough. of course then the waxing doesn't look as good and the hair grows back faster. It's a no win situation. I also tried to the Nair for the face and i couldn't stand it as it left it feeling stubbly afterwards. Anyway - good luck with the battle!

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