Depilatory cream
A depilatory is a preparation which is suitable for depilation of the body hair is used. Typical body zones are the chest, legs, arms and the pubic area. The depilatory products offered as cream, lotion or foam usually have to take effect for about three to twelve minutes (depending on the product) after application. Finally, the cream, including the hair, is removed with a spatula ( depilation spatula ) that is often included with the cream . The advantage of the creams is the painless depilation. The hair root is not affected by the treatment and new hair grows back.
The alkaline (approx. PH 12) active ingredients contained in depilatory products are mostly potassium or ammonium salts of thioglycolic acid or thiolactic acid , which break down the peptide bonds and disulfide bridges of hair keratin. The part of the hair that is outside the skin dissolves and is separated. The EC Cosmetics Directive regulates the amount of substances used and the pH value of the formulations. Thorough washing with water is required after using the preparations. Post-treatment preparations set to acidic (approx. PH 4) help with neutralization. For care purposes, substances such as apricot oil , vitamin E and bisabolol are often added to the depilatories . Fragrances are used to cover the odor, which is often perceived as unpleasant.
Thioglycolic acid is poisonous and is also largely absorbed by the body percutaneously (through the skin). Furthermore, skin intolerances can also occur, so a previous test on a small area of skin is recommended. However, this is no guarantee of good tolerance, although this has improved in recent years.
For these reasons, the cream should not be used for pubic hair removal or on the face , or should only be used with great caution, as allergic reactions or skin irritations are possible. Contact with the mucous membrane should be avoided under all circumstances.
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- ↑ haut.de: Hair Removal: Depilation - Chemical Hair Removal
- ↑ Umbach: Cosmetics and Hygiene , 3rd edition, Wiley-VCH Verlag, Weinheim 2004, ISBN 3-527-30996-9 , p. 189 ff.
- ↑ Stiftung Warentest: razors, epilators, depilatory creams: tips
- ↑ Stiftung Warentest: Test depilatory cream