How to Treat Wax Hair Removal Burns

Waxing is a technique of removing unwanted hair from the upper lip, eyebrows, legs and the bikini line. You place heated hair removal wax on the hair, cover the wax with a cloth and leave it there for several minutes. When you pull the cloth away, it removes the wax and unwanted hair as well. You may burn yourself if you apply the wax while it's too hot. Several treatments can relieve wax hair removal burns.

Step 1

Run cool water over your burned skin. Do this immediately and allow the water to run for at least five minutes, as recommended by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. You also can soak your burned skin in cool water in a bathtub. If the burn is on your upper lip or eyebrows and running water over the skin is difficult, apply a cool, wet washcloth.

Step 2

Wrap some ice or an icepack in a washcloth. Hold the washcloth to your burned skin to reduce pain and swelling.

Step 3

Apply 100 percent pure aloe vera gel to the burn. Use a brand with no additives, or remove a leaf from an aloe vera plant and use gel from the inside. Place some gel in the palm of your hand and use your fingertips to gently dab the gel onto the burned area. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) recommends applying aloe vera gel three or four times daily for soothing and healing.

Step 4

Cover your burned skin with a dry, sterile bandage or clean dressing. The NIH advises protecting the skin from further irritation

Step 5

Take an over-the-counter pain medication if the pain continues to bother you. Ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin are anti-inflammatory medications as well as pain relievers, and acetaminophen reduces pain as well.

Warnings

• Do not apply ice directly to burned skin.
• Seek medical attention if the burned skin is broken or blistered.

Tips

• Refrigerate the aloe vera gel before applying it for an added cooling effect.