At my beauty salon in Maghull, women with eczema often apologise before they’ve even taken their coat off. They show me a patch behind the knee or along the bikini line and ask whether I’ll turn them away. Waxing with eczema is often possible, but it depends on how your skin is on the day. So here’s how I decide, and when I’ll honestly ask you to wait.
When Waxing With Eczema Is Usually Fine
If your skin is calm, comfortable and unbroken, I can often wax around old eczema areas. Many clients have dry patches that come and go but rarely flare. Others have eczema on their hands or arms, while their legs are clear. In those cases, waxing the clear areas is usually straightforward. Old patches that have healed and feel smooth are often no problem either.
I use the Lycon waxing system, and I always test the wax temperature before it touches your skin. Then I support the skin as the wax comes away. That care matters for every client, but especially for skin that tends to react.
When I Won’t Wax at All
I won’t wax over active, broken or weepy patches. That includes skin that’s cracked, raw, bleeding or crusted. Wax lifts dead skin cells along with the hair, so it would make an active patch far worse. It could also leave the area open to infection. Equally, skin that looks infected, hot or swollen needs a pharmacist or GP rather than a beauty therapist.
If one small part of the area is flaring, I may wax around it and leave that patch alone. However, if most of it is sore, I’ll ask you to rebook. I’d rather lose an appointment than leave you uncomfortable for a week.
Areas That Are Often Easier and Harder
Eczema tends to favour certain spots, so some waxing areas are simpler than others. The backs of the knees and the creases of the elbows flare often, while the shins may stay clear. So a leg wax is often fine, as long as I work carefully around the knees. Brows and upper lip can be trickier if you get eczema on the face or eyelids.
Intimate areas need extra thought, because the skin there is thinner and more easily irritated. In that case, I may suggest a tidy bikini line before anything fuller. Then we can see how your skin copes.
Tell Me About Steroid Creams
Please mention any steroid creams or other prescribed treatments when you book. Some can leave skin thinner or more fragile, especially after longer use. I’m not a doctor, so I won’t guess how your cream affects your skin. Instead, I’ll take it into account, and I may suggest you check with your GP first. Bring the name of the cream if you can, or a photo of the tube.
The same goes for any new tablets or creams. My post on when waxing is not advisable goes into more detail about medication and skin conditions.
Patch Areas and Starting Small
If you’ve never been waxed before, or your skin is especially reactive, we can start small. For example, I might wax a little section first and see how your skin responds over the following days. Then, if it stays calm, we can do the full area next time. In practice, that slow start gives both of us confidence.
Because I’m the only therapist here, I’ll remember exactly which section we tried and how it behaved. So there’s no starting again from scratch with someone new.
Winter Flare-Ups and Central Heating
Many of my clients find their eczema flares through the colder months. The heating comes on, the air dries out and damp Merseyside weather keeps everyone indoors. Then woolly tights and jumpers rub against dry skin. As a result, legs that were fine in August can be itchy by November. Clients who work long shifts at Aintree hospital often notice it on their hands first, because of constant washing.
So keep an eye on your skin in the week before your wax. If a patch starts to flare, use your usual treatment and ring me. We can always move the appointment, and I won’t mind at all.
Preparing Your Skin Before a Wax
Keep your skin moisturised in the days before your appointment, using the plain emollient that suits you. However, skip heavy creams on the morning of your wax, because wax grips better on clean skin. Also avoid scrubbing hard beforehand, since scrubs can irritate eczema-prone skin.
Wear loose, soft clothing to the salon too. Tight jeans after a leg wax, or a seam rubbing a freshly waxed bikini line, can set off itching on the way home.
Aftercare With Plain Emollients
After waxing with eczema, gentle aftercare makes the biggest difference. Keep the area cool and avoid hot baths for the rest of the day. Then, once the skin feels calm, go back to a plain, unperfumed emollient. Apply it gently rather than rubbing hard. Loose cotton is kinder than synthetic fabric on freshly waxed skin, too.
Avoid perfumed lotions, body sprays and fake tan until any redness has settled. If your skin becomes hot, weepy or very itchy afterwards, call me. The NHS guide to atopic eczema also explains when to see a pharmacist or GP.
Booking a Wax When You Have Eczema
I qualified at Hugh Baird College in 1999, and I’ve waxed plenty of women with sensitive skin since. Over more than 25 years, I’ve learned that honest timing matters more than sticking to a booking. You’ll see me every time, so I’ll remember which patches tend to flare and how your skin coped. You can see every area I cover on my waxing Liverpool page.
If you’re unsure whether waxing with eczema is right for you this month, ring me first. Clients come from Aintree, Lydiate, Formby and Crosby, and a quick chat often saves a wasted journey. Call 0151 909 6116 or contact us to talk it through.
