Waxing could increase your risk of STIs

It seems that waxing could soon become more than simply an aesthetic issue now, with new reports claiming that waxing could increase your risk of catching sexually transmitted diseases. Francois Desruelles, a dermatologist, has looked into the link between pubic hair and a viral disease known as molloscum contagiosum, which can be sexually transmitted and produces round, flesh-coloured bumps on the skin. This pox virus is common in children, often spread via swimming pools, as well as in those who have immune systems which are compromised by illness or drugs.

Researchers tested the link in order to determine whether the rise in localised infections in both women and men over the past decade were increased by the rising popularity in Brazilians, and other waxing techniques. In the case study, which was made up of six women and 24 men, 93 percent of the participants had some form of hair removal – 70 percent used shaving, 13 percent clipping and 10 percent opted for waxing. This led researchers to believe that the microscopic tears caused by hair removal open up the skin to be more susceptible to propagating and transmitting the virus. Sexual health experts say that the micro-trauma to the skin provides a prime environment for infections to get into the body – in the case of genital warts, for example, the skin to skin contact makes it extremely easy for infection to spread. If there are tears to the skin, this makes it far easier for viruses to be contracted.

Researchers recommend that anyone who wants to remove their pubic hair more safely should consider an alternative method, such as laser hair removal. This is less likely to cause micro-trauma to the skin, which will help reduce the risk. There are some benefits to hair removal, though, as the lack of hair means there is a less than hospitable environment for public lice to latch on to.

Waxing could increase your risk of STIs

Categories: Sexual Wellness, Virus, waxing

Is Your Razor Spreading a Skin STI Over Your Body?

Whether you go for a Brazilian wax or another method for pubic hair removal, preliminary research from France has suggested that it may increase your risk of catching certain skin infections through sex. Molluscum contagiosum – a skin infection that causes raised, pearl-like spots – can be spread through any type of contact and is most commonly seen in children. However, in certain parts of the world, the rates of sexually spread cases of Molluscum contagiosum have increased in recent years.

In order to determine a possible reason for why this is, researchers at a private health clinic in Nice, France investigated whether the increasing popularity of pubic hair removal may have played a role. The researchers found that 93% of patients who visited their clinic with sexually transmitted Molluscum contagiosum in 2011 had removed their pubic hair; 70% of whom did so through shaving; 13% through clipping and 10% through waxing.

According to Dr. Robert Brodell, chief of the University Of Mississippi Medical Centre’s Division of Dermatology, explained, ‘The body has a number of defence mechanisms to prevent infection. One of those mechanisms is normal, healthy skin,’ but aberrations in the skin ‘open the door for catching the infection.’ He added that shaving may put your wellbeing at risk to Molluscum contagiosum because the razor spreads the virus from one part of your body to another.

Dr Jonathan Zenilman, chief of the Infectious Diseases Division at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Centre, said of the findings, which were published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, ‘From my standpoint, it makes sense.’ However, Zenilman warned that there are limits to the study, such as the fact the researchers don’t know if patients shared other wellness factors, besides pubic hair removal, which increased their risk of Molluscum contagiosum infection.

Dr Mary Gail Mercurio, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Rochester Medical Centre, added that when she sees cases of Molluscum contagiosum, it often occurs in patients who shave their pubic area. ‘I instruct the patients to stop shaving until the condition is brought under control, because shaving just spreads it further,’ she said, adding that other methods of hair removal, such as laser hair removal, may not affect sexual health in this way as it doesn’t abrade your skin. Mercurio said that this merits further research.

Is Your Razor Spreading a Skin STI Over Your Body?

Categories: Molluscum contagiosum, Research, waxing