Treatment category
Hair Removal — safety by condition
Non-laser hair removal — waxing, sugaring, threading, electrolysis, and depilation.
In short
Hair Removal covers 6 treatments, with 389 published verdicts across 300 conditions. The conditions with the most restrictions here are A high temperature (fever) and A mole that is changing.
In this family
Treatments in this category
- Depilatory CreamAlso called: chemical hair removal, hair removal cream, VeetChemical creams that dissolve hair at the skin surface for short-term removal.
- ElectrolysisAlso called: needle electrolysis, permanent hair removal, galvanic electrolysisFine needle inserted into each follicle to deliver electrical current — the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal method.
- Hot WaxAlso called: hard wax, Brazilian wax, hot wax depilationHard wax applied warm that hardens before removal — gentler on sensitive areas.
- Strip Wax (Soft Wax)Also called: soft wax, strip waxing, honey waxSoft warm wax applied with a strip and pulled off — efficient for large areas.
- SugaringAlso called: sugar paste depilation, Egyptian sugaring, Persian sugaringNatural paste of sugar, water, and lemon used to remove hair in the direction of growth.
- ThreadingAlso called: eyebrow threading, facial threading, khiteHair removal technique using twisted cotton thread — most common for eyebrows and facial hair.
Where it is restricted
Conditions this category is restricted for
Computed from the verdicts on the condition pages — most restricted first.
- A high temperature (fever)6 to avoid
- A mole that is changing6 to avoid
- A new tattoo6 to avoid
- Alcohol intoxication6 to avoid
- An open wound or broken skin6 to avoid
- Angina (unstable)6 to avoid
- Beard ringworm6 to avoid
- Blood clot in the leg (active DVT)6 to avoid
- Boils6 to avoid
- Brain haemorrhage (acute)6 to avoid
- Bullous pemphigoid6 to avoid
- Cellulitis6 to avoid
- Chickenpox6 to avoid
- Cold sore6 to avoid
- Common cold6 to avoid
- COVID-196 to avoid
- Dermatitis herpetiformis6 to avoid
- Erysipelas6 to avoid
- Facial ringworm6 to avoid
- Flu6 to avoid
- Heart attack (first six weeks)6 to avoid
- Impetigo6 to avoid
- MRSA6 to avoid
- Pemphigus6 to avoid
- Recent chemical peel6 to avoid
- Recent laser treatment6 to avoid
- Recent surgery (any operation)6 to avoid
- Severe dehydration6 to avoid
- Shingles6 to avoid
- Stroke (first six months)6 to avoid
- Tuberculosis (TB)6 to avoid
- Tummy bug6 to avoid
- Warts6 to avoid
- Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS)3 to avoid · 3 needing caution
- Jock itch5 to avoid
- Ringworm5 to avoid
- Discoid lupus5 needing caution
- Food allergies5 needing caution
- Fragrance allergy5 needing caution
- Hay fever and seasonal allergies5 needing caution
- Latex allergy5 needing caution
- Lupus5 needing caution
- Lupus5 needing caution
- Nickel and metal allergy5 needing caution
- Preservative allergy5 needing caution
- Psoriasis4 to avoid
- Contact dermatitis3 to avoid
- Eczema3 to avoid
- Genital warts3 to avoid
- Perioral dermatitis3 to avoid
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis3 to avoid
- High blood pressure (uncontrolled)2 to avoid
- Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)2 to avoid
- Mastocytosis2 to avoid
- Multiple sclerosis2 to avoid
- Rosacea2 to avoid
- High blood pressure (controlled)2 needing caution
- Scleroderma2 needing caution
- Anaemia (severe)1 to avoid
- End-of-life and palliative care1 to avoid
- Implantable defibrillator (ICD)1 to avoid
- Keloid scars1 to avoid
- Keloid-prone skin1 to avoid
- Pacemaker1 to avoid
- Anaemia (mild)1 needing caution
- Angina (stable)1 needing caution
- Beauty treatments at 75+, living with frailty1 needing caution
- Congenital heart disease1 needing caution
- Heart attack (recovery, after six weeks)1 needing caution
- Heart failure1 needing caution
- High cholesterol (hyperlipidaemia)1 needing caution
- Recent vaccination1 needing caution
- Type 1 diabetes1 needing caution
Sources
- EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology)EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (Smolen et al.)
- Journal of the American Academy of DermatologyCosmetic treatment in patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases: best practices for patients with lupus erythematosus (Bonnet et al.)
- British Association of DermatologistsGuidelines for the management of bullous pemphigoid
- International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid FoundationLiving with pemphigus and pemphigoid
- BMC Pregnancy and ChildbirthFatal pulmonary embolism following leg massage in undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis (case report)
- British Heart FoundationHeart Matters — patient information, massage and complementary therapy guidance
- British Association of DermatologistsTinea (dermatophyte infection) management
- NHSAthlete's foot
- NHSRingworm and other fungal infections
- NICEClinical Knowledge Summary: fungal skin infection
- Primary Care Dermatology SocietyFungal skin infections
- British Association of DermatologistsBacterial skin infection management
- NHSImpetigo
- NHSCellulitis and erysipelas
- NHSMRSA
- NHSBoils and carbuncles
- NICEClinical Knowledge Summary: impetigo
- UKHSAUK Standards for Microbiology Investigations
- NHSDiarrhoea and vomiting (gastroenteritis)
- NHSFlu (influenza)
- NHSCommon cold
- NHSCOVID-19
- UKHSALiving safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19
- NHSChickenpox
- Royal College of Obstetricians and GynaecologistsChickenpox in pregnancy
- UKHSAChickenpox (varicella): guidance
- CDCUniversal precautions for prevention of transmission of bloodborne infections
- NHSHIV and AIDS — how HIV is transmitted
- National AIDS TrustHIV guidance for hairdressers and beauty professionals
- StatPearls / NCBIUniversal precautions (Kopitnik & Kahwaji)
- UK ParliamentEquality Act 2010, Schedule 1
- British Association of DermatologistsHerpes zoster management
- NHSShingles
- UKHSAImmunisation against infectious disease (the Green Book), chapter 28a — Shingles (herpes zoster)
- NHSTuberculosis (TB)
- NICENG33 Tuberculosis
- UKHSATuberculosis: guidance, data and analysis
- UKHSANotifiable diseases and causative organisms: how to report
- NHS Scotland (Scottish Dermatology Society)Viral warts pathway
- NICEClinical Knowledge Summary: warts and verrucae
- Primary Care Dermatology SocietyWarts and verrucae — patient information leaflet
- American Journal of Medical Genetics Part CThe 2017 international classification of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (Malfait et al.)
- Ehlers-Danlos Support UKLiving with EDS — skin, healing and bruising
- NHSEhlers-Danlos syndromes
- The Ehlers-Danlos SocietyEDS types, skin fragility and joint hypermobility
- NHSBody image and self-esteem
- UK Obesity FederationDignity, equipment and access in service settings
- British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsPost-operative recovery timelines
- NHSRecovering from an operation
- Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandRecovering from surgery — patient information
- Equality and Human Rights CommissionReasonable adjustments for disabled people — guidance for service providers
- MencapCommunicating with people with a learning disability
- RNIBServing customers with sight loss
- RNIDCommunication tips for serving deaf customers
- ScopeMaking services accessible to disabled customers
- UK Parliament (legislation.gov.uk)Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended, Northern Ireland)
- British Association of DermatologistsSkin cancer recognition guidance
- NHSMoles and the ABCDE checks for melanoma
- National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceNG12 — Suspected cancer: recognition and referral
- American Academy of DermatologyPost-procedure healing guidance
- American Academy of DermatologyCosmetic procedure guidelines
- British Association of DermatologistsHerpes simplex management guidance
- NHSCold sores (herpes simplex) patient information
- General Medical Council (UK)Good Medical Practice
- UK legislationMental Capacity Act 2005
- Kidney Care UKLiving with kidney disease — patient information
- NHSChronic kidney disease
- NICEChronic kidney disease: assessment and management (NG203)
- British Association of DermatologistsPatch testing — patient information
- British Contact Dermatitis SocietyContact allergy guidance
- UK legislationThe Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013
- British Thyroid FoundationThyroid disorders — patient information
- NHSUnderactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- NICE Clinical Knowledge SummariesHypothyroidism
- British Menopause SocietyMenopause — clinical guidance for patients
- NHSMenopause and perimenopause
- NICEMenopause: identification and management (NG23)
- The Menopause CharityMenopause symptoms and skin changes
- PubMed Central (peer-reviewed meta-analysis)Methotrexate and infection risk in rheumatoid arthritis — meta-analysis (Ibrahim et al.)
- The LancetBiologic treatment and serious infection risk in rheumatoid arthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of 106 trials (Singh et al.)
- Lupus Foundation of AmericaRepairing skin damaged by lupus, and patient guidance on cosmetic procedures
- American Diabetes AssociationFoot care and diabetes
- Diabetes UKLooking after your feet with diabetes
- NHSDiabetes and foot problems
- NICENG28 — Type 2 diabetes in adults: management
- NHSIron deficiency anaemia
- American Heart AssociationDevices That May Interfere with ICDs and Pacemakers
- Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation TrustFacial Hair Reduction for Gender Dysphoria (patient information leaflet)
- NHS (Devon Sexual Health)Genital warts — patient information
- NHS (Sexual Health Sheffield)Genital warts — patient information
- NHS (West of Scotland Sexual Health Managed Clinical Network)Anogenital warts guidance
- NHS Scotland (Right Decisions)External anogenital warts
- American Pregnancy AssociationHair removal and pregnancy
- Age UKWellbeing, touch and personal care in later life
- British Geriatrics SocietyFit for Frailty — recognising and managing frailty
- NICENG56 — Multimorbidity: clinical assessment and management
- Hospice UKComplementary therapies and personal care in hospice settings
- Look Good Feel Better UKNail care, skin care and makeup during cancer treatment
- Macmillan Cancer SupportComplementary therapies and wellbeing
- Marie CurieComfort, dignity and personal care at the end of life
- JAMA DermatologyDelayed inflammatory reactions to hyaluronic acid fillers after COVID-19 vaccination — case reports
- American Academy of DermatologyKeloid management guidelines
- British Association of DermatologistsGuidance for skin of colour
- British Association of DermatologistsPsoriasis guidelines
- National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceClinical Knowledge Summary — Psoriasis
- National Psoriasis FoundationKoebner phenomenon and trigger management
- American Academy of DermatologyIsotretinoin and cosmetic procedures — patient guidance
- British Association of DermatologistsIsotretinoin: patient information and prescribing guidance
- JAMA DermatologyASDS Guidelines Task Force: consensus recommendations regarding the safety of lasers, dermabrasion, chemical peels, energy devices and skin surgery during and after isotretinoin use (Waldman et al.)
- Peer-reviewed dermatology (PMC)Standard guidelines of care: procedures in patients on isotretinoin
- Alzheimer's SocietyDementia — information and support
- Dementia UKPersonal care and wellbeing in dementia
- NICEDementia: assessment, management and support (NG97)
- NHSOveractive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- NICE Clinical Knowledge SummariesHyperthyroidism
- MindPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- NICEPost-traumatic stress disorder (NG116)
- PTSD UKPTSD — information and support
- Rape Crisis England & WalesSupport after sexual violence
- SAMHSA (US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach
- NHSPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- NICEFertility problems: assessment and treatment (CG156)
- Verity (UK PCOS charity)PCOS and excess hair — patient information
- MS Society UKHeat sensitivity and MS
- MS Trust UKUhthoff's phenomenon
- NHSMultiple sclerosis
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society (US)Heat and temperature sensitivity
- NICEClinical Knowledge Summary — scleroderma
- Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK (SRUK)Living with scleroderma and Raynaud's — cold, heat and circulation
- NHSPostural (orthostatic) hypotension
- PubMed Central (peer-reviewed)Swedish massage and blood pressure
- NHSPregnancy skincare guidance
- UK Mastocytosis Support / Mastocytosis Society UKTriggers and everyday management of mast cell disease
- American Academy of DermatologyAtopic dermatitis guidelines
- National Eczema Society (UK)Trigger avoidance and treatment-flare guidance
- National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceClinical Knowledge Summary — Eczema (atopic) in adults
- American Academy of DermatologyRosacea — triggers and treatment
- British Association of DermatologistsRosacea guidelines (Hampton et al., British Journal of Dermatology)
- National Rosacea SocietyRosacea trigger management and phenotype classification
- American Academy of DermatologyVitiligo — diagnosis and treatment
- British Association of DermatologistsVitiligo guidelines
- National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceClinical Knowledge Summary — Vitiligo
Written by Anna · London-trained cosmetologist
Last updated