Warnings have been issued by doctors after people started covering their entire faces in hot wax.
The idea behind full facial waxing was introduced on TikTok by Kapsalon Freedom, a barbershop from the Netherlands. In their videos, the staff was seen covering their clients’ faces in hot wax while leaving just enough holes to allow breathing.
The videos showing the stunt have quickly gone viral, whereas experts have warned people against trying the skincare method at home due to its dangers.
While Kapsalon Freedom defends the technique that some believe to be beneficial for the skin, critics have suggested it may lead to suffocation, burns, and inflammation of the skin.
“I am the first person in the world who has done whole waxing. It’s not bad for your skin,” the barbershop’s manager, Renaz Ismael, insisted in an interview with BBC News.
Nevertheless, doctors did not agree with the young barber as they urged people to avoid the “senseless” practice because it can do more harm than good.
“It is clearly not a good idea to cover the whole face with wax. The bottom line is that this is a senseless practice, which has more potential for harm than good and I would not advise it,” Dr Emma Wedgeworth told MailOnline.
As the dermatologist, who also works for the British Skin Foundation, added, there are better alternatives available to those who wish to treat their skin.
“I would not recommend treating children or anyone with broken skin. I see little need to remove hair in under 13s and if blackheads are a problem, there are plenty of other, far better options,” she insisted.
Standing up to the practice and its practitioners was also Zava UK’s Dr Simran Deo who explained that applying hot wax directly on the face can result in serious burns.
“Burns can lead to pigmentation, blistering and permanent scarring, which can also affect self-esteem. In some cases if the burn is severe it can cause contracture or significant tightening of the skin which can be a problem if this occurs on areas such as the neck or around the nose and the mouth,” the doctor said.
“The TikTok videos also demonstrate the wax being poured over the whole face, covering both the air passages of the nose and the mouth. If the airways are blocked, oxygen cannot enter, and if the wax is not removed fast enough there is a potential for suffocation as the wax hardens.”
What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends. For more news and stories, follow us on Facebook!
Replaced!