Yikes: The Top 3 Hair Removal Mistakes This Derm Sees All The Time

The weather is finally starting to warm up, and the sun's rays are ever-so-gingerly finding their way out. For me I know that means shedding a few layers. And with fewer layers comes more sunscreen—and more regular body hair removal, for me at least. Personally, I shave and occasionally wax. But body hair—and if you decide to keep it or not—is a very individualist choice. There's no right or wrong style to go with. However, there are correct ways to keep your skin healthy no matter your preference. 

Retinol-infused body products are growing in popularity—as you can read about in our dossier on the products. And with the exfoliating ingredient being used in new territory often comes a learning curve. You know how you're often told to stop using facial retinol products a few days prior to waxing your face? Same goes for the body. 

As with anything in beauty, it's good to set reasonable expectations. "For hair removal, I do consider lasers the gold standard, but that doesn't mean it works the same for everyone," she says. To start, it may not work for those with light or gray hair as it targets the pigment of the hair, and thus isn't as able to see light fibers. 

But even those who do qualify as good candidates (read: dark body hair fibers), it may not mean you're hair-free for life. "I like to call it laser hair reduction because it may not be permanent for you. So many of us who've gotten it, we'll have to do a touch-up treatment here or there once or twice a year," she says. 

"I suggest doing your shaving routine more toward the end of your shower," she says. "This way, your skin is cleansed, you have some light exfoliation going on, and the skin is damp." This can all help prevent minor scrapes and even ingrowns down the line, as the humidity of the shower can help open up the hair follicles. 

But even if you don't always wait till the last minute when under the spray, she notes the most important thing is that you do not dry shave. "You always need a little buffer there, be it a shaving cream or even a hydrating body wash."