Get a bump-free Bikini wax: how can I keep my skin clear and smooth after waxing? … and more of your questions answered here - Beautyq+a

Shape, June, 2002 by Beth Janes

Q How can prevent the red bumps I get after waxing my bikini area?

A Typically, some bumps will appear right after waxing. Clogged pores and hair follicles are usually to blame -- which is why exfoliating (both before and after waxing) is so important, says Dorota Lisowski, an aesthetician at the Brigitte Mansfield Spa in New York City. Right before waxing, gently exfoliate with a loofah (like Bath & Body Works Spa Mitt, $8; 800-395-1001) and/or a mild scrub like Origins Swept Away with jojoba beads and aloe ($16; origins.com). Immediately after waxing, Lisowski suggests applying a mixture of one part baby oil and one part salicylic-acid-based astringent (try Neutrogena Oil-Free Deep Clean Astringent, $5.50; at drugstores). The baby oil helps soothe skin while salicylic acid keeps pores and hair follicles clear. You can also dab the area with a salicylic-acid-based product like Tend Skin ($20; tendskin.com) or an antibacterial gel like Sally Hansen Bikini Plus Antibacterial Pain Relief Gel ($6; at drugstores), which helps calm itching as well as irritation. Continue exfoliat ing for at least three days afterward.

Q I forgot to reapply sunscreen and got burned. How can I ease the pain?

A The key to relief is probably already in your medicine cabinet. "Two aspirin every four hours is the single best treatment," says David Herschthal, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. When you get burned, the body releases prostaglandins (hormonelike substances responsible for the look and feel of burned skin), and aspirin is the strongest anti-prostaglandin there is." It helps ease pain, swelling and fever, and can even help prevent blisters. To ease the hot-all-over feeling, rub on a 1-percent hydrocortisone cream (available over the counter at your drugstore) and apply an ice compress for 10-20 minutes several times a day. You should also keep skin moist to prevent "cracking" (a side effect of sun-baked skin). To do so, wet skin. Then apply a cream or lotion like Eucerin Itch-Relief Moisturizing Spray with skin-cooling menthol ($8; at drugstores) to help seal in moisture. Aloe vera gel and aloe-containing products can also keep skin hydrated and cool (opt for Banana Boat Sooth-A-Caine Aloe Vera Spray Gel, $6; at drugstores; or Clarins After Sun Replenishing Moisture Care, $33; gloss.com). If the burn doesn't subside after about five days or your skin starts to blister, consult your dermatologist for prescription hydrocortisone or antibiotics.

Q I've noticed a new mole on my back. I'm only 28. Could it be cancer?

A You're right to be suspicious. Any mole that looks unusual or has changed is worth having checked out by your dermatologist, right away. It could be normal, it could be a dysplastic nevi (an abnormal mole that could develop into skin cancer) or it could be skin cancer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, of the 1 million Americans who develop skin cancer each year, a growing percentage are in their 20s and 30s, says Andrew J. Kaufman, M.D., a dermatologic surgeon in Thousand Oaks and Santa Barbara, Calif. Here's what you need to do:

* Inspect the color of your mole. If it's bumpy or translucent, occasionally bleeds, is an unusual red shade or looks scaly and red, it could be cancer.

* Inspect the size of your mole. A diameter greater than that of a pencil eraser, asymmetry (one side looks much different from the other side) and/or a blurry border can also indicate cancer.

If, after consulting with your dermatologist, you find out that you do have skin cancer, know that surgery is the most common and effective method of treatment, Additional radiation and/or chemotherapy can help treat melanoma, the most serious form.

And if you're seeking information about the disease, be cautious about what you find on the Internet. University of Michigan researchers found that the majority of melanoma sites didn't have complete information, and 14 percent had outright inaccuracies. The top five for accurate melanoma facts according to researchers:

* National Cancer Institute

cancer.gov

* Melanoma Foundation, University of Sydney, Australia

www.med.usyd.edu.au/medicine/ melanoma/

* Melanoma Patient's Network

melanoma.net

* Melanoma.com (sponsored by Schering Corporation, a drug company)

* What You Need to Know About Melanoma

ontumor.com/melanoma/wynk

Additional reporting on melanoma was done by Michele Bloomquist.

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