Abrasives - Advantages and Disadvantages

Abrasive such as pumice stones are among the oldest devices employed for temporary hair removal. Abrasive should be used only on soapy and wet skin. Abrasive remove hair skin slowly and are impractical for larger areas.

During abrasive, hair may be removed by rubbing the sandpaper over the skin in a circular motion. It may be gentler than a pumice stone. The abrasive method can be irritate to the skin and is not commonly used today for hair removal.

If you have fine hair, then abrasives can be the right method for you to remove hair. You will use an abrasive stone, pumice mostly. By the use of abrasive, you will lightly remove the hair without damaging your skin. Although you will see some redness afterwards, it will likely go away quickly. And, the results of abrasives will last up to three weeks.

Abrasives for hair removal come in many different forms. They range from pumice stones and abrasive gloves to small sticks or wands with a sandpaper finish. They work by buffing fine hair from the surface of the skin. They do not remove the hair from below the level of the skin or the root.

The smallest abrasive tool is usually used in small areas. For instance, the abrasive
wand is used on the upper lip, while the abrasive mittens are used on the legs. However,
these tools are only effective on fine hair, not on coarse hair that has been shaved regularly.

Advantages of abrasives:-

The advantages of abrasives may be are as:-

• It is a relatively inexpensive method of the hair removal.

• It can be conveniently used anywhere over your body.

Disadvantages of abrasive:

• The regrowth of hairs are fairly rapid, like shaving.

• Distortion of the follicle may occur, due to the varied directions of the abrasive movements.

• The regrowth may be irregular and appear wispy where it once lay flat on the skin.

• It can be very irritating to the skin.

• It should not be used by people receiving microdermabrasion treatments or who are using Retin A or strong alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) products.

• It should not be used on skin with any disorder or disease or on any area with signs of
  irritation or infection

• It should not be used on areas that are sunburned or peeling from the sun.

The abrasive works as by physically rubbing away hair form the skin surface. Abrasives used include pumice stones and devices or gloves made from fine sandpaper. This method irritates the skin and is seldom used these days.