Are Razors The Next Beauty Secret?

There is a weird trend being touted on the Internet, and it says that women should start shaving their faces.

Many women swear by facial shaving as the answer to their anti-aging woes

Many women swear by it, and some have been doing it for years. Reality TV star Caroline Manzo of The Real Housewives of New Jersey was even filmed doing it on the show. "Let me make something clear and hopefully answer your questions once and for all: I shave my face as a method of exfoliating my skin." Manzo says. "I don’t shave because I have a hairy face! I’ve been practicing this for over 10 years, and I haven’t grown any facial hair because of it, and I have beautiful skin with minimal wrinkles. I think this should clarify any questions.”

Even skin experts agree that shaving could help in exfoliation and renewal of skin follicles. In an interview with Daily Mail, Dr. Michael Prager, aesthetic clinician at the Prager Beauty Clinic says, “From an anti-ageing point of view, home shaving has some effect. It’s like a mild form of microdermabrasion, so encourages collagen production, which reduces wrinkles. Whenever there’s trauma to the skin, collagen is stimulated to help cell renewal.”

Dermatologist Dr. Neal Schultz told The Mirror that “most men shave their faces — and thereby exfoliate two-thirds of their face — regularly for years. That’s the reason that by their 30s and 40s, men’s skin often looks better than women’s skin.”

Others, however, point out that women are already doing lots to exfoliate, such as using facial scrubs and exfoliating creams.

The trend is taking off at an increasing number of beauty salons across the UK, with charges for a single session of 'dermaplaning' going for as much as £350.

Those who have tried it say that it helps their skin to stay 'soft and baby-smooth', and it is especially popular among women who have noticeable facial hair around their upper lip, cheeks and chin areas.

The cons? Shaving can irritate and sensitize the skin, and tiny cuts can lead to infection and inflammation. I’m also of the opinion that daily shaving is most likely not the reason that men's skin ages slower - collagen levels in their skin are naturally higher due to their higher levels of androgen. They also have thicker and oilier skin, which is why they don't show their age as early as women do.

If you are already keeping your skin with a good daily cleanser, keeping your skin exfoliated with a good retinol cream, and using a good sunscreen, you are already doing a lot to keep your skin in great condition.

To find out more about aesthetic treatments that you can trust for anti-aging and collagen boosting effects, read this previous article.

--- Cosmetic Medicine, MD

Dr. Liow Tiong Sin is an aesthetic practitioner who practices in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, Malaysia. He has more than 12 years of expertise with non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and conducts training courses for other doctors from all around Asia. 

To connect with Dr. Liow, Like Cosmedmd's Facebook page, visit Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre's website at http://www.beverlywilshiremedical.com or drop him an email at cosmedmd@gmail.com

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Some links to other articles that may be of interest:

Eating Well to Look Well

Getting Botox or Fillers From A Salon Or Spa? Here's What You Should Consider 

Facial Exercisers - Do They Really Work?