Warning - hair removal cream

[yoyo]

I have used this a number of times and always use the same one (VEET). I used it last night on my legs and bikini line and obviously followed the instructions. Felt tingling in bikini line after four minutes so removed it. The stinging grew more intense and I frantically tried to wash it off. I now have burns and blisters and am about to go to the hospital.

I didn't spot test as I have used it so many times. Please test before use always as I am in agony and don't want anyone else to go through this. Also, test a sensitive spot as it is only my bikini line that has reacted.

Wish me luck - scared I will be permanently scarred.

[Catbert]

I am sure they have not just changed the name but the product too. Know someone else who had a similar reaction.

I hope you're OK.

Write to the manufacturers. Take the bottle with you to the hospital. Wonder whether it's a bad batch? Wonder whether the hospital could tell you. You could then make a real issue with the manufacturers.

But it's a wise word of warning to always spot check, which many of us never do...

[bobbybob]

You can become allergic at any time, and the fact that you have used this many times makes you more rather than less likely to react.

All manufacturers of these products claim they tell you you should test every time. Get a list of ingredients so you can avoid them in other products (hair dye etc).

Have you some anti histamine that you can take?

[SofiaAmes]

Yes, take a claritin. That will help. I found that as I got older, my skin was reacting less and less favorably to lotion hair removers. I finally spent the money and had my bikini line done by laser and am totally totally thrilled. It is more or less permanent (I think you might have to have a session once a year or so), and you don't get ingrown hairs and rashes.

[ScrewballMuppet]

yoyo let us know how you got on at hospital

[Gillian76]

Ouch! I have bought some to use on my underarms before I go on holiday, but might just stick to the razor!

[GeorginaA]

They've changed the formulation and duration of Veet recently - it used to be a "use for 5 mins, but wash off in 10 minutes absolute maximum" but now it's 3 minutes with 6 minutes being the absolute maximum, and in my opinion for the extra change the packaging isn't blatant enough that it's changed (especially, as you say, most people once they've used the product hundreds of times, no longer read the instructions).

TBH, if you're doing legs, bikini and underarms, 6 minutes is not enough time to get it all on then scrape it all off & rinse. Wish they'd left it alone

[yoyo]

Thanks for your concern everyone. There was nothing the hospital could do but the doctor was very nice and just advised me to keep the area cool and dry. It has settled down today and now just have dark red skin where the blisters were. Not a pretty sight!

I think you would have to do yourself in sections for this to be successful - I didn't really have time to get it off quickly once the tingling had started (it doesn't simply rinse off as it is quite thick). I don't think I'll be using it again though.

SofiaAmes - was it expensive to get your bikini line lasered? Which sort did you have?

Holiday in a fortnight so am hoping it will have healed sufficiently by then. Boy shorts do nothing for my short legs!

[SofiaAmes]

It was epilight (i think that's what it's called). It was about £85 a session for the bikini area and a little more for the lower legs and you need 4 or 5 sessions depending on your hair etc. There was a noticeable difference after the 1st session. And you could have a session done a week before hitting the beach. I have really sensitive skin and found that I was really only rashy for maybe 1/2 hour after the treatment and that was it. The legs were a little redder (and a few blisters) since they use a higher setting and my freckles reacted with the laser, but even they were fine in a few days.
I bought a package that if you paid in advance for 5 sessions, you got a 6th one for free. If you can afford it it's well worth doing. I used 4 on my bikini and 2 on my legs.

[GeorginaA]

Oooo very tempted SofiaAmes - but that does sound pricey

[yoyo]

SofiaAmes - do you have to wait for the hair to grow through between each treatment? How long did it take for 4 sessions on the bikini line? Was it just a regular salon?

Sorry for all the questions - sounds expensive but if I could get rid of bikini line hair I would be delighted.

[SofiaAmes]

The sessions for your bikini line are done 4 or 5 weeks apart and the legs is a little longer as leg hair grows more slowly. They actually ask you to shave before the session, since the laser hits the hair root inside the skin. I was a little nervous about this as I have had dozens of ingrown hairs every single time i've shaved my bikini line, but for some reason, after the lasering, I didn't get any at all.
I went to a salon around the corner from me that had just opened and looked really clean and modern and that's pretty much all they do. You can do a google search under laser hair removal and get lots of information and look up local places that do it. It really is dependent on the person doing the treatment, so make sure that the actual person doing it has had several years experience doing treatments.

[yoyo]

Thanks SofiaAmes. Think this is the way forward for me but not just yet.. am healing quite quickly though thank goodness.

[NannyL]

That happened to me too!

OMG the pain.... i looked like i had dipped myself in acid

It started to tingle so i washed it off as quick as poss.... you could still th red marks a week later