Expert warns about horrifying reason you should never tweezer your nostril hair
Waxing away the hair off your arms and legs is nothing new - but choosing to mess with the hairs inside your nose could be a bit of an issue.
It turns out there are some risks associated to nose hair tweezing and waxing - as well as some safer alternatives to try out.
This comes after a number of health professionals have warned us of pulling hairs from such a 'delicate area'.
Why nose hairs are important
Sorry for the close up there. (Getty Stock Images)
I can't sit here and pretend like I've given my nose hairs much thought over the years, however, maybe I should.
“The primary role of nose hairs is to trap dust, pollen and other airborne particles in the air so that the air you breathe is partially filtered,” US-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michael Jacobs told HuffPost.
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He explained that nose hairs are a barrier to preventing allergens from entering your nasal passages.
Dr. Don J. Beasley, an Idaho-based board-certified otolaryngologist, added: “The nose is a delicate area with numerous blood vessels and mucous membranes.
“When something touches the nostril hairs, such as a small insect or other irritants, it triggers a reflexive sneeze, which is the body’s way of expelling the intruder or irritant.
“Nose hairs trap moisture from exhaled air, preventing the nasal passages from becoming too dry.
“This moisture helps to humidify the air we breathe, making it more comfortable for our respiratory system.”
Issues with hair tweezing and waxing
Removing nose hair increases your risk of infection, according to Dr. Nicole Aaronson, a Delaware-based board-certified otolaryngologist.
She told the outlet: "While waxing doesn’t necessarily weaken the immune system, it does breach the skin barrier by creating openings for bacteria to get into the deeper tissues, thus creating the opportunity for infection.”
“Nose waxing can be an uncomfortable experience, as the delicate nasal passages can be sensitive to the pulling sensation, potentially causing temporary pain, redness and irritation,” Beasley added.
Alternatives to waxing and plucking
An electric trimmer is considered to be a safer option as it doesn't remove your nose hairs completely.
And if you want to use rounded scissors instead, that's also a better method than waxing or plucking.
Rounded scissors are more useful than standard scissors as they reduce the risk of accidental cuts.
Personally, electric trimmers have been my go-to for many years and it requires very little effort or maintenance, a man's number one priority for most things.
Anish Vij