Facial Hair Removal Depilatory Creams and Chemical Methods 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the active ingredient in most chemical depilatory creams?
- Salicylic acid
- Thioglycolate (calcium or potassium thioglycolate) (Correct answer)
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Glycolic acid
Correct answer: Thioglycolate (calcium or potassium thioglycolate)
Thioglycolate compounds break the disulfide bonds in keratin, the protein that makes up hair, dissolving the hair shaft at the skin surface.
Question 2: How do depilatory creams remove facial hair?
- By pulling the hair from the root
- By chemically breaking down the hair shaft so it can be wiped away (Correct answer)
- By destroying the hair follicle with heat
- By cutting the hair with embedded microblades
Correct answer: By chemically breaking down the hair shaft so it can be wiped away
Depilatories dissolve the hair's keratin structure at or just below the skin surface, allowing it to be easily wiped off.
Question 3: Why must a patch test always be performed before applying a depilatory cream to the face?
- To check if the cream is expired
- To identify potential allergic reactions or chemical irritation on sensitive facial skin (Correct answer)
- To see how fast the cream works
- It is optional and not clinically important
Correct answer: To identify potential allergic reactions or chemical irritation on sensitive facial skin
Depilatory chemicals can cause allergic contact dermatitis or chemical burns, especially on the sensitive skin of the face.
Question 4: What is the maximum recommended time most facial depilatory creams should remain on the skin?
- 30 seconds
- 5–10 minutes per the manufacturer's instructions (Correct answer)
- 30–60 minutes
- Overnight
Correct answer: 5–10 minutes per the manufacturer's instructions
Leaving depilatory cream on longer than directed risks chemical burns and significant irritation to the skin.
Question 5: How does the result of a depilatory cream compare to waxing?
- Results last longer because depilatories remove the root
- Results are shorter because depilatories only dissolve the hair at the surface, leaving the root intact (Correct answer)
- Results are identical in duration
- Depilatories cause permanent hair reduction over time
Correct answer: Results are shorter because depilatories only dissolve the hair at the surface, leaving the root intact
Because the follicle root is untouched, hair regrows as quickly as it does after shaving, making depilatory results shorter-lasting than waxing.
Question 6: Which facial area should be avoided when using depilatory creams due to risk of serious injury?
- Upper lip (outer only)
- Eyelids, inside the nostrils, and mucous membrane areas (Correct answer)
- Forehead
- Cheeks
Correct answer: Eyelids, inside the nostrils, and mucous membrane areas
Depilatories near the eyes, inside the nose, or on mucous membranes can cause severe chemical burns or damage to sensitive tissue.
Facial Hair Removal Depilatory Creams and Chemical Methods 1
What is the active ingredient in most chemical depilatory creams?