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Lots of thick, shiny hair on your head? Great. A hair on your nose? Not as much. While your first thought might be to reach for the tweezers, pulling on the tweezers could end up doing more harm than good. Because these nose hairs actually have a function: They are your body’s first line of defense against bacteria and germs in the nasal cavity.
Protection
Cilia (the technical term for nose hairs) are part of the system that protects your lungs from dirt and debris that enters your airways. “Nose hairs not only help filter out intruders, but they also work slowly to trap the dirt so it doesn’t get into your lungs or enter the bloodstream,” says dermatologist Julie Russak.
Removing nose hair puts you at a higher risk of infection…or worse. “Removing nose hair makes your nasal cavity and sinuses more vulnerable to anything that gets in,” says Dr. Russak. “This makes you very susceptible to allergic attacks, sinus infections and respiratory infections.”
Although it is not recommended to completely remove your nose hair, there are some dermatologist-recommended steps you can take to minimize the appearance of nose hair without putting your health at risk.
1. Trimming
DR. According to Russak, trimming is the best and safest way to remove nose hair. Ideally, you’ll grab a pair of trimming scissors or a nose hair trimmer, as these are specifically designed for trimming those hard-to-reach areas, she says.
2. Cutting
No trimmer? No problem. You can also use the same scissors that you use to shape your eyebrows, for example. Use a magnifying mirror, make sure you are in a well-lit area, and clean your nose and scissors before you begin.
3. The laser
If you are looking for a more permanent solution because your nose hair is due to age or hormones, for example, laser hair removal may be a good choice. However, be sure to go to a professional for a safe (and effective) experience.
“We treat the edges of the nose hairs because we can’t treat the entire inside,” says Christian Karavolas, owner of Romeo & Juliet Laser Hair Removal in New York City. “To do this safely, we hold one side of the nostril slightly upward and shoot the laser sideways.”
It is worth mentioning that although laser hair removal is an effective and permanent solution, it is more expensive and time-consuming than trimming.
And remember: Do not grow or let grow
Waxing or waxing are not good methods for removing nose hair. Not only are they incredibly painful, but both are unsafe because they completely remove hair follicles, increasing the risk of swelling or infection.
“This makes you very susceptible to allergic attacks, sinus infections and respiratory infections,” says Dr. Russak. And such an infection is the worst case scenario. “If such a nasal infection comes into contact with your veins, it could pose a serious health risk as it then provides a route for the bacteria to reach the brain.”
Bacteria in the brain isn’t something you want, is it? So, stick to any of the three nose hair removal methods mentioned above.
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