Body hair removal: Prevalence, demographics, and body experience among men and women in Germany

Abstract

Background Body hair removal is an increasing trend that has an impact on the individual's body image. Aims To characterize current body hair removal practices in Germany and the extent to which body hair removal was related to demographic characteristics, body image, and body mass index. Patients/Methods A national survey was conducted from September to October 2016 in men and women in Germany. Body experience was measured by a standardized questionnaire. In addition to sociodemographic data, age, gender, education, marital status, monthly income, and body mass index were collected. Results A total of n = 2510 participants aged 14 to 94 years (Mage = 48.4 years (SD = 18.2), 53.4% females) were randomly selected from the general population. 69% of the questioned women removed their body hair while only 41% of men do. The gender effect is statistically significant (χ2 = 203.43; df = 1; P < .001). Income, a higher level of education, and living in an urban region were significantly associated with body hair removal in both, men and women. Furthermore, significant differences with regard to body image were found between hair removers and nonremovers which are associated with a different attitude toward the own body. Conclusions Germans were likely to remove body hair if they were of younger age, better educated, and with high income. Hair removal is above all a women's issue. Especially, female hair removers experience their body as an esthetic entity with the need of active reshaping. There is a “shift” from ideal of a naturally hairy body to an increased hairlessness in Germany.

Epilation and depilation in the genital area – motivation, methods, risks and recommendations from a dermatological point of view

“…The start of the use of epilation or depilation procedures is reported from an age of about 8 years, and in other surveys from an average of over 13.5 (±1.9) years (Figure 2a). 2,6–24,26–65 …”

Genital Wound Repair and Scarring

“…In recent decades, gender reassignment and reconstructive surgery [ 58 ] after female genital mutilation/cutting [ 65 ] have gained more importance in plastic surgery. The aesthetic focus has shifted towards the genitalia with many women and men shaving their intimate areas [ 2 ]. Due to the awareness of the visible outer genitalia, now devoid of hair, the number of genital aesthetic procedures has also risen [ 66 ].…”

“…Little is known of the incidence and severity of scarring in the genital area despite the fact that 30% of all men are circumcised [ 1 ] ( Figure 1 ). Current body culture involving shaving of the intimate areas has an impact on the desired esthetic changes of the outer genitalia in men and women [ 2 ]. Labioplasty, for example, is performed with increasing frequency, with almost no visible scarring.…”

Clinical and dermoscopic evaluation of melanocytic nevi changes during diode laser hair removal: A prospective study

“…Laser hair removal (LHR) is a common practice and its use is increasing worldwide. 1 It typically targets melanin which is present in melanocytic nevi. 2 Not uncommonly, we see patients with nevi that have irregular or atypical characteristics following exposure to different laser sources.…”