A chemical depilatory is a

cosmetic Cosmetic may refer to: * Cosmetics, or make-up, substances to enhance the beauty of the human body, apart from simple cleaning *Cosmetic, an adjective describing beauty, aesthetics, or appearance, especially concerning the human body *Cosmetic, ...

preparation used to remove hair from the skin. Common active ingredients are salts of

thioglycolic acid Thioglycolic acid (TGA) is the organic compound HSCH2CO2H. TGA is often called mercaptoacetic acid (MAA). It contains both a thiol (mercaptan) and carboxylic acid functional groups. It is a colorless liquid with a strongly unpleasant odor. TGA ...

and

thiolactic acid Thiolactic acid is the organosulfur compound with the formula HSCH2CO2H. The molecule contains both carboxylic acid and thiol functional groups. It is structurally related to lactic acid by the interchange of SH for OH. It is a colorless oil. T ...

s. These compounds break the disulfide bonds in keratin and also hydrolyze the hair so that it is easily removed. Formerly,

sulfide Sulfide (British English also sulphide) is an inorganic anion of sulfur with the chemical formula S2− or a compound containing one or more S2− ions. Solutions of sulfide salts are corrosive. ''Sulfide'' also refers to chemical compounds lar ...

s such as strontium sulfide were used, but due to their unpleasant odor, they have been replaced by thiols. The main chemical reaction effected by the thioglycolate is: : Chemical depilatories contain 5–6%

calcium thioglycolate Thioglycolic acid (TGA) is the organic compound HSCH2CO2H. TGA is often called mercaptoacetic acid (MAA). It contains both a thiol (mercaptan) and carboxylic acid functional groups. It is a colorless liquid with a strongly unpleasant odor. TGA ...

in a cream base (to avoid runoff).

Calcium hydroxide Calcium hydroxide (traditionally called slaked lime) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca( OH)2. It is a colorless crystal or white powder and is produced when quicklime (calcium oxide) is mixed or slaked with water. It has m ...

strontium hydroxide Strontium hydroxide, Sr(OH)2, is a caustic alkali composed of one strontium ion and two hydroxide ions. It is synthesized by combining a strontium salt with a strong base. Sr(OH)2 exists in anhydrous, monohydrate, or octahydrate form. Prepar ...

maintain a pH of about 12. Hair destruction requires about 10 minutes. Depilation is followed by careful rinsing with water, and various conditioners are applied to restore the skin's pH to normal. Depilation does not destroy the dermal papilla, and the hair grows back. Chemical depilatories are available in gel, cream, lotion,

aerosol An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas. Aerosols can be natural or anthropogenic. Examples of natural aerosols are fog or mist, dust, forest exudates, and geyser steam. Examples of ant ...

, roll-on, and powder forms. Common brands include Nair, Magic Shave, and Veet. Chemical depilatories are indicated in the treatment of hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome. Depilatory ointments, or plasters, were known to Greek and Roman authors as ''psilothrum''. In Jewish lore,

King Solomon King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the t ...

is said to have discovered a chemical depilatory made from a mixture of lime and water and orpiment ( arsenic trisulfide). Colloquy of the Queen of Sheba, taken from the Aramaic ''Targum Sheni of Megillat Esther''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chemical Depilatory Hair removal