The influence of hair-removal methods on wound infections. | Semantic Scholar (2024)

It is shown that the rate of infection is not lower after wet shaving than after dry shaving, and the difference is not significant on the 5% level.

This study confirms the clinical experience that no hair shave is a good alternative to the traditional hair shaving approach, allowing patients to enjoy the psychological benefits of undisturbed body image while recovering from major surgery.

Preoperative hair removal with razor shaving predisposes to skin injuries which in turn significantly influence postoperative wound infection rates, and injuries and resultant wound infection are fewer when depilatory cream is used for hair removal.

There is insufficient evidence to state whether removing hair impacts on surgical site infection or when is the best time to remove hair, but if it is necessary to removehair then both clipping and depilatory creams results in fewer SSIs than shaving using a razor.

This study evaluated the rate of infection by using a standardized method with minimal partial hair removal in the incision line, antiseptic hair gel, and perioperative antibiotics in 716 craniotomies.

It is concluded that the removal of hair by shaving does not lower the risk of surgical wound infection and may increase the risk.

Preoperative hair removal with razor shaving predisposes to skin injuries which in turn significantly influence postoperative wound infection rates, and injuries and resultant wound infection are fewer when depilatory cream is used for hair removal.

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The use of a depilatory cream as an alternative to a razor would seem to have the advantages of increasing patient comfort; of avoiding injuries inflicted by even skilful shaving; and perhaps of diminishing the incidence of wound infection, without significant risk of reaction to the depilatories.

Analysis of surgical wounds showed a reduction in the rate of infection in those using a hexachlorophene wash before operation and those whose operation site was not shaved, while no reduction or increase was observed when plastic skin drapes were used or when different hand-scrub preparations were used.

Depilation was associated with a significant reduction in skin surface bacteria and proved to be cheaper than shaving and could be used safely on granulating wounds and did not support bacterial growth.

If the patient's suspicions of malignant melanoma are supported by the appearance of the lesion, wide surgical excision should be recommended as an initial procedure.

Surgex, a commercially available depilatory agent, has been used routinely in the preparation of the head for craniotomy and no complications of its use have been noted in approximately 400 cases.

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