Substance used for temporary hair removal by dissolving it at the skin surface.

Substance used for temporary hair removal by dissolving it at the skin surface.

• A. Epilation
• B. Depilatory
• C. Depilation
• D. Epidermis

Answer: (B)

Chemical hair removal at the skin surface is accomplished with a depilatory. A depilatory is a substance that dissolves the hair shaft where it meets the skin, typically using thioglycolate compounds to break the keratin bonds in the hair. Because it dissolves hair only at the surface and leaves the follicle intact, the effect is temporary and hair regrows after a few days to weeks. This differs from epilation, which removes hair from the root by pulling it out (like waxing or tweezing); depilation, which removes hair at the surface by cutting or shaving; and epidermis, which is simply the outer layer of skin, not a product or method of removal.

Chemical hair removal at the skin surface is accomplished with a depilatory. A depilatory is a substance that dissolves the hair shaft where it meets the skin, typically using thioglycolate compounds to break the keratin bonds in the hair. Because it dissolves hair only at the surface and leaves the follicle intact, the effect is temporary and hair regrows after a few days to weeks. This differs from epilation, which removes hair from the root by pulling it out (like waxing or tweezing); depilation, which removes hair at the surface by cutting or shaving; and epidermis, which is simply the outer layer of skin, not a product or method of removal.