Shaving versus skin depilatory cream for preoperative skin preparation. A prospective study of wound infection rates.

A prospective, randomized study compared the effect of preoperative shaving versus chemical depilation on wound infection in 253 patients. No statistical difference was found between the two methods. Depilatory cream did save time by allowing hair to be removed the day before surgery and did offer an advantage in areas that were difficult to shave or if the patient was scheduled for diagnostic procedures and operations in the same operative area in close succession.