We have all been there; we wake up and look in the mirror, and what do we see? A small round bump is staring back at us.
Yup, it is an ingrown hair.
Our skin surface houses over 5 million hair follicles, so it is likely that you will develop ingrown hair at least once in your life.
If you have wondered how these red bumps occur, read on for some answers.
Table of Contents
- What is ingrown hair?
- Causes for ingrown hair
- Shaving
- Tweezing
- Waxing
- Impactions
- Hair type
- Areas where ingrown hair commonly Grows
- What are the signs and symptoms of ingrown hair?
- Treatment for ingrown hair
- Medications that can be used to treat ingrown hair
- How to remove ingrown hair?
- Complications of ingrown hair
- Bacterial infections
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Keloid scars
- Pseudofolliculitis barbae
- Ingrown Hair Prevention Tips
- Home remedies that can be used for an ingrown hair
- How to get rid of scars caused by ingrown hair?
- Sunscreen
- Green tea
- Aloe vera
- The Bottomline
What is ingrown hair?
Ingrown hairIngrown hairs
© Istockphoto
Causes for ingrown hair
Shaving
The removal of hair from anywhere on the body by using a razor or any other kind of blade is called shaving. Pulling your skin when you shave causes hair to draw back into the skin.
© Istockphoto
Tweezing
The process of hair removal from anywhere on the body using a tweezer is called tweezing or plucking. Tweezing only gets rid of hair strands, not the follicles. New hair may curl back and enter your skin.
Waxing
The process of hair removal from anywhere on the body using a sticky wax that pulls the hair from the root is called waxing. Waxing in the wrong direction can cause new hair to curl back when it grows.
Impactions
Sometimes dead skin cells clog the hair follicles and cause the hair to grow sideways rather than upwards.
Hair type
If you have coarse or curly hair, chances are more that you might struggle with ingrown hair.
Areas where ingrown hair commonly Grows
Ingrown hairshair
- Face and neck
- Scalp
- Legs
- Armpits
- Chest
- Back
- Pubic area
© Istockphoto
What are the signs and symptoms of ingrown hair?
Ingrown hairingrown hair
- Small red bumps on the skin that look like a pimple
- Infected, puss-filled bumps
- Darkening of the skin over the bumps
- An itching or burning sensation over the bumps
- New hair that is growing curved back
© Istockphoto
Treatment for ingrown hair
- Usually, ingrown hair resolves on its own in a few weeks, but in rare cases, it can take up to 6 months.
- During this time, you are advised not to shave, wax or tweeze the hair until the ingrown hairs have resolved entirely. You can use a clipper or scissors to trim your hair if necessary during this period.
- Visit a doctor if you develop a fever or if the area around the ingrown hair is painful, red and swollen.
- In some cases, the doctor might prescribe medications, or they may advise a more permanent solution such as laser hair removal and electrolysis if you frequently suffer from ingrown hairs.
© Istockphoto
Medications that can be used to treat ingrown hair
You can try certain medicines if you are frequently troubled by ingrown hair or if they last long enough to cause irritation.
- Your doctor may prescribe glycolic acid if you frequently experience the problem of ingrown hair. The acid keeps the hair follicles open, which prevents hair from getting trapped under the skin.
- Retinoid creams help reduce dead skin and lighten the discoloration caused around the ingrown hair.
- Antibiotic creams are used to reduce infection in the area.
- Steroid creams may help reduce irritation and itching.
© Istockphoto
How to remove ingrown hair?
Ok, so can you remove ingrown hairs naturally at home without having to break a sweat? Yup! You can. Just follow these easy-to-do steps:
- Place a warm washcloth over the ingrown hair and gently rub it in circular movements.
- Using a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin.
- If the ingrown hair has curved into the skin, disinfect the skin around the ingrown hair as well as a tweezer with alcohol and gently pull the hair until it lifts off the skin.
© Istockphoto
Complications of ingrown hair
When you have ingrown hair, you should wait for a few days and check if it clears away on its own. However, if the problem persists, you might be at risk of some complications. These include:
- Bacterial infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria that usually presents on our skin. Though not all ingrown hair infections are caused by this bacteria, if staphylococcus aureus bacteria enters an open skin, it can cause itchy bumps, pain, flushed skin, and pus. In rare cases, it can enter the bloodstream and be life-threatening.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
The skin around an ingrown hair produces a protective pigment called melanin in response to the inflammation caused by an ingrown hair. This melanin tends to leave dark patches or hyperpigmentation on the skin.
- Keloid scars
© Istockphoto
Keloid scars are smooth, raised bumps that can be either skin coloured, pink or red. They are scar tissue produced by the body to protect the area.
- Pseudofolliculitis barbae
Pseudofolliculitis barbae is also known as razor bumps, and these are small reddish inflamed bumps that occur on a newly shaved area.
Ingrown Hair Prevention Tips
The best way to prevent ingrown hair is to follow a good skincare routine and avoid shaving, tweezing and waxing. Instead, you can use the following:
- Electric razors
- Hair removal creams
© Istockphoto
In some cases, it is not possible to stop shaving altogether. You can limit shaving to a maximum of twice a week and follow a regime to reduce the occurrence of ingrown hairs.
Step 1
Use a gentle cleanser and wash your face with water before shaving.
Step 2
Place a warm damp cloth over the area to be shaved. It helps to open the pores.
Step 3
Now pat your face dry and apply shaving cream or gel generously. Allow it to absorb into the skin for 2 mins. It will help soften the hair.
Step 4
Now using a sharp, single-blade razor, shave in the same direction of hair growth.
Step 5
Make sure to rinse out the razor after each stroke.
Step 6
Once you are done shaving, wash your face and apply a cool cloth over the face to soothe the skin.
Step 7
Finally, make sure to apply aftershave and use a moisturizer regularly.
Home remedies that can be used for an ingrown hair
Here are some home remedies for ingrown hair that can help you.
Apply a warm cloth over the skin where the ingrown hair is present and lightly rub the skin with a soft cloth or even a toothbrush to encourage the hair to move out of the skin.
Apply tea tree oil to reduce inflammation and redness. Dilute a drop of the tea tree oil with a bit of water and apply it over the ingrown hair using a cotton pad.
To exfoliate, mix a little sugar with olive oil or honey to make a paste. Apply it in a circular motion over the affected area and rinse off with warm water.
Baking soda can also be used as an exfoliant. Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda in 1 cup of water. Apply using a cotton ball and then rinse off with cold water.
Use a soothing lotion such as an oatmeal lotion to reduce skin irritation.
Do not scratch the area but if the itching is unbearable, ask your doctor to prescribe a cream to relieve the itching.
How to get rid of scars caused by ingrown hair?
- Sunscreen
Protect the scar by applying sunscreen. Sunscreens help stop the growth of scars and help in fading them out.
- Green tea
Apply used warm green tea bags on the scar as it is said to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Aloe vera
Fresh aloe vera gel massagethe scar daily
© Istockphoto
The Bottomline
Ingrown hairingrown hair
Saurabh Dixit
Specialty: Grooming
Qualification: M.C.A from P.T.U
Experience: 10 Years
Saurabh Dixit is an accomplished content and digital marketing expert with a ten-year track record in diverse sectors like Automotive, Fintech, Edtech, Lifestyle, Grooming, and Health. Known for his thorough research and evidence-based writing, Saurabh has earned notable recognition in the industry.
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