Ingrown Hair

What is an Ingrown Hair?

An ingrown hair is a hair that curls and penetrates the skin with its tip. When the hair curls and penetrates the skin, inflammation occurs. Sometimes, the small ingrown hair can even be seen beneath the raised area.

Ingrown hairs are more common among people with very curly hair. Most ingrown hairs occur in the beard area. Ingrown hairs can also occur in the pubic area and the neck area. Bacteria, yeasts, acne, or fungi infections can further worsen the the ingrown hair.

What are the Symptoms of an Ingrown Hair?

Each individual may have different symptoms differently. The most common symptom of an ingrown hair is inflammation of the skin, followed by pus formation, redness, and itchiness.

Can Ingrown Hairs be Treated?

Yes. An ingrown hair often heals on its own. However, in the case of chronic ingrown hairs, treatment may include:

• Allow the hair to grow longer
• Depilatory cream
  • Depilatory creams are great for short-term hair removal.
• Laser hair removal
• Electrolysis
  • Permanent hair removal

Tips to Prevent Ingrown Hairs

• Shave with an electric razor.
• Wash the skin before shaving.
• Shave in the same direction each time.
• Use an acne cream made with salicylic acid on the days that you do not shave.
• Exfoliate
  • Exfoliating options include creams, lotions, or body gels, a slightly abrasive washcloth or glove specifically designed for exfoliation.
  • Do not exfoliate the skin if you already have ingrown hairs because skin irritation may occur.
• Use shaving cream
• Shave in the direction of the hair growth.
  • Do not shave against the grain
    • For men, downwards on cheeks, chin and moustache area, upwards on the neck.
    • For women, towards on the legs, underarms and bikini area