The Tricks To Stop Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs can be extremely painful, irritating and annoying. They usually occur when hairs curl round and grow back into the skin. When this happens, the area can become itchy, sore, red and sometimes whiteheads appear. Really not fun at all!
Ingrown hairs can appear anywhere however, it is usually in areas where there is frequent hair removal such as your bikini line, under arms or jawline.
Certain people can be more prone to ingrown hairs than others. For example, people with thick, curly hair tend to suffer with ingrown hairs more often than people with fine, thin hair. This is especially true with pubic hair which tends to be coarser than hair on the rest of the body.
Here are our top tips from our team about how to get rid of the irritating bumps…
exfoliate
An ingrown hair usually occurs when the hair follicle becomes clogged with dead skin cells. This then forces the hair to grow sideways. We know that regular exfoliation helps prevent the build up of dead skin cells and also leaves the skin feeling smoother and less prone to ingrown hairs.
Invest in a good razor
If you are going to shave then we would advise that you invest in a good razor where the blade doesn’t blunt easily. A sharp blade ensures a smooth shave which means less ingrown hairs. This is the same on the jawline where a sharp blade is essential or alternatively an electric shaver can do a great job. Also don’t forget to use a good shaving cream so that the blades don’t drag on your skin and give you irritating sensitive spots.
Stop hair removal in the area
If you develop an ingrown hair then stop waxing, shaving or plucking the hair in that area until the ingrown hair goes away. Continuing hair removal in this area will just aggravate it. You can also place a warm compress on the area to help open up the skin pores for the hair to appear through.
If you do get an ingrown hair
If you do get an ingrown hair then please avoid the temptation to squeeze it! This can lead to you pushing the hair deeper into the skin or even spreading bacteria into the pores triggering an infection. Often small ingrown hairs can be left alone and they will disappear by themselves. If you do need to do something then use sterile tweezers to gently tease the hair out however, do not dig for the hair if it lies beneath the skin’s surface.
If the ingrown hair does get infected the bumps may get painful and full of pus. To treat the problem, you may need to see your doctor for specific treatment such as an antibiotic ointment or wash.
If you would like to check our availability for skincare advice or book an appointment then, please book now or call 01932 853200.