Ingrown Hair: Causes, Treatment and Tips to Prevent it

Have you ever shaved or waxed your skin only to not have an entirely smooth finish? What gets in the way of a seamless hair removal activity is the presence of ingrown hair. These are common bumps that can be found on shaved areas in pimple-like forms. Did you know that the ingrowth of hair can lead to scars and even bacterial infection if not treated?

What Is Ingrown Hair?

Post-shaving or waxing, when hair grows back but curls into the skin layer, the end of the hair is trapped making it seem like a bump. These also often appear to be darker than the skin tone. Ingrown hair can also cause inflammation and red skin for some. Sometimes, ingrown hair can also clog a hair follicle!

What Causes Ingrown Hair?

An ingrown hair is simply the result of shaving or cutting a hair. When the hair grows back, it curls and deposits in the skin’s outer layer which makes it a bump that is hard to remove. It can be caused by:

• shaving but tweezing, plucking, and waxing too

• dead skin clogging the hair follicles so the hair growth is trapped under it, making it curl and turn into ingrown hair

• Wearing tight clothes which make the skin rub against it.

How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair Safely?

Are you plagued with this issue and are you trying to understand some home remedies for the ingrowth of hair on legs? Before you do that, remember to avoid poking or scraping an ingrown hair. Now read on to find out how you can safely remove an ingrown hair at home.

• Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! One of the best ways of getting rid of hair ingrowth on legs and hair ingrowth on hands is to use a gentle but effective exfoliator during a warm shower.

• Use a salicylic acid toner or a glycolic acid toner post-exfoliation to soothe the skin and keep it ingrown hair-free.

• Using a warm compress on ingrown hair by cleaning your skin with warm water in circular motions can firstly, clear any chance of bacteria and open up the clogged hair follicles!

Tips For Preventing Ingrown Hair

Want to learn how to stop in growth of hair on legs or any other area? You only need to follow 4 important tips.

1. Stay away from your razor:

If you are already facing ingrown hair, it is best to avoid shaving for some time. If you ignore this and shave, you will cause a higher chance of inflammation and bacteria.

2. Shave the right way:

Are you shaving in a hurry, without a worry about the next hair growth, cuts and ingrown hair? You need to slow down and figure out the best ways to shave. Such as using a shaving cream, exfoliating before using the razor and shaving in the direction of the hair instead of against it to avoid more ingrown hair.

3. Change your razors often:

Regularly cleaning and changing your razor can help reduce chances of bacteria, hence lesser clogged hair follicles and low ingrown hair.

4. Have warm showers and use an astringent lotion:

Warm showers can open up clogged pores and hair follicles. Exfoliating in a warm shower can thereby help in ingrowth removal. But be sure to hydrate your skin generously post exfoliation and shaving with an astringent lotion to cleanse, soothe and protect your skin from bacteria.

So now that you know what ingrown hair is, how it is caused and the tips to avoid it, we must add that laser hair removal is one of the great hair ingrowth treatment options if you want to get rid of them entirely! Laser hair removal effectively stops ingrown hair by destroying the root of the hair follicles. This is why laser hair removal is a more or less permanent way of staying away from ingrown hair entirely. Interested in learning more? Explore makeO skinnsi laser hair reduction, a full-body, expert-led hair reduction procedure.

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FAQs

How do I get rid of my ingrown hair?

If you are wondering how to avoid hair ingrowth after waxing, then the answer is exfoliate. Exfoliate in warm water, avoid shaving and use tweezers if needed to get rid of ingrown hair. You can also try laser hair removal for a more permanent stop to ingrown hair.

Do ingrown hairs go away on their own?

Yes, ingrown hair can go away on its own but for a while, you will notice bumps, darkness or redness. If the ingrown hair has not disappeared after a while, you must check for infection.

Should I pop an ingrown hair?

Don’t pick, pop or scratch at your ingrown hair as that can lead to an infection and inflammation.

How long do ingrown hairs last?

Most ingrown hairs only stick around for a week’s time however, some can stay for as long as a month. Be sure to keep a check on them for infection if they do.