When a hair that has been cut grows back and curves into the skin, it is known as an ingrown hair. This can occur from waxing, tweezing, or shaving. Tiny, painful, swollen bumps on the skin may be the result of an ingrown hair. People of African American descent with curly hair who shave are most commonly affected. Most ingrown hair cases resolve on their own without medical intervention. By not shaving too close to the skin or removing hair, you can prevent this condition. If it's not an option, you could try other hair removal techniques that reduce the chance of ingrown hairs growing back.
What are ingrown hairs?
A cut hair may curl back under the skin and begin to grow beneath the surface after you shave. An ingrown hair can cause a small, skin-colored or red pimple-like bump on your skin. It can be itchy, cause redness, swelling, and pain, and it may or may not contain pus.
Symptoms of Ingrown Hair
Do you suspect that you may have ingrown hairs? The following are the primary signs of ingrown hairs to be aware of:
1. Tiny, round pimples that appear on the skin
2. Tiny, blister-like pimples that occasionally contain pus
3. Hairs embedded in
4. Darkening of the skin
5. Itching
6. Anguish
Steer clear of hair removal until the area clears up if you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms. See your dermatologist if the symptoms persist after two weeks.
Cause of Ingrown Hair
When a hair that has been cut grows back and curves into the skin, it is known as an ingrown hair. This typically occurs following waxing, tweezing, or shaving.
Ingrown hair is influenced by the structure and growth direction of the hair. When hair is cut and begins to grow back, it is thought that a curved hair follicle, which creates tightly curled hair, encourages the hair to reenter the skin. Shaving gives hair a sharp edge that facilitates skin piercing.
Other possible causes of ingrown hairs include:
1. Tearing your skin during shaving. Hair retracts into the skin as a result of this action.
2. Tightening.
Your skin becomes irritated when a hair pierces it, just like it would with a foreign object.
Ingrown hairs grow where?
Although they can occur in other places as well, ingrown hairs typically appear in the places where you shave. Typical locations are your:
The face and neck
Cut
Legs
Underarms
Torso
Rewind
Public space
Nose
How Do You Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs?
Ingrown hairs usually go away on their own without any help. Keep your hands off the afflicted area to hasten the healing process of your skin. It is also possible to expedite the healing process.
1. Till the ingrown hairs have had time to heal, refrain from shaving the affected area.
2. Use a warm towel or soak the area in water for a short while.
3. Exfoliating can help get rid of any dead skin cells that are loose and may be preventing ingrown hairs from showing through the skin's surface.
4. Use a non-greasy moisturizer to help exfoliate and heal dry skin.
5. Use a pair of sterile tweezers to carefully extract any hair that breaks through.
If you have an infection from an ingrown hair, see a dermatologist to get a prescription for an antibiotic.
How Can You Prevent Ingrown Hairs When Shaving?
Every part of the body has different shaving procedures to prevent ingrown hairs, but these are the best practices to adhere to wherever you shave.
1. Regularly replace your razor blades
Ingrown hairs, razor burn, and skin irritation can result from using dull razor blades. Your blade is probably dull and needs to be replaced if it feels like it's pulling at your hair or if it's rough against your skin.
2. Give your skin moisture
Take a shower or bath and soak the area you want to shave in warm water for at least three minutes. Skin hydration facilitates easier hair cutting.
3. Frequently exfoliate
Regular exfoliation can aid in removing the dead skin cells that prevent hair follicles from emerging from the skin's surface, which is often the cause of ingrown hairs.
4. Use shaving gel every time.
Ingrown hairs can result from shaving dry skin. To keep your skin hydrated, always hydrate it before shaving, use shaving gel, and moisturize afterward.
5. Maintain coherence
It’s crucial to be methodical and proficient in shaving every single area of your body to prevent ingrown hairs.
How To Prevent Ingrown Hair?
1. Use a wet washcloth to rub your face daily to exfoliate the ingrown hairs. Use a light circular motion to rub.
2. To remove the ingrown hair, use a face scrub.
3. A few minutes prior to shaving, use a lubricating shaving cream or gel. Moreover, you can apply a warm compress.
4. Wash your skin with warm water and a light cleanser before shaving.
5. Whenever you tweeze, wax, or shave, always go in the direction that the hair grows.
6. After each swipe, clean the razor blade.
7. To relieve your face's irritation after shaving, use a damp washcloth.
8. Hold the razor just slightly away from the skin if you're using one.
9. Use a razor with a single, sharp blade.
10. Chemical hair removal products can aid in the decrease of ingrown hair. However, make sure to perform a patch test if this is your first time using it.
In addition to these, you can experiment with other hair removal techniques to treat ingrown hairs. For instance, the laser hair removal technique permanently destroys hair follicles by using laser energy.
Difference Between Pimple And Ingrown Hair
Because ingrown hair and pimples look similar, many people confuse the two. The etiology and course of treatment for each, however, differ. When oil and dead skin cells clog the hair follicles, pimples appear. This has a bumpy appearance and can become infected with bacteria that cause pain, redness, and irritation. Pimples are the outward sign of ingrown hair, which develops when hair grows incorrectly.
Recognizing pimples and ingrown hairs is essential for appropriate treatment. The location serves as a clue when attempting to identify. For instance, ingrown hair is frequently seen in areas that are waxed or shaved. Ingrown hairs are another risk for those who shave their scalp. However, pimples can appear anywhere, such as on the neck, shoulders, chin, or chest.Acne or pimples are typically the breakouts in non-shaven areas.
You can treat ingrown hair by using a different shaving method. Allowing the hair to grow can frequently help to lessen the issue. Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and antibacterial ointments are examples of over-the-counter medications that can be used to treat acne and pimples.
What Diseases or Conditions Are Often Mistaken for Ingrown Hairs?
Ingrown hairs can occasionally be mistaken for various skin disorders and diseases. The following are a few of the more prevalent illnesses that are occasionally confused with ingrown hairs:
acne
cysts,
abscesses,
Folliculitis
keratosis pilaris,
dermatitis,
heat stroke,
impetigo
dry skin
dermatitis atopic
contact dermatitis.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Ingrown Hair?
Just looking at your skin and noting where the skin lesions are located on your body will allow your doctor to diagnose an ingrown hair. To help your doctor diagnose an ingrown hair, get a detailed history of the skin rash, including information about your shaving and hair removal routine. Usually, no additional medical studies or blood tests are required.
What Are Ingrown Hair Treatments?
Using topical medication to the affected area helps reduce symptoms such as inflammation and itching when treating ingrown hairs professionally. As examples, consider:
1. Creams containing steroids, like hydrocortisone
2. Topical antimicrobials and antibiotics like clindamycin and erythromycin
3. Topical treatments for acne, like benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin
4. Oral antibiotics may also be prescribed by your healthcare provider to treat infections. Chemical peels, photodynamic therapy (light therapy), or laser therapy may be necessary in extreme situations.
5. Treatments for potential side effects of pseudofolliculitis barbae are also available.
For instance, topical medications containing the following may be prescribed by your dermatologist or another healthcare professional to prevent and treat hyperkeratosis (thickening of the skin) caused by ingrown hairs:
Salicylic acid
Retinoids
Acids alpha hydroxy (AHAs)
Lastly, the following medications may be required if pseudofolliculitis barbae causes you to develop keloid scarring:
Cream corticosteroids
injections of steroids
Cryoprotection
Laser treatment
Radiation treatment
Excision through surgery