We’ve all struggled with ingrown hairs at least once in our lives. Ingrown hair can be an inconvenience and sometimes it can be downright painful. People who have thick, curly hair can struggle the most with it, but it can affect basically anyone. Ingrown hairs can even become infected if you don’t treat it correctly. But, how should they be treated and can they be prevented? Let's have a look.
What is Ingrown Hair?
An ingrown hair is a hair that has curled back into the skin instead of growing out of the skin’s surface. People who have thick, coarse, or curly hair usually struggle the most. An ingrown hair can occur anywhere on the body and can be a painful experience. Ingrown hairs commonly occur in areas where the skin is shaved or subject to a lot of friction, including the beard, chest, underarms, legs, and pubic area.
How to Treat it
Exfoliation is key. Exfoliating your skin will help to remove the dead layer of skin cells and will help to release those pesky ingrown hairs. Use warm water with a washcloth, exfoliating brush, or exfoliating scrubs, and wash the affected area in small, circular motions. You can also remove ingrown hair that has looped or curled back into the skin by gently pulling it out with sterile tweezers.
You can also choose to apply rubbing alcohol on the skin to prevent an infection. If it is not getting better and it is painful and there are signs of infection, it’s time to seek medical attention. Go to your healthcare provider and find out what you can do. The doctor might then prescribe you an antibiotic cream or other medication to help improve the infected area. You might get referred to a skin specialist if your skin situation is becoming severe.
How to Prevent it
You know what they say, prevention is better than cure. This also holds true when it comes to ingrown hair. There are a couple of things you can do to prevent those pesky ingrown hairs. Using a product before or after the hair removal process can help to prevent ingrown hairs. You can try the In-Grown Hair & After Wax Applicator by Be Organical before or after the process to treat and prevent irritating bumps caused by ingrown hairs and blackheads. This is great if you are looking for something that nourishes and softens your skin.
You should always wet your skin with warm water and a good shaving product before you shave the area and make sure the product you use is suitable for sensitive skin. Remember to use a sharp and clean razor and rinse it off after every use. Remember to replace your razors or blades on a frequent basis - we know it is easy to get attached to one razor but your skin will thank you for it. Also, consider waxing. Waxing won't cause your hair to curl back and go under your skin. It removes the hair all at once preventing any stubborn hairs to go under the skin.
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