How To Get Rid Of Super Annoying Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs have to be one of the most annoying body problems in the world. They happen when the hair fails to penetrate the skin, causing it to continue growing underneath the surface, causing the surrounding area to begin to bulge. Eventually a raised bump may form and it could even become infected – not good. 

Knowing how to deal with ingrown hairs, though, isn’t always clear. You can’t exactly burst them like normal zits because, unfortunately, there’s nothing to burst. And you don’t want to penetrate the skin to remove the hair underneath because that could lead to scarring. So what are your options? 

Identify The Causes

Ingrown hairs are caused by all sorts of things, so it’s a good idea to figure out what’s causing yours first before you proceed. First, if you’re shaving too deeply, then that can lead to the hair to develop a sharp tip, causing it to penetrate the surrounding skin and create an ingrown hair. Improper shaving techniques are the biggest cause of all ingrown hairs. 

Some people develop ingrown hairs because of wearing tight clothes. Friction and sweat may increase the risk and worse the situation. 

Lastly, ingrown hairs can happen for natural or genetic reasons. Some people are more prone to it than others. 

Treatments For Ingrown Hairs

Fortunately, there are a range of treatments for ingrown hairs. In many cases, the problem will go away by itself. But if it doesn’t, you can explore improved shaving techniques, chemical depilatories and medical removal.

Chemical depilatories work by loosening the structure of the hair at the follicular opening. Using them every two or three days helps to reduce irritation and release the hair from the skin. It is then much easier to remove, allowing the surrounding skin to recover. 

You can also use medical removal. Here, surgeons make a small incision and then use that to pull out the hair. 

You can also use laser hair removal. This technique destroys the follicle itself, preventing it from creating any more hair that could potentially become trapped under the skin. 

If you think your ingrown hairs are the result of hyperkeratosis or skin sagging, then you may want to try using topical retin A. This compound reduces the buildup of dead skin cells on the surface, making it less likely that follicles will become embedded in the dermis. 

Dealing With Inflammation

There are also multiple methods that you can use to deal with the inflammation that ingrown hairs cause. Topic and oral antibiotics for instance, may help to reduce swelling and reduce the chances of pustules forming.

Prevention

The best way to prevent ingrown hair from occurring is to change your shaving technique. Always use foam and avoid pushing the razor into the skin as you draw back.  

If your ingrown hairs won’t go away, then you might want to consider laser treatment. This essentially removes the problem altogether, providing long-lasting relief for many years. Lasers are best for removing dark hairs, but new techniques can also eliminate lighter ones as well.