Ingrown hair are basically hair that get trapped beneath the surface of the skin.
Seeming to have a mind of their own, these hair follicles tend to curl back into the skin instead of growing outward, resulting in the inflamed ‘bump’ that you would see on the surface.
While anyone can get an ingrown hair, they are most common among those who shave and wax, and those whose hair is curly and coarse. Blame your genes again!
Here are some ways you can get rid of those unwanted bumps and redness, probably forever!
Make friendship with the right acids
Choose body products packed with Glycolic acids
Somewhat of a savior for those ingrown hairs as well as acne, the lightweight acid breaks down the mixture of sebum and dead skin cells that cause obstructions to hairs, so that they can reach the surface much easier and without the area becoming inflamed.
In darker skin types, ingrown hair tend to leave annoying pigmentation marks, but regular use of topical glycolic acid works wonders to blur them over time.
Slather yourself in this stuff after every shave and you’ll notice a huge reduction in those unsightly red bumps.
Exfoliate with Salicylic Acid
A BHA (beta hydroxy acid), it penetrates deeper into the pores to dislodge the paste-like combination of dead skin buildup and oil, resulting in fewer blockages making the skin softer and more penetrable for the emerging hair strands to grow through.
It’s also an amazing anti-inflammatory, so bid goodbye to the burning redness that ingrown hairs bring with them, and the powerful anti-bacterial properties are also helpful in reducing the risk of infection.
If you shave, do it right!
Use the best blade –Gillette’s Venus razors come highly recommended, just remember to invest in a couple of extra razor heads so you aren’t tempted to reuse the same one over and over.
Another option is an electrical shaver. And, because these don’t cut the hair quite as close to the skin it pretty much guarantees you won’t have any in-growers or itchy regrowth.
Don’t skip a shaving cream – If you’re using a manual razor it’s essential to find a good shaving cream. It will help ensure the blades don’t drag, meaning you can avoid irritating sensitive spots, if any.
Go in the right direction – Shaving in the opposite direction to the hair growth means each hair will be cut at a sharper angle, and is therefore more likely to grow back under the skin. Always shave in the same direction as hair growth.
Post shave – don’t forget your acid friends!
Look for better hair removal methods
If ingrown hairs are the bane of your life and you’ve tried more or less everything to get rid of them, make Laser Hair Removal your next step.
Instead of targeting the skin, it makes a beeline for the hair follicle, damaging it at the root. It’s an effective, long term method of preventing unwanted hair.
Not all lasers are the same and the right one should be chosen based on your skin type, so it’s worth consulting a specialist prior to getting it done.
But if you do everything right, but still find an ingrown, an angry red spot staring up at you. Firstly, avoid the temptation to squeeze it, as you could end up pushing the hair
deeper into the skin, or you could spread bacteria into the pores triggering an infection.
However, if the hair is close to the skin and you can see it, the NHS recommend “using a sterile needle or tweezers to gently tease it out. However, don’t dig for the hair if it lies deep below the skin’s surface.”
By Jasmine Shariff
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