How to deal with ingrown hairs

Each of us has experienced that. Those painful red bumps that spoil the desired look and smoothness of the skin that we expected to get as a result of shaving or waxing. At the very least, this side effect is annoying.

Let's talk today about a relevant topic for both women and men - how to deal with ingrown hairs .

Typically, hair develops in a follicle and grows out of the skin. Such hated by us ingrown hairs will either grow sideways or curl and grow down, digging into the skin. Ingrown hairs are the result of waxing or shaving, and are most common where thick, curly hair grows (hence, it's more common in the pubic and facial parts of the body - two of the most unacceptable places for these nasty bumps).

In men, ingrown hairs most often pop up as small bumps on the chin, cheeks, or neck after shaving. In women, ingrown hairs are often found on the legs, pubic area and underarms.

Ingrown hairs are not a serious medical problem. At the same time, it causes redness, swelling, inflammation, pain and irritation in the places where it appears, and thus bring some discomfort into our lives.

What are the causes of ingrown hairs?

There are several main reasons that most often contribute to the appearance of ingrown hairs.

1) You have naturally coarse or curly hair . Yes, certain hair types are more prone to ingrown hairs, as sad as it sounds. And even if you are extremely careful in matters of depilation, if you are a curly hair, there is no one hundred percent guarantee that this unpleasant phenomenon will not affect you.

2) Wearing too tight clothes. Too tight clothing, synthetic fabrics, nylon leggings, tight jeans, and polyester underwear can be a catalyst for ingrown hairs.

3) Stretching of the skin during shaving. You might not have guessed, but the chance of becoming the unfortunate owner of ingrown hairs increases significantly if you hold the razor too close to your skin, and thus scratching the epidermis layer during shaving. This often happens when using a dull razor and causes irritation that can lead to ingrown hairs. That's why many experts believe that waxing is a much better option for hair removal if the master uses a good wax that pulls out completely and does not break the hair.

4) Shaving or waxing in the wrong direction . If you choose to shave for yourself, then try to do it in the direction of hair growth, be sure to use shaving cream or gel to soften the stubble.

5) Using products that clog pores (deodorant or shaving blades with gel strips) and untimely peeling after hair removal.

How to deal with ingrown hairs?

While there is no 100% effective cure as long as we keep removing hair, there are some home remedies for ingrown hairs that can provide some relief and speed up healing. If you can't bring yourself to even look at the little hair traitor, don't panic - it will eventually go away on its own if you don't scratch or pull out the hairs. The most popular home method of influencing ingrown hairs is washing and lightly scrubbing the areas where such hairs appear with a damp, warm washcloth or peeling. Using exfoliating (cleansing) products, you also do some prevention of this negative phenomenon, as the scrub can lift the hair that is already starting to grow inward, and also removes dead skin cells, which helps prevent clogged hair follicles.

Infrequently, due to the risk of secondary infection and skin damage, it is recommended to “pry” the ingrown hair with a sterile needle or tweezers to carefully and carefully pry the tip of the ingrown hair out from under the skin.

What can not be done during the fight against ingrown hairs?

1) When shaving, do not put pressure on the skin with a razor and do not allow it to be pulled strongly.

2) Avoid shaving the affected areas for about 4 weeks after the removal of the ingrown hair.

3) Do not use depilatory creams for 2 weeks after removing an ingrown hair to avoid the risk of irritation.

4) Do not wear tight clothing where ingrown hairs appear.

5) Do not use old razors and shaving blades.

I also want to advise you some effective recipes for fighting ingrown hairs that you can do at home:

1) Aspirin + honey . Aspirin contains salicylic acid, making it an ideal home remedy ingredient. And honey has natural moisturizing, antiseptic, and bactericidal properties, so the combination of these two ingredients will help prevent infections and reduce swelling when applied to the skin. Ingredients:

• 3 aspirin tablets
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon water

Crush an aspirin tablet, add honey and water. The consistency should be like a paste, if it is too thick, you can add more honey. Apply to any area where you have ingrown hairs and wait 10 minutes. Remove the product with warm water and a washcloth.

2) Compress with tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil is a powerful natural oil loaded with antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. This compress will help open pores, loosen ingrown hairs, and reduce inflammation. Ingredients:

• warm water
• Tea tree oil

Add 10-20 drops of tea tree oil to warm water. Dip a small towel into the bowl and wring it out lightly. Apply a towel to the affected area and allow the liquid to be absorbed into the skin.

3) Sugar-coconut scrub.

The sugar in this homemade scrub recipe gently exfoliates and prevents further ingrown hairs. Coconut oil is antifungal and antibacterial and is also very hydrating. (I have already written about the amazing properties of coconut oil).

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 10 drops tea tree oil

Mix all three ingredients in a bowl. Apply to the skin with light circular motions and rinse with warm water.

I hope my advice will be useful for you, and let the problem of ingrown hair be the only negative phenomenon that we have to face in everyday life :)