Itching, redness or tiny razor bumps after shaving… Sounds familiar? Ingrown hair is usually harmless, but can be really unpleasant and doesn't look good. Read about how to deal with ingrown hair and what to do to prevent it from happening again. You just need to use the correct hair removal technique and the right care.
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An ingrownhair simply does not break through the skin and grows under the surface instead. Sometimes a hair which has broken through curls downwards and grows back in to form a loop.
Because a hair outside a follicle has no place in the skin, the body starts to defend itself. In the spot of the ingrown hair, there can easily be an inflammatory reaction where the skin tries to force the "foreign body" out. The ingrowing hair is thus very often accompanied by unpleasant signs such as:
Ingrown hairs occur most often where you shave or remove hair in any other way.
A hair can swerve off course for various reasons. A hair that curls or grows at an angle simply leaves its follicle due to its spiral shape. Another factor is the accumulation of skin cells and the thick skin that the hair struggles to break. And at last there is incorrect, careless hair removal.
Some get ingrown hair once in a while, others are more prone and deal with in all the time. Mostly these are people with rough, wavy or curly hair – their body hair then has a similar texture. Another thing is that the thicker the hair is, the more irritated the skin gets when the hair grows in.
How to get rid of shaving rash? If a part of the hair sticks out above the skin like a loop, just get under it and pull the end from the surface carefully. The easiest way is to use a disinfected needle or tweezers.
How to get rid of an ingrown hair under the skin surface? If the hair is not visible, it needs to be uncovered. Use a scrub for ingrown hairs which removes dead skin cells and helps get the hair above the skin surface.
Do not rip the root out. It's unnecessary and you can easily cause yourself more ingrowing or inflammation.
And then just let the wound heal. Right after removal, disinfect the spot. You can spread tea tree oil on it. Don't shave its surroundings for a few days to avoid undue irritation.
After a razor bump heals, you're probably left with a pink or brown spot where the wound was. This is called post-inflammatory pigmentation. People with darker skin are especially prone to pigment "scars".
Protect the spot from the sun with clothes or a high SPF so that it does not get any darker. To remove it, you can use various products intended against pigment spots, for example those with vitamin C or retinoids. A professional laser treatment against pigmentation is an even more reliable solution.
Learn a few simple rules how to shave correctly and how to best prevent shaving rash.
Is your folliculitis not healing for long? Does it hurt? Is there an abscess? If so, see a dermatologist. They will prescribe you suitable anti-inflammatory and healing creams, and remove the abscess if present. They will also advise you how to best prevent ingrown hair next time.
