Hairiness is a very intricate process where the hair originates from the epidermis and eventually makes its way to the outer layer of the skin. Well, some of the hair follicles do not extend up to the stratum corneum, rather it gets ringletted and grows back under the surface, which causes red bumps and abrasion.
Thus the curvy hair is termed “Ingrown Hair.”
Ingrown hair can be a major problem to the peoples who have stringy hair strands. Mostly this difficulty gets immense after waxing or shaving as the hair becomes short in size.
So how to get rid of ingrown hair? Stick to the last word of this article as we find out the solution to the ingrown hair problem.
Dr. Pimple Popper Demonstrates How to Remove an Ingrown Hair (Video)
What are the reasons that cause ingrown hair?
Ingrown hairs can give you extreme irritation, pain, itching, etc. Sometimes, it tends to cause a severe infection inside the bump. So what are the reasons that cause this pseudofolliculitis which gives you such an annoying feeling?
Mostly the main reason for this abnormal growth of hair is because of hair removal through razors or waxing. Sometimes it is severe in those areas of skin where there is a lot of friction. It can also occur naturally as the dead skin debris blocks the hair follicle openings completely, causing the hair to grow laterally.
These pseudofolliculitis creates small loops that look like a pimple which identifies it as a foreign body and starts the immune process, and gradually turns it into red bumps resulting in inflammation. Because of inflammation, a person can experience symptoms like a pus-filled lump, hyperpigmentation, etc., which might result in severe infection under the skin if not properly taken care of.
The medication for ingrown hair problem:
Fortunately, ingrown hairs tend to cure themselves naturally without any treatment. So it is best not to touch it with your hand and also do not use any hair removal techniques. You should also ignore squeezing it by your hand or with the help of any pimple popper. Rather you should let nature treat it by itself.
Well, sometimes the pain might get out of hand, and you might try to use some non-sterile methods to reduce the pain. But it is strictly prohibited by Dermatologists to use non-sterile equipment as it will create scopes for bacteria to get in touch with the affected area. As a result, the affected area will be infected by a severe infection which is why it’s better to leave it in the hands of derms.
But the doctors have prescribed some home remedies which you can try to decrease the pain:
- Use of warm compress to soften the skin. You can apply warm compression with the help of a towel or soft cloth to soothe the skin. You can try this multiple times until it softens the skin, which will make the hair tip come out more smoothly.
- Lift the hair with a sterile needle or tweezers. If the hair tip is visible from the skin, then try to lift the edge of the hair that grows back into the skin more gently with the help of a needle or tweezers. Make sure you don’t cause any harm to the infected area. Most importantly, sterilize the needle or tweezers with alcohol rubbing on it or boiling the equipment in hot water before using it.
- Gently moisturize the burnt area. Try to clean the area to exfoliate with a clean and warm soft cloth. The hair will grow back automatically from the lumped area, and eventually, the skin will go back to its normal position. Learn more
Prevention of Pseudofolliculitis:
Prevention is better than cure. If you take precautions before making any moves that might cause ingrown hair problems, you will be able to prevent it intentionally.
Some prevention methods you can try:
- Replace your razor with a single blade. It is safer to use single-bladed razors as it is less sharp than double blades. The double-bladed razors are more prone to ingrown hairs as they are sharper and high quality. But most importantly, make sure you sterilize the razors and use separate razors for separate parts of your body.
- Shaving in the right direction and probable use of a trimmer. It is really important to shave in the right direction because the hair may not be removed properly if the blades are sided in the wrong direction. Thus it will create an ingrown hair cyst and gradually turn it into inflammation.
Using a trimmer is the best way to cut hair for people who are vulnerable to ingrown hair cysts. But using a trimmer will not make your hair completely short, but it is safer to use. If you don’t prefer a trimmer, then you should contact your derms to find the best hair removal techniques.
- Laser hair removal therapy. This therapy can be more effective and permanent.
Related: Best Trimmer for Manscaping
Final verdict:
How to get rid of ingrown hair? – The answer to this question might be clear from now on, but you should not worry because ingrown hair problems are benign and seen in all kinds of people. It can be completely treated with the right medication. But never hesitate to prescribe with a doctor until it gets too late. You know the English proverb “Better late than Never.
