The skin has many layers to it. At the surface, you have the epidermis, which contains the product of lower layer developments, including moles, hair and acne. At the second layer, you have the dermis, which contains the hair follicle, melanocytes and sebaceous glands. Depending on interactions between the second and first layers of the skin, you may acquire the presence of moles and ingrown hairs due to varying genetic and environmental influences.
Genetics
From your family, you inherit a wealth of DNA information regarding the development of skin cells. The Georgia Health Info website says that mole development, especially moles of quarter-inch size or greater, tend to be genetic. In fact, if your family has a history of developing moles, you will likely develop them as well.
As for ingrown hairs, they usually do not rely as much on genetics. However, dermatologist Esta Kronberg, M.D., acknowledges that individuals who inherit curlier hair run a greater risk of developing ingrown hairs. Basically, as you shave, if your hair curls under the skin rather than out through the surface, it will produce an inflammation associated with the appearance of an ingrown hair. Therefore, since curliness runs in the family, genetics may increase your risk of ingrown hair development.
Melanocyte Concentration
Moles result from the clustering of melanocytes, or melanin/skin-color producing cells, at certain regions of the skin. The Georgia Health Info site admits that while researchers do not know what purpose moles serve, their development may be determined even before you grow up. In other words, regardless of environmental factors, whether you develop moles will depend on the concentration of melanocytes across the skin. In fact, at birth, only one in a 100 babies will have moles; most other individuals will develop them as certain skin genes become more active around age 6. By age 40, mole production will begin to cease as the genes for mole development shut off, and by age 70, some moles may even disappear. Although sun exposure can change the color, shape and texture of moles, it will not cause new moles to develop.
Hair Retraction During Shaving
Variations in hair structure can create certain issues while shaving. If hair appears curly and dry, it may increase the likelihood of it retracting into the skin after being cut. According to the Mayo Clinic, other factors, such as using a double- or triple-edged razor, may also heighten your risk of developing ingrown hairs. In fact, once the first razor blade cuts the hair, the second or third can potentially push the hair back beneath the surface, producing inflammation if it cannot escape as it grows. For similar reasons, tweezing can also produce ingrown hairs.
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