Ingrown hairs are medically referred to as pseudofolliculitis barbae. A hair becomes ingrown when one reenters, or penetrates, your skin. According to The Mayo Clinic, ingrown hairs most commonly afflict African Americans and Hispanics between the ages of 14 and 25. Nevertheless, ingrown hairs can impact any race or either gender. Fortunately, there are treatments for ingrown hairs.
Retinoids
Retinoids are chemical compounds frequently used in prescribed creams by dermatologists. Retinoids are linked to vitamin A and they promote exfoliation. The Clinic says exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Dead skin cells are known to cause hairs to grow inwards.
Corticosteroids
Ingrown hairs inflame the infected area. Your doctor or dermatologist can prescribe corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are topical steroid ointments that can effectively alleviate inflammation.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are substances that destroy, or suppress, the development of bacteria. Bacteria cause infections and ingrown hairs are impurities on the skin. For severely infected ingrown hairs, your doctor or dermatologist can prescribe oral, or topical, antibiotics to provide relief.
Use a Washcloth
The Mayo Clinic suggests lightly scrubbing ingrown hairs with a lukewarm washcloth before shaving and at bedtime. Use a washcloth in a circular motion to clean the infected area. This treatment encourages ingrown hairs to emerge from the skin.
Sterile Needle
An ingrown hair can be safely removed from under your skin with a sterile needle. Once the infected hair is withdrawn, the localized pain and swelling will gradually diminish.
Lift With Tweezers
If an ingrown hair is even slightly protruding from the surface of your skin, the website Healthy Skincare suggests removing it with sterilized tweezers. Prior to using tweezers, wash the infected area with a warm cloth to make removal easier.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis can permanently eliminate unwanted, or infected, hair follicles. A needle is inserted into the problem area and an electrical current shock destroys hair growth. If you don't have hair, it is impossible to suffer from pseudofolliculitis barbae.
Depliatory Creams
Healthy Skincare reports depilatory creams temporarily eradicate hair follicles. Depilatory creams soften hair follicles and enable easy removal.
Moisturize
Healthy Skincare urges you to moisturize your skin. When hair follicles are moisturized, they grow in the right direction and rarely penetrate the skin.
Stop Shaving
If you stop shaving, hairs should arise from the skin seamlessly. An Ingrown hair will eventually emerge from the skin and any infection should be treated naturally in a couple of days.
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