1. Growing Pains
Every other day or so--more or less depending on the individual--hair starts to grow in the areas where we have shaved (face, underarms and legs). In nearly all cases, the hair grows up from the follicle and through the skin normally, but sometimes a hair will curl in and grow back into the follicle, or sideways into the skin. This is an ingrown hair. Sometimes these hairs can get infected, resulting in what your physician might term pseudofolliculitis barbae (which sounds like some kind of rare flesh-eating tropical disease but is far less harmful than it appears).
2. Getting to the Root of the Problem
If you had to pick the main culprit of ingrown hairs out of a line-up, you'd likely pick shaving most of the time. Shaving too closely or against the grain (in the opposite direction the hair is growing) is the main reason for ingrown hairs. These hairs develop into a pustule, or bump (known as razor bumps), which can become pus-filled and infected. Other hair removal methods such as waxing and tweezing can also be linked to ingrown hairs. Other times, you can blame your skin. For those with oily skin, oil can become dry and embedded in hair follicles; a buildup of dry dead cells on the skin can also be to blame.
3. Address the Issue Before Things Get Hairy
The advice you'll mostly hear about ingrown hairs is not to squeeze them, as this can break the skin and may make the infection worse by allowing bacteria to enter the area. But by following very specific steps, you may be able to treat an ingrown hair yourself. Soften the skin with a warm damp cloth to help draw the hair to the surface of the skin. Then sterilize a pair of tweezers with rubbing alcohol and gently draw the hair above the skin's surface, careful not to dig into the skin. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide.
4. Seeing a Physician for That Faulty Follicle
While many ingrown hairs will go away on their own, some may become infected badly enough to warrant a trip to the doctor. After an examination confirms an infected ingrown hair, an antibiotic may be prescribed to address the infection and inflammation. Creams that moisturize and exfoliate the skin to help unclog pores will likely be suggested. An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) is used to dissolve any dead cells built up around the infected area.
5. A To Do List to Prevent Ingrown Hairs
Making some slight changes to your grooming habits are usually enough to solve the problem. Use a moisturizing shaving cream and move the blade in the direction the hair grows, without exerting too much pressure. Avoid going over the same area repeatedly. Apply a moisturizing gel to the area afterwards. Use a single blade instead of double or triple blades, or consider using an electric razor (less occurrences of ingrown hairs are reported for those who use electric razors).
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