An ingrown hair develops when the tip of a hair becomes trapped beneath the skin's surface, resulting in a red painful bump. Ingrown hairs on the legs are often the result of shaving. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common areas for ingrown hairs in women are the legs, armpits and pubic areas, while men most often experience ingrown hairs in the scalp or beard area. Treatment for ingrown leg hairs begins with home remedies.
Identification
An ingrown hair may occur if you have curly hair on your legs. When the hair begins to grow again after being shaved or removed, it curls back toward the skin. After the tip of the hair penetrates the skin, irritation and inflammation develop. Ingrown hairs can also occur if you pull your skin taut as you shave. When the skin is stretched tight, shaving can cause the base of a shaved hair to recede back toward the skin, forcing the tip to begin growing under the skin.
Risk Factors
People of African or Hispanic descent are more likely to develop ingrown hairs, as curly hair is more common in these groups. Use of a double-edged razor can also increase the chance of an ingrown hair. Double-edged razors contain two blades. The first blade pulls the hair out and away from the skin, while the second blade cuts the hair. The pulling action of the first blade may allow the hair to retract back into the skin, increasing your chance of developing an ingrown hair. Using tweezers can also increase your risk if part of the hair breaks off below the skin surface when you try to remove it.
Symptoms
In addition to the appearance of small, painful, red bumps on the skin's surface, ingrown hairs can also cause itching as the hair begins to grow beneath the skin. In some cases, the skin over the ingrown hair may become darker and pus-filled bumps may develop.
Treatment
Treatment for ingrown hairs involves exfoliating the skin. Exfoliation is performed by gently removing dead skin cells on the surface of the skin with a washcloth, loofah or battery-operated exfoliator. Applying warm compresses to the ingrown hair before exfoliating can make releasing the trapped hair easier. Sterilized tweezers can be used to lift the tip of the hair from beneath the skin if the hair has not penetrated the skin too deeply. If ingrown hairs become infected, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or anti-fungal medications. Recurrent ingrown hairs can be treated by removing the affected hairs with laser treatments or electrolysis. The electrolysis procedure is performed by destroying the hair root with a harmless electrical current.
Prevention/Solution
Using shaving cream and water when shaving can help prevent ingrown hairs on the legs. When you shave leg hair without wetting or lubricating it first, the razor creates a sharp edge on the hair, allowing the tip of the hair to easily penetrate the skin. Exfoliating skin on a weekly basis can also help prevent ingrown hairs that result from a build up of dead skin cells on the surface of your legs. Daily Glow recommends using a single-edged razor blade and shaving in the direction that the hair grows to reduce the chance of developing an ingrown hair.
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