Ingrown hairs on the face can affect anyone who shaves or uses other hair removal methods on the face. They are most common in African American men, most often affecting the facial area, states the University of Virginia Health System. While ingrown hairs on the face usually don't pose a significant health concern, they may be unsightly and uncomfortable. Consult a doctor if the condition is painful or becomes chronic.
Symptoms
Ingrown hairs on the face can cause pain and/or itching. The ingrown hair irritates the skin, which causes it to appear red and inflamed. "Razor bumps" may form, and in some cases, a pus pocket will form as the body tries to remove the ingrown hair.
Risk Factors
People who have curly hair, which is caused by a curved hair follicle, are most likely to have ingrown hairs, according to the Mayo Clinic. This means that African Americans and Hispanics are more likely than Caucasians or other races to get ingrown hair.
Causes
When hair is shaved or removed, it sometimes curves as it grows and re-enters the skin, which causes the ingrown hair. Pulling the skin taut while removing hair, using multi-bladed razors, tweezing and waxing are common causes of ingrown hairs.
Prevention
You can minimize the risk of ingrown hairs by shaving with the grain of your hair using a single-bladed razor. Using shaving gel instead of shaving cream or other products can also reduce the risk. Keeping your face clean and exfoliating often can also help to prevent ingrown hair.
Treatment
In some cases, ingrown hairs may go away on their own; however, there are treatment options that can help speed up the treatment of razor bumps. Hot compresses placed on the face, exfoliation and keeping the skin clean can all help speed the healing process. If you can see the loop of hair that goes from the natural hair follicle back into the skin, you can use a needle to gently pull the hair out. If you do this, apply a triple antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection.
Warning
Ingrown hairs can become infected, cause scarring and cause hyperpigmentation of the skin. Infection is more likely if you attempt to dig out ingrown hairs that have become embedded into the skin or if you scratch the area. Scarring is likely if you scratch the area until the skin breaks. Hyperpigmentation--darkening of the skin--is possible, especially if the ingrown hairs are recurring in the same area.
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