One peril of shaving is dealing with painful ingrown hairs. Both males and females can develop ingrown hairs in shaved areas. While it is not unusual to notice an ingrown hair occasionally, some people experience a chronic problem, according to the Mayo Clinic. Ingrown hair treatment involves releasing the trapped hairs and using medications, if ingrown hairs cause folliculitis, an infection.
Causes
Razor blades that pull the skin tight while shaving hair can contribute to ingrown hairs. When the skin retracts after the blade is released, the newly cut hair can spring back into the skin. Because there is no opening available under the skin, the hair begins to grow under the surface of the skin, resulting in a visible bump. Ingrown hairs can also occur when shaved hair begins to grow, particularly if you have curly hair. As cut hairs grow, they curl back toward the skin, causing the tips of the hair to pierce the skin.
Symptoms
When hair begins to grow under the skin, the body considers it a foreign substance and the area becomes red and inflamed. Other symptoms may include darkened skin over the trapped hair, pain and itching. If the bump containing the trapped hair becomes infected, a blister filled with pus may form.
Treatment
Exfoliating the skin can help remove a trapped hair if it is not embedded too deeply in the skin. Exfoliation is the removal of dead cells from the skin's surface and can be performed by rubbing a wet washcloth or toothbrush over the bump. Stubborn ingrown hairs should be removed by a doctor to prevent infection. If ingrown hairs become infected, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic and corticosteroid creams or gels to treat the infection and inflammation. Topical drugs called retinoinds may be prescribed to help your skin remove dead cells more efficiently by encouraging more rapid skin cell turnover. If chronic ingrown hairs are a problem, your doctor may recommend that you permanently remove the hairs with electrolysis or laser treatments.
Prevention/Solution
You can reduce your chances of developing hairs by wetting your skin before shaving, using a shaving cream or gel and throwing out dull razor blades. Hair should be shaved in the direction in grows. The Daily Glow website recommends using a single-edged blade, rather than a double- or tripled-edged blade to reduce skin irritation. An alcohol-free moisturizer applied after shaving will help keep pores open and allow hairs to grow freely. Exfoliating on a regular basis can also help prevent ingrown hairs.
Warning
Chronic ingrown hairs can cause bacterial infections and permanent scarring. While infections can be treated, chronic ingrown hairs may not be as responsive to antibiotics and you may need to stop shaving for three months to permit healthy hair growth, according to the Brigham and Women's Hospital website.
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