Have you ever been deceived by the presence of ingrown hair? Well, its appearance is quite confusing. It is a reddish bump with a raised pore resembling a pimple. However, within this bump, there is a curled hair strand that gets trapped inside the skin.

The size of these bumps can vary from barely noticeable to large ones clouding your beauty. Most people don’t complain about pain or any other feeling from ingrown hairs. However, in some instances, they can be itchy and uncomfortable. Worst-case scenarios can be infections and these pimples turning into painful sores.

Whether they appear ugly and painful or not, having these inflamed spots on your face or anywhere else can be annoying. No matter what they look like, they surely can shatter your confidence and look embarrassing. You don’t want that! Do you?

Getting rid of ingrown hairs safely can be troublesome as the temptation of picking or squeezing the bump is sometimes irresistible. Do you want to show off the version of yourself with smooth, clear and newly shaved skin?

Read on to gather all the useful knowledge about ingrown hairs like what causes them, how to prevent them, in the first place, and get rid of them, in case you’ve been a victim of hair getting trapped inside the layers of your skin.

Common causes of ingrown hair?

The thing with ingrown hairs is they can affect anyone. Me, you, a friend or anyone in the family can get it. Even the most famous Hollywood celebs have been affected. However, its most common targets are people having coarse or curly hair. This occurs when the accumulation of dead cells clogs a hair follicle.

According to research, humans shed around 60,000 skin particles every hour. These particles or dead skin cells trap hairs causing them to curl and stay under the epidermis. This is how ingrown hairs are caused.

Add to that, different forms of hair removal also cause ingrown hairs. Shaving is the biggest reason you suffer from ingrown hairs. For this exact reason, the inflamed area or pimple-like appearance is also called a razor bump.

Shaving

Don’t fall into the trap of advertisements that tell you multiple blades get the job done superbly. The ‘lift and cut’ slogan or anything resembling it is a hoax. Don’t believe in fabricated lies like one blade lifts the hair while the other cuts it from the surface, giving you an absolute hairless finish.

The real problem begins after a couple of days when the hairs start growing again. Here, a hair or two can get trapped inside the skin, which may cause dead skin cells to enter the follicle. Hence, the phenomenon of ingrown hair is seen and in the form of inflamed skin. It can be painful, for some, and irritating.

Multiple blade razors are made for aggressive shaving and are best suited for men or people having coarse hair. These razors are meant to provide a smooth and clean shave by cutting the hair right from the surface of the skin without having to press. Simply saying, they aren’t suited to women’s skin.

Using dull blades for shaving can also be the cause of concern. Not only do they result in itchiness when you press them hard, but they also result in spiky hairs. You are less likely to experience a clean shave and may also have to deal with irritation when the hairs grow back.

Waxing

People going for regular waxing to get rid of hair must be aware of how torturous it can be. Waxing, just like plucking, involves the pulling of hair from the root. The hair is pulled quickly, and as a result, it damages the tube which guides the hair to the skin surface.

When the tube’s lining gets destroyed, it loses its ability to guide the hair. Thus the chances of hair getting trapped inside the skin grow drastically, and you experience ingrown hair.

Epilating

Epilators, similar in working to electric shavers, work the same as waxing. When an epilator is gliding on the skin, the rotating blades pull the hair from the root with a jerk—this sudden pulling of hair damages the root, a common cause for ingrown hair.

Tight clothing

Tight clothing like underwear can also be the cause of ingrown hairs. A lot of people are unaware of this cause. Our skin stays healthy when allowed to breathe. However, the elastic used in underwear for firm grip presses against the skin. This pressure doesn’t allow our hair to grow normally, and they curl inside the skin. To stop the hair from getting caught inside, we suggest you wear soft fabric like cotton or boy shorts, as they are loose.

How to prevent it in the first place?

Exfoliate daily. It’s the easiest and most practised anti-ingrown hair process, which saves you from the hassle. Exfoliation before shaving softens and removes the dead skin cells known to trap the hair under the skin.

If you like waxing for hair removal or you’ve scheduled an appointment, make sure you exfoliate your skin daily 10-12 days before the D-day. For best results, we recommend you continue exfoliating your skin after the waxing session, but make sure the initial redness caused by waxing has subsided. It usually takes a couple of days.

Best way to keep the trouble at bay

Just leave the ingrown hairs or inflamed bump alone. The bump caused on the outside will heal by itself if you don’t start picking and squeezing it. If you do, it will make it worse if you are suffering from any sort of pain, itching or redness and think that it is affecting your appearance, better contact an expert.

Another way to lower redness, reduce the itch and irritation is by using benzoyl peroxide creams. These over-the-counter medicines will lower the symptoms and help you get rid of the ingrown hair.

How long does it take to heal on its own?

In normal circumstances, it takes 2-4 days for the ingrown hair and bumps caused by it to subside. However, you will have to keep the area clean, sanitized and dry. Also, the application of certain skincare products that can cause irritation must be stopped.

Does it leave a scar?

Not always. If you are careful and give it sufficient time to heal on its own, it won’t leave a mark on the skin. However, if you are too impatient and want to get rid of it early by squeezing, picking or using tweezers or any pointy instrument, you are inflicting trouble upon yourself.

This way, not only will it take a long to disappear, but it will also create a mark on your skin that may trouble you for a long time and affect your appearance. So, it’s better to be patient.

Why do ingrown hairs keep coming back at the same spot?

If you are suffering from ingrown hairs in the same area time and again, this could be because of a damaged follicle. If this is the case, the hair will always grow at an angle instead of being straight. It is mainly experienced around the panty line due to the constant friction.

When should I consult a doctor?

If you experience ingrown hair on a location multiple times, the size of it is growing instead of decreasing. It is causing irritation, itching or pain, don’t wait to see an experienced dermatologist. If you are a woman and ingrown hair in the pelvic area is troubling you, consult with your gynaecologist.

After examining the condition of the inflamed area, they may prescribe an antibiotic that will act swiftly to lower the inflammation.

For best results…

If ingrown hairs are persisting and making you suffer, Expert Centre has the most reliable and long-lasting solution for it. In our state-of-the-art clinics, we use ultra-modern lasers to eradicate ingrown hairs, which also enhance your skin texture.

After our gold standard treatment, you can say goodbye to these unwanted and embarrassing bumps forever. Moreover, you won’t have to wear heavy layers of makeup to conceal the raised skin and spots left behind. Lastly, the laser will help you achieve smooth, even and baby soft skin like never before.