How to get rid of ingrown hairs

After shaving or waxing, many of us face such a problem as ingrown hairs. Not only women, but also men are susceptible to this problem. You are faced with the question: “how to get rid of an ingrown hair?”, because this is not only a cosmetic defect. Ingrown hair causes pain, inflammation and a local increase in temperature. Let's look at what methods you can use to remove ingrown hair, and what measures will help prevent its occurrence.

What do ingrown hairs look like?

Ingrown hairs are not a dangerous skin disease, but they can cause a lot of inconvenience and discomfort to a person. An ingrown hair is a small, brown or reddish formation on the skin in the form of a tubercle with serous or purulent contents, in which the growing hair may or may not be visible.

Ingrown hairs occur because after shaving, laser hair removal or depilation, hair grows deeper into the skin rather than outward, causing inflammation and irritation. This happens because dead skin clogs the hair follicle, causing hair to grow under the skin rather than up and out.

Types of ingrown hairs

What causes hair growth?

The content of the article

This happens more often to some than to others. People with thick, curly hair are more likely to have problems with ingrown hairs than people with thin, sparse hair. This is especially true for pubic hair, which is usually coarser than on other parts of the body.

The most common cause of ingrown hairs is hair removal. The more often you remove them, the more they grow. Most will grow normally, but some will continue to develop under the skin. Shaving and waxing can cause frizz, which can grow back into the skin.

When hair continues to grow on the skin, the body perceives it as a foreign body. Symptoms then appear, including pain, itching, redness or swelling.

Symptoms of ingrown hairs

In men, ingrown hairs most often appear after shaving in the beard area, on the neck, cheeks and chin. They can also appear on the surface of the head if a man shaves it. Ingrown hairs in women most often occur on the legs, bikini line and pubic area, armpits and around the buttocks. Signs indicating unwanted hair include the following:

Hard bumps, small in size and round in shape (so-called papules);
Small pustules that are filled with pus or serous contents;
Itching, hyperpigmentation of the skin, pain.

Conclusion

Prevention plays a huge role in the issue of ingrown hairs, especially if the client has a congenital predisposition to hyperkeratosis. Remember, without medical education, you have no right to carry out any invasive interventions that violate the integrity of the client’s skin. This means that you cannot pick at the pus, squeeze it out, try to remove hair from it with tweezers, etc.

The main thesis of sugaring for ingrown hairs: if there is no inflammation, we use a scrub; if there is, we simply bypass the area and recommend home care. The problem of ingrowth cannot be solved in one procedure; it requires long-term systematic action and constant monitoring.

Causes of ingrown hairs

Ingrown hairs most often occur after hair removal in your own bathroom, but it happens that such an unpleasant phenomenon occurs after visiting beauty salons. In order to understand how to get rid of such a problem, you need to carefully understand what exactly provokes it. Cosmetologists say that the process associated with ingrowth directly depends on the number and density of epidermal layers. If the surface contains a significant number of cells of the stratum corneum, then they make the skin too rough, so it is difficult for thin growing hair to break through. For this reason, the hair begins to follow the path of less resistance, beginning to bend and grow horizontally, and not vertically, as is usually the case.

When considering skin and hair type, people with dark, coarse hair and dark skin are most susceptible to developing this problem. The reason is that this type of hair grows much faster than blonde hair. Add thick skin to everything else, and ingrowths can no longer be avoided.

Therefore, the reasons causing this unpleasant phenomenon include the following:

thick layer of epidermis (hyperkeratosis);
genetic predisposition;
disrupted hormonal levels (for example, surges of estrogen observed at the beginning of the menstrual cycle). Changes of this kind can occur with high estrogen production, as well as with a disorder of the endocrine system;
causing damage to the hair canal during the hair removal procedure;
the formation of a small scar in the hair canal after hair removal;
hair curling lower than the level of the epidermis. This happens if mistakes were made during the hair removal procedure;
shaving against hair growth (especially when the blade is not new);
constant wearing of uncomfortable underwear made of synthetic material. Such underwear does not allow moisture to evaporate from the surface of the skin and often leads to the development of bacterial infections. It is because of this that after hair removal it is not recommended to immediately put on synthetic underwear.

It is imperative to get rid of ingrown hairs, but before carrying out such a procedure, you must understand what not to do.

Causes

The most common cause of ingrown hairs is self-depilation using a razor, wax or other product. In this case, only the outer shaft is removed while preserving the active hair follicle. With each depilation, the epidermis becomes more rigid, and the thickness of the hair shaft decreases. At a certain point, the hair can no longer break through the thickness of the epidermis, resulting in ingrowth of the hair shaft. Such a rod can grow in the direction of fatty tissue or remain in the follicle area, provoking an inflammatory process.

Causes:

Incorrect hair removal technique. Doctors recommend entrusting depilation to professional cosmetologists. Using wax or other hair removal products at home increases the risk of developing pseudofolliculitis. Pseudofolliculitis can also appear when using an insufficiently sharp razor. In this case, depilation is accompanied by skin irritation, tissue swelling and the appearance of ulcers.
Curly hair. After removing the superficial part of such hair, the shaft begins to curl under the skin and grow in the opposite direction.
Rigid rods. The problem area is rarely represented by vellus hair. Most often these are the legs, neck and pubis.
Improper skin care after depilation. Cosmetologists recommend using lotion or a special cream after sugaring. Softening and moisturizing the skin reduces the risk of inflammation.
Frequent shaving in one place. Thus, depilation even with the appearance of small stubble increases the risk of developing pathology.

The inflammatory process after ingrown hair occurs due to the activity of the immune system. The body's defense system identifies the rod as a foreign structure, resulting in the release of inflammatory mediators. Pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria present in the skin can cause an infectious process in the area of the inflamed follicle.

What not to do when removing ingrown hair

Most people try to cope with the problem with the help of improvised objects, but such actions often lead to complications. Therefore, below is a list of actions that should be avoided:

Use tweezers or an overly sharp needle without preliminary treatment - such manipulations can lead to infection and further inflammation;
Do not press on the hair follicle in the place where the hair grows, because this can lead to an outpouring of serous or purulent contents deep into the skin.

Diagnostics

If signs of pseudofolliculitis appear, you should make an appointment with a dermatologist. The doctor will ask the patient about complaints and hair growth patterns. In most cases, an external examination of the problem area is enough to make a diagnosis, but sometimes a dermatologist needs to exclude other skin pathologies with similar signs.

Additional examinations:

Dermatoscopy is an instrumental way of examining the skin using multiple magnification. The doctor may use a manual scope or an automated digital dermatoscope. With this examination, the dermatologist evaluates the condition of the skin and looks for specific signs of pseudofolliculitis, such as a barely noticeable tip of the hair shaft under the skin.
Laboratory examination of the contents of the abscess. In rare cases, such a procedure is prescribed for the frequent appearance of a follicular abscess in one area. The specialist needs to clarify which pathogen is causing the infection.

During the diagnosis, the dermatologist excludes the presence of diseases such as folliculitis, pyoderma, acne and hyperkeratosis. Additional examinations can improve the treatment of the disease.

Methods for removing ingrown hairs

What to do if hairs begin to grow in after depilation? They must be carefully removed so as not to cause additional inflammation. You can get rid of ingrown hair using the following methods:

If they are not too deep and there is no inflammation, simply steam the skin and perform a home chemical peeling or scrubbing. You can also use a hard washcloth or a special mitten to remove dead cells of the stratum corneum. Dead cells can be removed every other day, and the skin after such procedures should be treated with a moisturizer or lotion.
If there is inflammation, but there is no purulent vesicle or the hair is deeply embedded, mechanical hair removal is performed. This method is described in detail below. Mechanically ingrown hair can be removed at home, but it is better to leave this procedure to a specialist to avoid complications.
A surgical method for removing an ingrown hair is carried out when a pustule with serous or purulent contents forms and there is extensive inflammation. This procedure can be performed by a surgeon in a regular clinic. The surgical method of removing ingrown hair involves opening the abscess, sanitation of the wound and removing the hair. The wound is treated with an antiseptic and a bandage or bactericidal adhesive plaster is applied.
Photoepilation is carried out only in a cosmetology office. Ingrown hairs are destroyed by a light pulse. Not suitable for very light and gray hair.
Electrolysis is also carried out only by a cosmetologist. Ingrown hair is removed even at great depths using a needle-electrode through which an electric current is passed.
Laser hair removal. The most widely used and effective technique today, it can be used on skin of any color.
Hardware procedures are carried out only in the absence of inflammation and suppuration.
Also, to solve these problems, you can adopt traditional methods for removing ingrown hairs; they will help draw the hair shaft to the surface of the skin. To help the hair break through the skin, you need to prepare a compress of several aspirin tablets, one spoon of glycerin and water. This lotion treats the problem area. As a result, the hair itself will begin to grow outward, and it will need to be removed with tweezers, after which do not forget to disinfect the skin with an antiseptic. Another lotion option: make a paste of bodyaga powder and hydrogen peroxide and apply to the ingrown hair for 10-15 minutes, then rinse. If the burning is severe, wash off sooner.

Mechanical removal of ingrown hair at home

Step-by-step instructions will help you remove ingrown hair at home. For this manipulation, you need to stock up on a thin sterile needle (if the hair has grown deeply) and manicure tweezers. Before starting the procedure, medical tweezers must be treated with medical alcohol or an antiseptic (chlorhexidine).

Step 2. The area of the ingrown hair is also treated with alcohol or an antiseptic.

Step 3. You need to find the tip of the hair and carefully pick it up with a needle, slowly pulling it out, clamp the protruding hair with tweezers and pull it out by the roots. At this stage, it is extremely important not to break off the hair and remove it entirely, otherwise it will grow back.

Step 4 Lubricate the skin with an antiseptic or, better yet, an alcohol tincture of calendula, which has an anti-inflammatory effect.

This method is suitable only in situations where ingrown hairs are clearly visible.

Skin and hair

Human skin is an independent organ that performs protective, metabolic, receptor and auxiliary functions. Thanks to the skin, the body gets rid of excess fluid, regulates tissue temperature, prevents the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into organs and protects itself from other negative external influences. In different parts of the body, the skin has a different structure, but the essential parts of the organ are the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat.

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. The upper part of the epidermis is formed by keratinized cells that perform a barrier function. The formation of a specific pigment (melanin) in cells contributes to skin coloring. Below the epidermis is the dermis, which contains blood vessels, follicles, nerves, muscle fibers and glands. Sweat and sebaceous glands secrete their contents onto the surface of the skin. The lowest part of the organ is subcutaneous fat, which protects the underlying tissues from temperature changes and mechanical stress.

Hair is a derivative of the human skin. The center of growth of this structure is the hair bulb (follicle), located in the dermis. The constant division of cells in this zone contributes to the gradual growth of the rod in the outer direction. The cyclicity of hair growth is associated with the activity of follicle cells. In some areas of the skin there may be inactive bulbs.

Ingrown hairs in the bikini area

Sometimes a fine ingrown hair in the groin cannot be seen through the skin. In this situation, we soften the epidermis so that the hair is closer to the surface. To do this, apply a steaming compress to the skin or take a bath. Please note that such manipulations can be performed in the absence of inflammation. As soon as the hair becomes noticeable, we perform mechanical removal of the ingrown hair. All instruments you will use must be sterile. If after steaming the hair still does not become visible, then do not try to get rid of it. In this situation, it is best to seek qualified help from a cosmetologist. At the same time, a specialist will help you figure out what exactly caused the compaction to appear.

Ingrown hairs in armpits

This is perhaps the most unpleasant option. Firstly, the skin in these places is extremely thin and is constantly irritated. Secondly, removing unwanted hair on your own will bring a lot of discomfort. Finally, due to the use of deodorants and increased sweating, pain is often felt in the area where such a hair is located and inflammation occurs due to infection. Therefore, the operation must be carried out extremely carefully:

A few days before removal, we begin preparations - we treat the skin with an anti-acne preparation, which contains salicylic acid. Such lotions are too aggressive for the face, but in the area of hair growth they lead to thinning of the skin and stop the inflammatory process;
Just before removal, remove the remaining salicylic ointment, steam the skin, and treat all instruments;
If all the previous steps are completed correctly, then even with the naked eye it will be possible to see the ingrown hair. We carry out the hair removal procedure and wipe the area with an antiseptic.

Complications

Adverse consequences may occur if pseudofolliculitis is removed incorrectly on your own or if ingrown hairs occur frequently.

Possible complications:

Penetration of pathogenic bacteria into an ingrown hair cyst with the formation of an abscess. The abscess may gradually increase in size. The infection spreads with the formation of an extensive inflammatory process.
Scarring of the skin in the area of ingrown hairs. When an abscess opens on its own or there is extensive inflammation, a focus of connective tissue growth (scar) forms in the wound. Scarring of the skin is a cosmetic problem.
Changes in skin color among ingrown hairs and the occurrence of recurrent pseudofolliculitis.

Professional treatment of the disease reduces the risk of complications.

Medicines used to treat ingrown hairs

After visiting a cosmetologist, you may be prescribed some medications that will help get rid of the annoying problem. This list includes:

Retinoids. In some situations, the doctor prescribes creams that help remove dead cells from the surface (so-called peeling). These include the drug tretinoin. They help relieve hyperkeratosis, which is thickening, and hyperpigmentation, a darkening of the area that is often seen on dark skin that is prone to ingrown hairs;
Corticosteroids. A good steroid blend helps control inflammation;
Antibiotics. Ointments based on antibiotics can prevent infection that occurs due to damage to the painful area. If the infection is severe, oral antibiotics may be prescribed for treatment.

Signs of pseudofolliculitis

Signs of ingrown hairs include:

Hyperemia – after the depilation procedure, the skin swells and turns red. This symptom appears even before ingrowth has occurred;
2 or 3 days after shaving or depilation, local pain occurs and the skin begins to itch. The site of ingrowth thickens and a papule forms;
If suppuration occurs, the contents of the papule may be visible through the skin. It looks like a yellowish bump;
Sometimes a hair, or rather its tip or loop, is visible through the upper layers of the epidermis;
The formation of milia is another symptom of an ingrown hair. They form a week or two after the hair shaft grows into the skin. Milia look like whitish nodules that are firm to the touch;
If the ingrowth process is complicated, ulcers and abscesses may occur. Most often, infection is caused by staphylococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Symptoms of further development of the disease depend on the characteristics of the pathological process:

The hair shaft can break out on its own. In this case, the inflammation gradually eliminates itself;
An attempt to independently open an existing node using improvised means (tweezers, a needle, nails) can lead to infection. In this case, a purulent pustule is formed, after a while a keloid scar appears in its place, the damaged area will remain pigmented for a long time;
If you fix the problem in a medical facility or beauty salon, then a small wound will remain at the site of the ingrown hair. After a short time it will heal, hyperpigmentation in this case quickly disappears.

If characteristic symptoms of pseudofolliculitis are detected, it is important not to confuse this disease with other skin pathologies.

The following diseases exhibit similar symptoms:

Pyoderma;
Acne vulgaris;
Folliculitis;
Follicular hyperkeratosis;
Ostiofolliculitis.

Prevention of ingrown hairs

It is best not to let ingrown hairs develop, but to resort to prevention of this phenomenon and prevent the problem. Before you begin to deal with the problem that appears after hair removal, you need to change the approach to the hair removal procedure. Agree, it is extremely stupid to constantly do the same actions and hope for a positive outcome.

Preventive measures aimed at preventing ingrown hairs:

Shortly before hair removal, perform an exfoliating procedure (light peeling or scrubbing) to get rid of dead epidermal cells;
Shaving should be carried out strictly in the direction of growth, but not in the other direction;
After removal, it is important to carry out light scrubbing or peeling, which is then repeated several times over a couple of days;
After any depilation, be it shaving, waxing or sugaring, you should apply a special product to the skin that slows down hair growth, or at least a moisturizer;
After epilation is finished, do not wear uncomfortable synthetic underwear, as this may lead to relapse.

Risk group

It is worth noting that not all people experience pseudofolliculitis, although almost every man shaves his face, and women use various hair removal methods.

As a result of skin trauma, ingrown hairs will occur more often in those at risk. This primarily applies to people of the Negroid race and those who have coarse and curly hair. Dry skin also increases the risk of ingrown hairs.

Another category of people susceptible to this disease are those whose follicle angle is too sharp in relation to the skin. This fact also contributes to the development of pseudofolliculitis.