Many ingrown hairs will resolve over time without treatment. It is often best to let them heal on their own and take preventive steps. However, if a person can see the tip of the hair outside the skin, it may be easier to pull the hair out and allow the follicle to heal. Do not try to pick out an ingrown hair that is under the skin. This can lead to infection. It may also push the hair deeper into the skin, increasing the time it takes to heal.
Dirt, oils, and dead skin cells can clog the hair follicles. Removing these can treat and help prevent ingrown hairs. Exfoliation before shaving can help. Scrub the legs with an exfoliating body wash or use a loofah to help remove dirt and unclog pores. Exfoliation also gently scrapes away the dead skin cells that accumulate on top of the skin. This layer of dead cells can trap new hairs inside the follicles, causing them to grow inward.
Also, gentle exfoliation is sometimes enough to pull ingrown hairs up and outside the skin, where they can grow correctly. Dry brushing is a way to get rid of dead skin cells.
Brushing the skin with a firm, long-bristled brush in a circular motion can gently scrape away the outer layer of dead skin cells, revealing softer skin underneath. Removing this layer can also keep the pores and follicles clear and prevent hairs from growing inward. Too much friction can result in irritation and inflammation. It may also cause razor burn, in which the skin becomes bumpy, red, and sometimes painful. By reducing friction, shaving cream reduces the risk of irritation. The type of shaving cream can also make a difference.
Sensitive skin may react to ingredients in some creams. Chemicals and fragrances in shaving creams can irritate and inflame the skin, leading to skin issues, such as ingrown hairs.
People with sensitive skin may benefit from using natural or hypoallergenic products on their legs. A good razor should glide gently across the skin, leaving behind no missed or half-shaven hairs. Replace razors regularly to avoid dullness, which can add friction. Razors that do not glide smoothly can catch and pull hairs, and ingrown hairs can result.
A razor that catches can also cause small nicks and cuts, which can become infected. In the past, some dermatologists believed that single-blade razors reduced risk to the skin. However, a study showed no difference between single- and multiple-blade varieties. If you want to shave, or remove hair in another way, there are things you can do to prevent ingrown hairs and help them get better quicker.
Page last reviewed: 07 August Next review due: 07 August Ingrown hairs. Check if you have ingrown hair Credit:. Ingrown hairs most commonly appear in the beard area, including the chin and cheeks and, especially, the neck.
They can appear on the scalp in those who shave their heads. Other common areas for ingrown hairs are the armpits, pubic area and legs. An occasional ingrown hair isn't cause for alarm. See your doctor if your ingrown hairs are a chronic condition. Hair structure and direction of growth play a role in ingrown hairs. A curved hair follicle, which produces tightly curled hair, is believed to encourage the hair to re-enter the skin once the hair is cut and starts to grow back. Shaving creates sharp edges in this type of hair, especially if the hair is dry when shaved.
When a hair penetrates your skin, your skin reacts as it would to a foreign body — it becomes inflamed. Razor bumps pseudofolliculitis barbae affects men with curly beards. It develops when shaved hairs curve back into the skin, leading to inflammation. To help prevent ingrown hairs, avoid shaving, tweezing and waxing. If that's not an option, use these tips to make ingrown hairs less likely:.
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