How to treat ingrown hairs

Practically every woman suffers from those undesirable hairs, whether in the groin, armpits or legs. But, so far, everything is normal… Nothing that a good hair removal method can’t solve! Some women, by the way, even use razors to solve the problem. Just keep an eye out for hair growth and, when they actually become visible and/or start to bother you, get rid of them!

The situation gets a little more complicated, however, when the hairs become ingrown frequently, causing, in addition to an unwanted appearance in a certain area of ​​the skin, pain.

But why does this problem occur? What, in fact, are ingrown hairs? How to treat them? And, above all, how to prevent them? Below you can find all this information:

What are the main causes of ingrown hairs?

Ingrown hair is nothing more than a hair that has difficulties in breaking through the skin and, therefore, because it cannot come out, it curls under the skin, becoming ingrown. The problem usually causes pain at the site, in addition to an unwanted appearance on the skin, especially when it has the presence of pus.

It is worth adding that ingrown hair can go through different stages. In the first, it is under the skin; in the second, it becomes inflamed, already causing some swelling and redness.

In the third stage, it causes the appearance of a yellowish discharge. And in a fourth stage, it usually turns into a cyst, leaving the skin region stiff and very painful.

Sara Bragança, a doctor in Rio de Janeiro, postgraduate in Dermatology, member of the Brazilian Society of Aesthetic Medicine, points out that hairs become ingrown due to obstruction of the hair follicles, which can occur for different reasons. Below you can see some of them:

• Excessive oiliness;
• Areas of folds or dimples in the skin;
• Hair removal (where it later loses its characteristic of having the thinnest tip to cross the skin barrier).
• Characteristics such as thickness, hair shape and pore size;
• Wearing very tight clothing.

In this sense, it is worth noting that areas with a lot of friction, such as the groin and armpits, are the most prone to these complications. Ingrown hairs on the legs are rarer, but they can occur, for example, in winter, when people wear tighter clothes to protect themselves from low temperatures.

Sara Bragança also exemplifies how the characteristics of each person’s hair can influence a greater emergence of ingrown hairs. “Hairs that are too thick or too thin have a greater tendency to jam. And the hairs of black patients have a tendency to ‘spiral’ and that makes it difficult for them to come out of the skin,” she points out.

There’s no denying it: razoring is practical and inexpensive, but this is a hair removal method that can greatly encourage the emergence of ingrown hairs. This is because, as a certain area of ​​the hair is shaved frequently, the hair shaft tends to widen and find it difficult to break the skin, curling under it and thus causing the hair to become ingrown.

Ingrown hair treatments

There are currently several treatment options for ingrown hairs. Among the main ones are permanent hair removal, such as laser and pulsed light. Understand how each alternative works:

Laser hair removal: it is a great option for the treatment of ingrown hairs and folliculitis (when there is the appearance of small pimples at the site in addition to the ingrown hair) as it consists of removing hair permanently with devices that emit laser. As the heat from the laser destroys the hair matrix – where it grows – it doesn’t grow back as quickly. The smaller the amount of hair, the less likely it is to get ingrown.

Photoepilation: like laser hair removal, it is a good alternative for those who suffer from ingrown hairs and folliculitis. It is done through equipment that emits the so-called Intense Pulsed Light, which “destroys” the germ cells of the hair, causing it to only be born again when these cells regenerate.

Exfoliation: The best way to prevent hairs from becoming ingrown is to exfoliate, but the technique can also be used as a treatment to remove the hairs that are more superficial. They can be done in clinics or at home with “homemade solutions”, but they are not indicated for the most serious cases or when there is inflammation.

Products that help to remove ingrown hairs: another alternative that can be indicated by a dermatologist is the use of products containing actives such as urea, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoic acid or glycolic acid.

Antibiotic ointments: Depending on the case, the dermatologist may prescribe the use of antibiotic ointments to treat the already affected area with ingrown hair(s).

Medical hair removal: depending on the degree of the problem, it may be necessary to remove the ingrown hair through a small incision. Don’t try this at home, the chance of making the jam worse or having a serious inflammation is high.

It is worth mentioning that these are some alternatives to treat ingrown hairs, but only a dermatologist can indicate the best solution for each case. The professional should be sought as soon as possible as soon as the person notices that ingrown hairs are frequent and/or that a hair is ingrown and looks very inflamed and painful.

Home remedies to prevent ingrown hairs

Exfoliation is one of the most important measures to prevent ingrown hairs. There are specific products for this on the market, but it is also possible to make homemade exfoliators, with natural products that you usually have at home. Check out some suggestions:

1. Sugar and honey. Sara Bragança suggests exfoliating with sugar and honey 3 to 4 days before waxing and again 10 days later.

2. Rice flour and milk. Mix 1 tablespoon (soup) of rice flour, 1/2 level teaspoon (tea) of turmeric and 2 tablespoons of milk (whole or skimmed). Gently rub over the area of ​​the body you want to exfoliate in gentle motions.

3. Cornmeal and olive oil. Mix 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of cornmeal, 2 tablespoons of oil and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Apply to desired body area while showering.

4. Sugar and almond oil. Mix some granulated sugar with almond oil. Apply the solution during the bath, massage gently and rinse.

10 ways to prevent ingrown hairs

Dermatologist Sara points out that the best way to prevent hairs from becoming ingrown is to exfoliate 3 to 4 days before epilation and 10 days after, to unclog the hair follicles. Below you can see a list of other measures that can help in this regard:

1. After waxing, do not expose yourself to the sun. The ideal is to wait about 48 hours for this;
2. Use the razor to remove hair only in emergencies (that is, when you don’t have time to resort to a hair removal method);
3. If you shave your hair with the razor, don’t reuse it again. This helps to avoid infections in case of cuts;
4. If using a blade, use a very sharp one; in this way the hair is cut all at once, it is not necessary to repeat the friction on the skin;
5. Do not use greasy creams or lotions with alcohol after shaving (unless this is recommended by your dermatologist);
6. Keep your skin hydrated, but always using moisturizers suitable for your skin type (dry, normal, oily);
7. In the case of armpits, opt for deodorants that also moisturize;
8. Avoid wearing tight clothes (such as gym clothes) for a long time;
9. Avoid the use of fabrics that retain sweat, always giving preference to cotton;
10. Avoid staying in wet bathing suits (bikini, bathing suit) for a long time.

The best products to prevent ingrown hairs

Below you can see products specially made to help prevent the problem in the body:

Finally, dermatologist Sara Bragança highlights that, in order to avoid ingrown hairs, the ideal is to know the most effective method so that your hair does not become ingrown. “Some people do hair removal with wax, but they adapt better to the blade, etc.”, she exemplifies.

Try to find out which method is best for you! And also be sure to adopt the simple measures mentioned above to avoid ingrown hairs.

But if the problems with ingrown hairs are recurrent, do not hesitate to look for a dermatologist who will indicate the best treatment options for your case.