Treatment For Ingrown Hair
It is estimated that between 60 - 80% of African american men, and 20% of Caucasian men are prone to ingrown hairs. Women of all stripes continue to have this problem also. An ingrown hair is a painful red bump on the skin. They usually appear anywhere we shave… and often in clusters. What happens is the hair breaks off below the skin. It begins to grow at an angle into the side of the hair follicle ! Now we have an ingrown hair.
Treatments and Prevention
Possible treatments for individuals with chronic ingrown-hair problems are the use of depilatory creams or electrolysis in order to remove the hair. No hair, no ingrown-hair problem! Depilatory creams are used for the short-term removal of the hair. For a more permanent hair removal method, then electrolysis is the way to go. A dermatologist, depending on the severity of the condition, can prescribe other treatments. Topical antiseptics may be used to prevent infections from occurring or when there is infection, antibiotics may be required.
Try exfoliating regularly. Take a loofah to your skin every time you shower, and you’ll not only get rid of flaky dead skin, but also loosen up and prevent ingrown hairs.
Shave correctly to prevent recurrence. Since most ingrown hairs are caused by shaving, the easiest way to prevent them is to grow a beard. Even hairs that are initially ingrown will usually grow out in time. If shaving is a must, however, be sure to do it right. Check out the related wikiHows for complete information.
For ingrown pubic hairs along the bikini line, hold a hot compress against ingrown spots for ten minutes three times a day to soften the skin and help the hairs work their way out.
Wear loose-fitting underwear and clothing until the bumps are gone to avoid friction.
The most common way to get rid of ingrown hair involves a warm compress and a sterilized tweezers. If you can see the ingrown hair near the surface of the skin, apply a very warm, damp cloth for 15 minutes, or until the cloth cools. Then, if the skin has softened enough, dip a tweezers in rubbing alcohol to sterilize them and then gently pull the ingrown hair out of the follicle.
Growing a beard or allowing hairs to grow well above the skin surface and the follicle opening may prevent the hair tip from growing into the skin and thereby preventing ingrown hairs formation. Not all people are willing or able to grow their hairs long enough to prevent their ingrowing and forming ingrown hairs.
Preventing the tip from “ingrowing” or removing the ingrown hairs’ tips are the ways we can treat this condition. The shorter the hair is broken (such as in waxing, tweezing or plucking) or cut; the more time it has, and the greater the likelihood of its growing into the side of the follicle and producing ingrown hairs
