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ingrown hair
The condition of ingrown hair occurs when the hair curls and grows back into the skin. Ingrown hair is most commonly seen among those with curly hair. Occurrences of the condition are usually seen in places where the skin is waxed or shaved. You can identify ingrown hair by the symptoms it is generally characterized by. However, each person will not react to the symptoms in the same way. The most common symptom of ingrown hair is a localized inflammation in the skin which can sometimes be quite painful. The extent of the inflammation will differ. In the middle of the bump caused by the inflammation, a curled hair that is hardly visible is present. Along with the swelling and itching, a slight pain and redness is experienced. Pus can also form in the area that is affected.
Ingrown hair has a close association with shaving. For men, the face and neck are the main areas where ingrown hair can occur. For women, ingrown hair occurs in areas such as the under arm and legs which are regularly shaved. Most often this condition goes away on its own. You could also remove ingrown hairs by carefully moving them up from the skin with tweezers. You should not pluck the ingrown hair.
There are a few precautions you should take when shaving which will prevent the occurrence of ingrown hair. Before shaving you should use a mild scrub which will give a cleaner shave by removing the dead skin. It will also help bring the hair up from the skin for a proper shave. It is also better to shave after you have been in the shower for a while. This is because the heat and steam will make the hair soft, ensuring a smooth shave. You should remember not to apply too much pressure on the skin while shaving. It is important that you don’t shave against the grain. This will cause irritation of the skin and bring the hair back into the skin, resulting in a bump. Repeatedly shaving the same area will remove too many skin cells and cause irritation.
To get rid of ingrown hair you should disinfect the area using products that contain buffered fatty alcohol. This provides the benefits of alcohol with minimal stinging and it also kills the bacteria. You can use a topical anti-inflammatory agent which will make the swelling subside. The application of products that are meant to combat ingrown hair to the affected area will reduce the bumps. In time the ingrown hair will eventually come up in the right direction.
Using a skin moisturizer on a regular basis is also important to prevent ingrown hair. This will keep the skin supple and smooth and ensure hair growth in the proper direction. If the inflammation spreads beyond the area of the hair follicle and continues for days after freeing the hair, you must immediately consult a dermatologist.
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