Ingrown Hair Prevention and Laser Hair Treatment

Ingrown hairs are incredibly annoying. That’s not to mention that they can be quite painful and cause an unsightly bump due to the inflammation.

So what is it exactly? An ingrown hair is a freshly cut or removed hair that grows back or sideways into the skin of the hair follicle instead of out through the normal follicular orifice. Like any foreign object occurring where it shouldn’t, the ingrown hair causes irritation.

This irritation can manifest as bumps that are solid, rounded papules (red or tan) or pus-filled, blister-y lesions or pustules. Additionally, there can be skin darkening and itching involved.

While ingrown hairs most commonly occur for black males between the ages of 14 and 25, they can happen to anyone of any age who shaves, waxes or tweezes. Men with beards often run into problems with their facial hair removal. Ingrown hairs are common for them on their cheeks, neck and chin. As for both men and women, any area of the body where hair is removed has the potential to develop an ingrown hair. Shaving too closely and coarse hairs also encourage the frequency of ingrown hairs.

Curly hair can be prone to ingrown hairs, as well. Their natural follicle structure, especially when dry, can often cause hair to grow back into the skin once they have been shaved. Tweezed hair can sometimes leave a hair fragment under the skin’s surface that can cause the new follicle to become inflamed and grow back into the skin.

Ingrown hairs cause the worst inflammation as they first begin to regrow, but they will eventually improve.

Really the only way to avoid an ingrown hair is to not remove it in the first place. But that’s fairly impractical as shaving is a common, daily routine for most. Your Laser Skin Care provides permanent hair removal services to solve this issue. Laser hair treatment removes hair deep within the follicle and eventually prevents regrowth altogether. In other words, follicles can no longer become infected. Our state-of-the-art technology utilizes advanced lasers that are appropriate for all skin types. Laser hair removal is a great solution for people who suffer from chronic ingrown hairs.

There are also some simple hair removal tips to practice at home that may minimize the occasional occurrence of ingrown hairs:

• Exfoliate the skin one to two days before shaving to remove dead skin cells that can get trapped in hair follicles.
• Don’t pull skin taut while you’re shaving.
• Shave in the direction of hair growth.
• Wet the area with warm water and use a lubricating gel.
• Use a sharp, single-blade razor and do not shave too closely. A double-blade pulls hair follicles before it shaves them, which can result in ingrown hairs. (If using an electric razor, do use the closest shave setting.)
• Rinse the blade after each run.
• Rinse the shaved area with cold water and apply a compress when finished.
• Apply aloe and/or oils to the shaved area.

An ingrown hair every now and then is normal. However, if it is a chronic problem, visit your physician or dermatologist for help and management advice. Chronic ingrown hairs can result in scarring and skin darkening. Scratching ingrown hairs can cause bacterial infection.

To learn more about Your Laser Skin Care’s laser hair removal treatments in Los Angeles, check out our facts-and-questions page on our website or call us to schedule a free consultation at (323) 525-1516