An Ultimate Guide for Your Ingrown Hair

We’ve all had those annoying, itchy and sometimes painful red bumps appear on our skin after we shave, tweeze or wax.

Did you know that these are called ingrown hairs?

The important thing is that it’s not too late to get rid of them.

Here is a complete guide to ingrown hairs and how to treat ingrown hairs to restore your skin to good health again.

What is ingrown hair?

An ingrown hair arises when the trimmed hair from shaving, tweezing or waxing regrows back but doesn’t push through the surface of your skin as it normally would.

As a result, the tip gets caught under the surface, causing redness and irritation.

Ingrown hairs, then, appear as small, round and raised red bumps that commonly develop anywhere there are hair follicles, such as your legs, armpits and pubic areas. In some cases, the bumps caused by ingrown hairs can become darker as well (also known as hyperpigmentation).

Having ingrown hair is not serious, but it can still cause pain and embarrassment.

What causes ingrown hair?

There are two possible causes as to why you can get ingrown hair.

1. Your hair might be forced back into its follicle due to trimming – that is, shaving, waxing or tweezing.

2. A build-up of dead skin cells has clogged the follicle, trapping your hair beneath the skin’s surface.

Both cause the same red bumps along the surface of your skin.

No matter what the cause of ingrown hair may be, there are certain measures you can take to treat your ingrown hair and prevent it from recurring.

How can you prevent ingrown hair?

There are simple ways to prevent ingrown hair.

Exfoliate your skin

One of the primary causes of ingrown hair is clogged hair follicles.

Exfoliating helps in removing dead skin cells, clearing your pores and allowing your hair to grow properly. Exfoliation also leaves your skin smoother than before.

To exfoliate, you can utilise an exfoliating scrub, exfoliating glove or a dry brush.

Shave in the same direction as your hair growth

Shaving in the opposite direction to your hair growth can make you more prone to having ingrown hair. This is because it leaves the trimmed hair growing at an odd angle.

Therefore, shaving in the same direction as your hair growth is a good idea. This method enables your hair to be trimmed at a less sharp angle, preventing it from re-growing inside the skin’s surface.

Use razors that are in good condition

It is important to replace your razors regularly because dull ones tend to trim your hair poorly. Check if the blades are getting old, dirty and rusty and switch them for a new set.

Try laser hair removal

Laser hair removal is more expensive than ordinary shaving, waxing or tweezing but it eliminates your hair in a much more effective way by targeting your hair follicles with strong wavelengths of light.

By slowing down rapid hair growth, the chance of developing ingrown hair is also reduced.

Moisturise, hydrate and nourish using creams

There are skin care creams on the market that aid in shaving, waxing or tweezing. Applying cream moisturisers will help hydrate and nourish your skin to keep it healthy and soft.

How can you treat ingrown hair?

If you have ingrown hairs on your skin, there are treatments you can try to help get rid of them.

Wash the area with an ingrown hair using a warm washcloth or soft brush.

Cleansing and massaging your legs, armpits and other areas with a warm washcloth or soft brush in a circular motion for a few minutes will help in releasing your ingrown hairs.

In the meantime, avoid shaving, waxing and tweezing.

To make the skin area with an ingrown hair less irritable and sensitive, you should avoid shaving it first. Also, never scratch, squeeze or pick ingrown hair to avoid causing a potential skin infection.

Try using over-the-counter skin care treatments

Over-the-counter treatments may include exfoliating products that have salicylic acid or glycolic acid as ingredients. These products prevent the appearance of ingrown hairs as they aid in keeping your hair follicles open. Benzoyl peroxide creams can also be utilised to reduce the redness of these ingrown hairs.

Apply creams to lessen inflammation.

There are also treatment creams or lotions that specifically dissolve hair or solve ingrown hairs. These creams can often contain ingredients that deliver moisture to the skin and antibacterial agents that clear out infected pores.

But, with all of the creams available on the market, it’s important to ensure you’re selecting the right one for you.

Give our ingrow go™ 120ml a try for ingrown hairs.

Our Skin Doctors ingrow go™ makes your skin smooth and bump-free, in as little as 24 hours, by removing ingrown hair caused by shaving, waxing or epilating.

ingrow go™ 120ml also promises to help you:

1. Remove ingrown hairs caused by shaving, waxing or epilating

2. Remove razor bumps

3. Create smooth, bump-free skin

Just apply it on your bikini line, underarms and legs 12 hours before waxing or shaving. For best results, use it morning and night until your skin in those areas becomes soft and clear again.

Skin Doctors ingrow go™ is suitable for all skin types and is recommended for use even in sensitive skin areas.

It’s a great solution to ingrown hair.

Be confident with your skin again! Repair those little “hair” emergencies and make your skin look flawless once again.

For more information, visit https://skindoctors.com.au/products/skin-doctors-ingrow-go-120ml.