5 Facts About Ingrown Hairs—and How to Treat Them
Feeling incredibly smooth is a treat, but let's face it: the more hair you start taking off, the more you risk developing the dreaded ingrown. Before you start plucking and picking, read these tips from dermatologist Catherine Orentreich and Completely Bare Spas owner, Cindy Barshop, to prevent and treat this hairy situation.
Q: What Is an Ingrown Hair?
A: "Ingrown hairs occur when a hair that is shaved, waxed, or tweezed grows backwards or sideways into the skin and becomes trapped, causing inflammation, irritation, and possibly infection. They can also occur without an external cause, like when the pore is blocked," explains Dr. Orentreich.
Q: Why Do I Get Them?
A: Certain hair types and ethnicities are predisposed to ingrown hairs, says Orentreich. People with curly hair are particularly susceptible, since their hair naturally wants to curl back in on itself. This is also why many African Americans are exceptionally prone to ingrown hairs - tightly coiled hair tends to reenter the skin, and can burrow beneath its surface.
Q: Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent Them?
A: Immediately following any hair removal, use a combination of a topical antibiotic like Neosporin and an anti-inflammatory like hydrocortisone to decrease the chance of inflammation or bacterial infection. Twenty-four hours after waxing, apply a product specifically designed to help prevent ingrown hairs, like Shobha's Ingrown Relief Lotion.
One other tip from Barshop: Use a product that reduces hair texture and density like Completely Bare Completely Smooth. Apply twice a day to the areas where you want to reduce hair growth, and within weeks you'll notice less growth and finer hairs.
$42, completelybare.com
Q: How Can I Care for Them?
A:When you do spot an ingrown hair (since even the best efforts can still sometimes not stop their formation), Orentreich warns that you should not attempt to remove it on your own. "Any effort to remove an ingrown hair may worsen the situation by causing more inflammation and irritation and may introduce pathogens through the skin, causing infection." Instead, make an appointment with your dermatologist, who can make a tiny incision to extricate the ingrown hair.
Q: What if My Doctor Isn't Available?
A: If you can't get to the derm, exfoliate and treat the area with a product containing salicylic acid, like PFB Vanish. Keep an eye on it, though. If the bump grows in size or you have any pain, see your doctor immediately, as this may indicate a cyst or a more serious infection has developed.
$14.95, pfbvanish.com
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