Ingrown hairs are often the result of shaving, waxing and other traditional methods of hair removal, and they can be painful and cause red inflammation on the skin.
Many people try to prevent ingrown hairs by using safe skincare products which draw out hairs while soothing irritation. Exfoliation regularly is another preventive measure; however overexfoliation could contribute to ingrown hairs as well.
How They Develop
Laser light can target and destroy hair follicles to stop further hair growth; once gone, these follicles cannot produce new strands – leading to finer and lighter-colored regrowth of existing ones.
Ingrown hairs form when dead skin cells get trapped inside a blocked hair follicle and cause blockage, leading to ingrown hairs – usually appearing like solid bumps with both ends protruding from the skin and often accompanied by pain, tenderness, itching, redness, inflammation and hyperpigmentation – to emerge.
Shaving, waxing, plucking and threading can all lead to ingrown hairs; shaving in particular is susceptible due to only removing the tip of hair rather than its root; thus leaving behind a small sharp ingrown hair which often results in other complications.
Laser hair removal is generally safe when performed by a qualified healthcare provider who understands skin anatomy. When performed incorrectly, however, laser treatment could result in burns and permanent changes to skin color; fortunately, dermatologists have made great strides forward in laser medicine, making this service accessible to more patients than ever before.
When conducting laser hair removal sessions, our medical aestheticians carefully select settings to target only unwanted hair. They will also apply topical anesthetics to reduce discomfort during treatments; typically these appointments last anywhere between 10-15 minutes to an hour depending on the size of the treatment area.
For their safety during treatment, our cosmetic dermatologists use Vectus Lasers with Advanced Contact Cooling systems that use protective eyewear to shield their eyes from laser beams. By precisely controlling their power levels and protecting nearby tissue with Advanced Contact Cooling technology, they can precisely control laser strength for less tissue damage and shorter treatment times.
Once treatment has been completed, most patients do not see regrowth for several months or years – when hair does return it is typically thinner and lighter in color than before.
What Causes Them
Hair follicles may become clogged with sebum produced by sebaceous glands, disrupting their ability to direct where your hair grows. Follicles can also become blocked by dead skin cells or sharp ends of hair becoming trapped inside of it and growing back out into your skin, leading to what’s known as an “ingrown hair”, often seen with people with curly or wavy locks and appearing anywhere from facial features, arms, legs or underarms.
Laser hair removal can help prevent ingrown hairs from causing permanent scarring and dark spots if they’re treated incorrectly, as it targets their source: the hair follicle. By targeting its source and destroying it with light energy, lasers stop hair from growing while simultaneously stopping sharp ends of existing strands from getting trapped within it and leading to ingrowns.
Reduce your risk of ingrown hairs with a gentle shaving routine, especially if you have coarse or curly hair that tends to cause them. Avoid razors with multiple blades which may irritate the skin and result in uneven shaving that leads to ingrown hairs; opt instead for an electric shaver which offers close shaving without razor burn and exfoliate post-shaving to get rid of dead skin cells that could otherwise lead to ingrown hairs.
Men and women both can suffer from ingrown hairs, although they occur more frequently among men due to hormonal influences on hair growth. If you have beard or mustache hair, keep it short and groomed to reduce irritation risk; thick, course facial hair may require using a beard trimmer in order to stay free of discomfort.
Your best chance at reducing ingrown hairs lies with maintaining a routine skincare routine, using safe products like tea tree oil, retinoids and glycolic acid. Tweezing them out may result in infections and medical attention being required; should an ingrown occur instead use sterilized tweezers to gently lift it from your skin.
What You Can Do To Prevent Them
Untreated ingrown hairs can quickly become even more bothersome by becoming infected. This occurs when bacteria from the surface of your skin enters into a clogged ingrown hair through touching or poking it with unclean hands or tweezers, according to Dr. Clay. When infected ingrown hairs become red, swollen, painful and sometimes have yellowish green fluid dripping from them, symptoms will include redness, swelling, pain and sometimes yellowish green fluid leaking out.
Dr. Clay emphasizes the importance of being smart about how you remove body hair. She suggests shaving after showering or bathing when the hair is softer and less likely to curl into your skin; also using an electric razor which gives a closer shave while leaving its tip above rather than below skin’s surface; or opting for one with built-in lubricating strips or gel for softening hair and preventing friction with skin surface.
waxing, plucking or using hair bleach can all increase your risk of ingrown hairs. Exfoliation should also be conducted regularly – over-exfoliating can contribute to ingrown hairs however; to find the ideal balance use a gentle exfoliator that dissolves dead skin cells without irritating sensitive areas on legs, arms bikini area or face while applying an hydrating moisturizer to keep the skin properly hydrated.
Whoever suffers from ingrown hairs should consider laser hair removal, which can permanently eradicate them. While they’re more common among men with curly or dark hair and people of darker skin tones, any individual could become vulnerable at some point or another.
Laser hair removal goes straight to the source, disabling hair follicles to stop their continued growth, thus preventing ingrown hairs. Results should become evident after several sessions; however, laser treatments do not offer permanent solutions as hair will return as it grows back within their affected follicle.
How Laser Hair Removal Can Help
Ingrown hairs are painful, irritating and unsightly. Left untreated, they can lead to redness and swelling as well as infection and abscesses – hindering you from reaching smooth skin that you want. Luckily, laser hair removal provides an effective and permanent way of eliminating these pesky little bumps permanently.
Laser hair removal is a safe, non-invasive and painless procedure designed to address the source of unwanted ingrown hairs. The laser works by targeting melanin in hair follicles with concentrated light energy that penetrates them, producing heat to disable and destroy them so they cannot produce further unwanted hair growth in future.
Laser treatments vary depending on your hair and skin type, with two to six sessions being enough to achieve permanent hair reduction. Laser hair reduction treatments are quick, convenient and suitable for most skin and hair types compared to shaving, waxing, tweezing or chemical depilatories which may only offer temporary relief.
Before getting laser hair removal treatment, it is best to protect any areas being treated from sun exposure by applying SPF 30+ sunscreen and wearing sunglasses. Shaving will also be required prior to receiving treatments in the areas that will be shaved off; any tweezing, plucking or waxing on these areas could cause hair follicles to grow inward and cause ingrowns. Your dermatologist should provide detailed instructions regarding preparation for laser treatment.
After receiving laser hair removal treatment, your skin may become slightly red and irritated, similar to sunburn. Apply a soothing, fragrance-free cream directly after each session and avoid applying harsh skincare products in these areas.
Are you sick and tired of painful, itchy ingrown hairs and ready to say goodbye forever? Contact Spring Street Dermatology in NYC for laser hair removal services that can give you flawless, smooth skin! We offer laser hair removal that will leave a lasting impactful transformation on the surface!
