Ingrown hairs can be an embarrassing and unsightly problem that arises wherever body hair grows, often around your legs or arms. Unfortunately, trying to remove these unwanted strands with methods like waxing and shaving often proves ineffective – often leaving painful scarring behind and lasting beyond any effort at removal.
Laser hair removal is a safe, efficient, and relatively painless solution to permanently eliminating ingrown hairs. While multiple sessions will likely be necessary to reduce recurrence rates over time.
What Causes Ingrown Hairs?
Ingrown hairs occur when a sharp-tipped hair that emerges from its hair follicle bends back into or curls around its target skin follicle and causes irritation, redness and itching, often with inflammation as a result; sometimes inflamed and pus-filled ingrowns look similar to razor bumps or pimples and can appear anywhere where hair grows, though more commonly they affect areas that are regularly shaved such as men’s neck beard areas or armpit and pubic areas where women perform regular shaving operations.
People with curly locks may be especially susceptible to ingrown hairs, as their curls can more easily bend back into the skin after shaving or cutting them. But anyone using hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing or other can experience an ingrown hair problem; trying to squeeze, pick or pluck at it only makes it worse and may lead to pain and possibly infection.
There are various causes for ingrown hairs, including:
An improperly-sized or dull razor blade can cause your razor to slip and cut the skin, leading to cuts or scratches and potentially leading to the hair curling back into its original position. This could result in a cut nick or scratch that forces its way back out from under the skin’s surface, or cause the hair to return at an angle into its previous spot.
Shaving too close may also lead to razor slippage and cutback, leading to ingrown hairs regrowing through.
Wearing tight clothing after shaving or waxing can cause hairs to rub against fabric of clothing and curl back into skin if worn too close, particularly for tight underwear or bras.
With dense or thick hair comes more likely curling back inwards post-shaving or cutting as its shape tends to have more of a curvier form.
Other conditions or medications, like hormonal imbalance (including polycystic ovary syndrome or hyper-androgenemia ) or thyroid disease, may lead to ingrown hairs as well, making regular shaving and other hair removal methods difficult for managing them effectively. This may lead to excess or abnormally fast hair growth which makes shaves and other hair removal methods harder to use effectively.
How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs can be an embarrassing and frustrating side effect of shaving, waxing, or other hair removal methods such as plucking. They occur when hair ends curl back into the skin rather than rising out from it as intended – leading to irritation, itching, red marks on your skin, as well as red or dark marks altogether. But there are steps you can take to help avoid ingrown hairs altogether.
An effective way to minimize your chances of ingrown hairs is to use a razor that provides a close yet gentle shave without irritating your skin. Be sure to shave in the direction your hair grows to prevent over-plucking or plucking of any unruly locks. Regular exfoliating of skin also helps prevent ingrown hairs; just take care not to overexfoliate, which could cause blocked pores and more ingrown hairs than ever.
If ingrown hairs have proven resistant to shaving, plucking and other methods, laser hair removal could be the answer. By targeting and destroying each individual follicle that produces new hair growth and in turn ingrown hair formation – not only will this treatment stop future ingrowns from appearing but it will also help heal any scarring or dark marks caused by ingrowns on your skin.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential that the area in which they will take place be properly prepared. This may include avoiding sun exposure, wearing loose clothing and using sunless tanners; exfoliate a few days beforehand in order to eliminate dead skin cells that could potentially block pores and cause ingrown hairs.
Once you begin laser hair removal treatments, it is crucial that regular sessions take place so that hair follicles will be permanently destroyed and new growth will slow. This will reduce ingrown hairs while leaving your skin looking beautiful!
How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs
Anyone who has ever shaved their legs, armpits or bikini line knows the discomfort associated with ingrown hairs. These red bumps form when hair that has been cut short grows back beneath the surface instead of pushing its way to the surface, creating an ingrown hair bump resembling a pimple or boil on its way out through the surface layer of skin – commonly found on facial and leg areas that have been recently shaved – often itchy and sometimes even leading to infection.
Preventing ingrown hairs requires several measures, including using a clean razor that is sharp enough to glide smoothly over your skin’s surface and exfoliating regularly to maintain clear pores and avoid clogs that could lead to ingrown hairs. Too much exfoliating, however, could lead to hair follicles becoming trapped under the skin, so be careful. Moisturizers containing salicylic acid can also help break down dead cells faster and decrease the likelihood of ingrown hair formation.
Laser hair removal offers a more permanent solution for ingrown hairs, as its light can effectively destroy hair follicles so they no longer produce unwanted hairs. Although this doesn’t get rid of existing ingrowns completely, but does significantly decrease recurrence rates.
If you’re suffering from ingrown hairs, it’s essential that you seek medical advice. At iLuvo Beauty we have extensive experience treating them using laser and hair removal technologies and would be more than happy to assist in helping you achieve the smooth, beautiful skin you envision! Reach out now for your complimentary consultation and patch test appointment.
Can Laser Hair Removal Help?
Laser hair removal is a widely utilized treatment used to eradicate unwanted hair, as well as prevent ingrown hairs. Lasers work by targeting pigment (melanin) within each follicle to destroy it – meaning new hair cannot grow and ingrown hairs cannot form again. Laser removal may be used on any area of the body but most often performed on faces, armpits and legs.
Ingrown hairs can be extremely annoying and painful. They occur when hair cannot exit its follicle properly, instead growing into surrounding tissue instead. While traditional methods of hair removal, like shaving, waxing, or plucking may contribute to ingrowns, natural causes also exist and home remedies for ingrowns include using special razors and exfoliating affected areas; unfortunately these solutions often don’t solve the core cause.
People struggling with ingrown hairs can turn to laser hair removal as a safe and effective solution. A laser beam emits concentrated light energy that is absorbed by melanin cells in the follicle and converted into heat, damaging its structure and stopping new hair growth from the same source. Laser hair removal can be performed anywhere on the body but is especially helpful at preventing ingrown hairs in areas like the chin where this condition often arises.
Laser treatments are quick, comfortable, and don’t need to be repeated often; some may only need laser hair removal once every year or two. While ingrown hairs affect both men and women equally, men seem more prone due to hormones affecting facial hair growth; both sexes may experience ingrown hairs on arms, legs, necks or bikinis lines.
If you’re experiencing ingrown hairs, laser hair removal might be the solution. When selecting a facility for treatment, be sure to hire professionals with experience providing laser hair removal for all skin tones and conditions – such as choosing a doctor who has established medical practice who will also be present during treatments, rather than choosing spas or salons with non-medical staff performing laser services.
