Ingrown hairs can be an annoying problem for both men and women. Not only can they cause considerable discomfort and itching, they may even form pilonidal cysts requiring drainage or surgical removal.
Laser hair removal is one of the fastest and most effective solutions for ingrown hairs, yet may take multiple sessions before it fully works. Some patients may experience redness and swelling for several hours to several days following treatment, which should subside shortly thereafter.
What Causes Ingrown Hairs?
Ingrown hairs occur when hair that has been cut or removed begins to curl back into the skin instead of growing out through its hair follicle, such as with shaving, tweezing and waxing. When this occurs, shaving, tweezing and waxing can all lead to this problem, irritating and inflaming the skin enough that bumps may form which look similar to pustules or pimples and often hurt. Picking at or trying to pop these ingrown hairs could result in infection and scarring – avoidance is advised!
At the core of ingrown hair treatment lies washing the area affected by ingrown hairs, to remove dead skin cells that clog hair follicles and cause ingrowns to emerge from them. A gentle exfoliant like scrub, gel or lotion with salicylic acid or glycolic acid may help open up hair follicles to stop ingrowns from becoming trapped under skin layers; and applying nongreasy moisturizer can be effective against dryness that often contributes to ingrowns.
Some individuals are more prone to ingrown hairs than others, especially those with curly or coarse hair that sticks out from its roots rather than growing down naturally. Men often experience ingrown hairs in their beard or groin area while women usually experience them around their bikini or crotch areas; African-American people seem particularly vulnerable due to having thicker, tightly curled locks which often come out.
Left untreated, an ingrown hair can quickly turn into inflammation and result in a red and itchy swollen bump that’s hard to touch. Should this inflammation progress to become severe enough, cysts of fluid that contain bacteria could form, mimicking what looks like a large infected pimple or scar would.
Many ingrown hairs can be prevented with regular razor shaves using a sharp blade in the direction of hair growth, followed by using an effective moisturizing product post shave. Exfoliation regularly is also highly recommended to help clear away dead skin cells that clog follicles, leading to inward-growing hairs. Waxing, tweezing, or electrolysis hair removal methods may be employed to permanently reduce their number.
How Do Ingrown Hairs Develop?
Ingrown hairs occur when cut or removed hair fails to exit through its usual path, trapping itself in pores or underneath them and becoming embedded within it, creating an itchy bump on the surface of skin that often is painful, itchy and reddens quickly. They may cause redness as well as be irritating. Sometimes this leads to infection producing pus under its own steam (folliculitis). They typically occur most commonly where there is thicker or coarser skin – such as armpits and pubic areas – as well as people using waxing, plucking or threading hair removal regularly for regular hair removal methods like waxing plucking and threading hair removal methods regularly.
Shaving incorrectly is one of the primary causes of ingrown hairs, as this often leads to dull, blunted or otherwise rough cuts that cause hair follicles to pierce into and grow down into the skin instead of away. This creates an irritating area which may become ingrown over time; those with sensitive skin or coarse curly locks are especially prone.
Shaving can cause ingrown hairs if your razor is old or poorly designed, making it hard to navigate around curves and other difficult parts of the body. To reduce irritation caused by shaving in the direction of hair growth and using a proper-lubricated razor. Incorporating exfoliation and moisturization regimens daily into your routine are also helpful in avoiding ingrown hairs; both remove dead skin cells that block the entry of hair follicles into skin pores and could block its access for hair follicles into skin pores.
When dealing with ingrown hairs, use sterile tweezers to pull the hairs out gently using light pressure without digging too deeply into either your skin or hair. Avoid plucking or shaving; as doing so may cause them to break off under the skin and become ingrown once more. If this does not resolve itself on its own, consult a dermatologist who may prescribe remedies that will heal both the skin and release any ingrown hairs.
How Do Ingrown Hairs Get Rid Of Them?
Good news is that ingrown hairs can be effectively addressed and prevented using safe skincare products. These may include treatments like retinoids, glycolic acid and salicylic acid to loosen hairs from their follicles, as well as exfoliant products which remove dead skin cells that lead to curling hairs inward. Exfoliation before shaving also helps prevent these ingrown hairs from appearing at all.
Selecting the ideal practitioner to carry out laser hair removal is also key, as incorrect applications of this process can result in burns and blisters. Make sure your chosen practitioner is listed on a recognized register to demonstrate they meet set standards of training and skill.
Laser treatments involve pressing a hand-held laser instrument against your skin. Your practitioner may add cooling devices or gel to protect and reduce discomfort during the procedure, before testing out their laser on small patches of skin to make sure there are no side effects from treatment.
As soon as they turn on the laser, it will pass through your skin and damage tissue near hair follicles to stop them from producing new hair growth. Although you might feel red and swollen immediately after treatment, the redness should quickly clear and allow you to return to daily activities without any downtime.
Your ingrown hairs may take multiple sessions to fully dissolve. Results depend on several factors, including hair color and thickness as well as how well your laser hair removal treatment works for you. It is also essential that exfoliation be performed regularly in order to avoid skin becoming clogged up with dead cells that could trigger ingrown hairs forming on its own.
Once your ingrown hairs have completely vanished, regular laser hair removal sessions every four weeks for facial and six to eight weeks for body hair can help prevent future episodes. Your practitioner will advise how many sessions will be necessary as well as an ongoing maintenance schedule to keep them away.
What Are the Benefits of Laser Hair Removal for Ingrown Hairs?
Laser hair removal works by targeting a concentrated beam of light directly at each hair follicle, where its melanin pigment absorbs light energy to stop new hair from growing and to prevent ingrown hairs from occurring. By eliminating potential sources, this procedure also helps prevent ingrown hairs.
Ingrown hairs can be extremely irritating. They often lead to redness, swelling and itching if left untreated; some people even develop infections if their condition goes untreated. Laser hair removal is the most effective solution to get rid of ingrown hairs and prevent them from returning; laser therapy targets the hair follicle directly killing it off and stopping further hair growth thus eliminating ingrown hairs from ever returning again.
Laser hair removal offers many advantages over shaving or waxing for hair removal, including none of its associated side effects and much less discomfort compared to these traditional techniques. Furthermore, its speed makes it a far more efficient means of eliminating unwanted hair growth.
Laser hair removal offers another advantage by leaving your skin silky smooth. No stray or stubble are left behind and when hair does grow back it tends to be thinner and lighter which helps minimize ingrown hairs forming.
Both men and women can experience ingrown hairs, with men being more prone due to hormonal factors that control facial hair growth. Shaving or trimming facial hair may contribute to ingrown hairs; other things that might cause them include trying to grow out a mustache or beard which has its own growth cycle than other parts of your head hair.
Ingrown hairs can be an embarrassing and painful condition, yet they’re easily preventable with the appropriate treatments. Exfoliate the area where the hair grows to remove any dead skin cells that could contribute to an ingrown hair’s development; but don’t overexfoliate as doing so could result in dry or irritated skin – for safe exfoliation use an exfoliator specifically designed for sensitive skin types.
