Ingrown hairs can be both uncomfortable and unsightly. Unfortunately, shaving, waxing and tweezing cannot reach into deep layers of the skin to extract hairs effectively.
Laser treatments are an effective way of eliminating ingrown hairs and preventing further episodes. A technician administers this treatment by sending laser energy directly into each hair follicle, killing it instantly.
1. Topical Treatments
If you find that deep ingrown hairs are occurring frequently, try using a topical solution designed to prevent them. Such products contain alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids which dissolve dead skin cells while stimulating new cell production – Samantha B. Conrad, MD from Northwestern Medicine’s dermatology department tells SELF this treatment can also be tailored specifically for different areas of the body such as facial or bikini areas; some solutions even work from head-to-toe!
Ingrown hairs arise when a hair follicle becomes trapped beneath the surface of skin and begins to grow underneath, eventually breaking through to become visible and visible to others. If symptoms such as red pus-filled bumps, tenderness, itchiness or hyperpigmentation appear it is important to seek medical help immediately to avoid infection and seek treatment for ingrown hairs as soon as possible to avoid infection.
Prevention of ingrown hairs begins with proper hair removal techniques and refraining from picking at them, according to Hu. If an ingrown does happen, using warm compresses on the area to soften and promote circulation may help soften any bumps before using tweezers to gently pull out each individual hair that’s sticking out from under the skin – while remembering only to do this when the anagen phase or growth stage hair has reached it or else you could risk permanently damaging follicles leading to permanent hair loss.
Laser hair removal can also be an effective treatment option for ingrown hairs that are painful or infected. Fox Vein & Laser Experts uses the GentleMax Pro laser, which emits bursts of laser energy directly into each follicle so that its absorbers begin breaking down and no longer produce hair.
Laser hair removal will take multiple sessions before its effects can be seen; you may require multiple visits. After each treatment session is over, however, patients should experience decreased ingrown hairs as well as signs of pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), such as dandruff, razor bumps, or ingrown hairs.
2. Laser Hair Removal
As an alternative to tweezing and waxing, laser hair removal provides an efficient means of permanently eliminating ingrown hairs. By targeting and damaging hair follicles directly, laser treatment permanently decreases hair growth – and ingrown hairs as a result – while helping the skin heal from ingrown hairs that might have resulted in pimples or pustules forming on its surface.
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective treatment option for all skin types when administered by a certified practitioner, though its results tend to be particularly advantageous on dark-complexioned patients with light hair due to pigment contrast allowing more light-absorbing laser energy into each follicle and thus dissolving it faster. Finding an experienced and licensed practitioner that understands how to conduct safe laser treatment on darker complexions and hair colors is key to its success.
Before scheduling a laser treatment appointment, it’s advisable to refrain from using any hair removal methods that disturb the surface of the skin – such as shaving and plucking – that disturb the surface. Shaving and plucking can result in clogged pores which prevent laser from reaching its target follicle and destroy it effectively. Furthermore, make sure your practitioner belongs to an official registry which verifies they meet certain experience, skill, and training standards.
Laser treatment causes some discomfort, though far less than waxing or shaving. Your specialist may use topical numbing cream in sensitive areas to ensure comfort during laser hair reduction treatments; most patients require at least 6 treatments before experiencing permanent hair reduction; once complete, most don’t see regrowth for months or even years with finer and lighter-colored strands than before treatment began.
Hair growth on your facial area is controlled by hormones, which means it may require maintenance laser sessions after you have finished with the full treatment series. Furthermore, it may be beneficial to visit a dermatologist from time to time for occasional touch up sessions.
3. Tweezing
Have you experienced an ingrown hair that just won’t budge no matter how often or hard you exfoliate or stop shaving in an area? Attempts at plucking can often worsen things by further irritating skin and potentially leading to infection; experts advise visiting a dermatologist instead for ingrown hair removal.
Dermatologists can treat deep ingrown hair in various ways, depending on its cause. Common remedies for such ingrowns include applying warm compresses over the ingrown hairs and temporarily suspending hair removal in that area; using exfoliants containing glycolic or salicylic acids which loosen and remove dead skin cells; or prescribing medications like retinoids or steroids in order to ease inflammation and decrease redness.
Your dermatologist can perform laser hair removal on the affected area to eliminate ingrown hairs and stop their future recurrence by disabling the follicle that allows them to grow in the first place. This technique is particularly beneficial for people with thin or fine hair as it will significantly decrease recurring ingrowns.
Ingrown hairs can be an annoying nuisance, but they’re easily preventable by making some simple lifestyle adjustments. Shaving, waxing, and other hair removal methods may all increase your risk of ingrown hairs; however, one way you can reduce their likelihood is by not over-plucking or pulling at individual strands with tweezers until they naturally fall out on their own. Ingrown hairs tend to affect women and men with coarse or curly locks more frequently; however, they can occur regardless of hair type – don’t be shocked if one suddenly pops up somewhere unexpected. If ingrown hairs have you frustrated, make an appointment at any SEV Laser location and discover their laser treatment for ingrown hairs. Our doctors can discuss all available solutions including laser hair removal to permanently solve this problem.
4. Shaving
Shaving for deep ingrown hairs can be challenging and should always be undertaken with caution, according to dermatologist Dendy Engelman of Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City. She warns that blunting the ends of the hair during shaving could encourage it to grow back into the skin resulting in an unsightly red raised bump which could become itchy or even painful, says Dendy Engelman MD.
Dr. Engelman reports that this common hair-related issue is often due to dead skin clogging a hair follicle and altering its direction, according to him. While it can occur anywhere on the body, it most frequently manifests itself on faces, legs and armpits; coarse, thick or curly locks or those with more curly, kinky or wavy locks tend to experience this more frequently than others.
Hair follicles that become trapped beneath the skin cause irritation, pain, inflammation and hyperpigmentation, leading to hyperpigmentation that could eventually turn infected. When trapped hairs come through into contact with skin they cause inflammation which in turn results in small solid bumps known as ingrowns or pus-filled papules which need treatment as quickly as possible in order to stop spreading infection further down.
Keep skin moist to minimize friction and decrease ingrown hairs; but if an ingrown hair persists, gentle washing with a washcloth or soft toothbrush and applying a warm compress for several minutes can loosen and assist the hair’s return from under the surface of the skin.
For deep ingrown hairs that refuse to leave the area, you can attempt removing them by using a sterile needle, pin, or tweezers after moisturizing with rubbing alcohol and moistening the area with it. Be wary that doing this yourself may result in infection and be sure to do research prior to undertaking this procedure yourself.
Laser treatment offers the only lasting solution for ingrown hairs: Candela’s Gentlemax Pro laser permanently stops producing unwanted hair by targeting hair follicles with light pulses from its laser, effectively shutting them down from producing additional growth. As one of only permanent solutions to unwanted hair, it may replace manual methods of shaving, waxing, tweezing and manually extracting ingrowns hairs such as shaving. Besides being safe for all skin types and age ranges alike; you can treat ingrowns anywhere on your body!
