An ingrown hair is a hair that has curled back in on itself after it emerged from the hair follicle, but before it has sufficiently erupted from all layers of the dermis, or skin. Fully ingrown hairs occur most commonly after you remove the hair that was in that region by tweezing, waxing or even electrolysis, any method that removes the hair completely from the follicle. When the hair starts to grow back in, particularly the wavy hair common to our bikini regions and chin, this hair will come out of the follicle, extend up through the skin, break through only part of the dermal layer, curl in on itself and grow back down towards the follicle. Ingrown hair removal is quite difficult and these ingrown hairs can cause a variety of problems from itching and unattractive red bumps to infection. Lets take a look at how to prevent ingrown hairs and some of the ingrown hair treatment methods.
What are the available treatments for ingrown hair removal?
There are some treatments for ingrown hair removal that you can try at home and some others that your doctor may recommend for you to use once you already have developed ingrown hairs.
What You Can Do at Home
As we discussed, ingrown hairs are those hairs that are impacted below the surface, those that have not broken through the top layer of skin. Ingrown hair removal can be done in two ways. First, you can try washing the affected area with a washcloth, a soft-bristled toothbrush or a face scrubbing brush. Use a circular motion and rub gently for a few minutes just before you shave and again before bedtime. This can exfoliate the skin, unclogging the follicles and helping to release ingrown hairs. Second, if you have just one or two ingrown hairs you can use a needle, sterilized with alcohol, to remove the hair from beneath the skin.
Gently insert the needle under the top layer of skin, push it just under the loop of the hair and gently lift the hair to the surface. Clean your skin thoroughly afterwards and pat it dry gently. You can also try a variety of over the counter remedies for ingrown hair removal. Each works differently depending upon your hair type, skin type and hair removal habits. Since plugged hair follicles can contribute to ingrown hairs, using Retin A can help, as this thins the skin and reduces the build-up of dead skin cells within the follicles; Retin A is an ingredient in a variety of over the counter skin products. Also, ingrown hair removal cream can be applied topically to reduce the inflammation that is often associated with ingrown hairs, which can help reduce itching, and thus reduce scratching and red appearance.
What a Doctor Might Prescribe
After your doctor diagnoses an ingrown hair or infection there are a variety of treatments and medications that he or she may suggest for ingrown hair removal. If a hair is ingrown particularly deeply or long term, or if it has become infected, the doctor may decide to remove the hair. This is done by making a small incision into the skin and either releasing the hair to the surface or removing the hair altogether.
Additionally, if you develop a severe infection your doctor may decide to treat it with oral antibiotics; this would be done only in the most severe of cases. Most ingrown hairs will be treated by your doctor with a prescription for some type of topical cream. Following is a list of ingrown hair removal products and medications that your doctor may decide to try:
- Corticosteroids cream: This cream reduces inflammation and helps to stop itching. There are many corticosteroid creams available over the counter, however the prescription ones can be up to 600 times more effective.
- Retinoids: These are a type of cream that exfoliate, working to prevent accumulation of dead skin cells and can help even out skin tone problems that often occur after ingrown hairs develop. These include Retin-A and Renova (form of vitamin A that helps the skin renew itself).
- Antibacterial skin cleansers: Cleansers that contain benzoyl peroxide or chlorhexidine can help prevent infection from ingrown hairs and acne.
Topical antibiotics: These are antibiotics that are applied directly to the skin to kill bacteria. You can find such creams over the counter, but stronger antibiotics are available by prescription. These antibiotics are usually only prescribed if your ingrown hair develops into an abscess. Common topical antibiotics include erythromycin, clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide.
- Hair reduction creams: Topical creams like eflornithine hydrochloride cream can reduce the rate of hair growth after two months of use. It will not stop hair from growing so it does need to be used in combination with hair removal techniques.
- Skin tone creams: Various creams can be prescribed to help even out skin tone. These can include hydroquinone, kojic acid, and azelaic acid. Some of these creams are available over the counter. Other creams with higher concentrations of medication must be prescribed by a doctor.
While many home remedies and over the counter products can aid in ingrown hair removal, sometimes more serious, chronic conditions require the care of a doctor. You should also consult your doctor before using any product long term, or any time that you think you have an infection or are experiencing a negative side effective of some over the counter or prescription medication.
Find Hair Removal Alternatives
Shaving is the biggest risk factor for ingrown hairs because shaving can cut the hairs to a point and sometimes allows the hair to retract below the skin if the hair is cut really short. While sometimes hair removal techniques like depilatories (creams that remove hair) and waxing can minimize shave bumps, they do not necessarily stop ingrown hairs completely; it can vary for each person depending upon hair type and skin type. Also, some chemical treatments can be quite harsh and should only be used once or twice a week.
Electrolysis and hair removing lasers can be good ways for ingrown hair removal, with less chance of developing ingrown hairs. Some dermatologists will help prevent future ingrown hairs by using long lasting laser hair removal. While some people have had re-growth of hair after laser treatment, usually much less hair grows back.
Ingrown hairs can be unattractive and annoying, frustratingly keeping you from enjoying your favorite clothes or just making you feel generally uncomfortable with your appearance. However, they are almost always just a temporary visual annoyance. Infection is rare, as is scarring, particularly if you heed the suggestions above. In short, just keep your skin clean and practice the healthiest ingrown hair removal habits so you wont have to worry about ingrown hair scar removal later in life.
Consult your doctor if you have questions about excessive unwanted hair growth, chronic ingrown hairs or if you suspect infection. With a little due diligence and careful ingrown hair removal you can keep your skin looking smooth, healthful and hairless, always feeling as though you look your best.
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Photo Credit: Vancouver Laser & Skincare Centre and nedrichards