Ingrowing Hairs Treatments

An ingrown hair occurs when the hair curls back into the skin and continues to grow sideways. It is known that some ingrown hairs re-enter the hair follicle before they have even exited the skin.

Ingrown hairs are often seen in people with particularly thick or coarse hair, especially after attempted hair removal from shaving, tweezing or waxing.

The condition can be seen in both men and women. Commonly, men hold ingrown hairs in the beard, back of the neck, chin and cheek area. In women, ingrown hairs are typically seen in the bikini area, underarm and legs.

The hair follicles where ingrown hairs lay can often become infected; this is referred to as folliculitis. Mild cases of folliculitis often do not need treatment and will heal over time; however, in a severe case, ingrown hairs require professional treatment.

The simplest way is to prevent ingrown hairs is to stop shaving.  If shaving is crucial to your daily routine, use a sharp razor on wet skin in the direction in which the hair grows. After every stroke, it is important that the razor is rinsed and areas are kept clean as it is very easy for bacteria to enter the treated areas.