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How To Prevent Ingrown Hair After Shaving

Last Updated on August 26, 2021

How To Prevent Ingrown Hair After Shaving

 If you’ve never had ingrown hairs then you’ll know just how painful, itchy and irritating they are.

A number of things can cause them but luckily, there are ways to prevent them too and this is what we’ll be discussing today.

An ingrown hair occurs when a shaved hair grows back into the skin. It can cause inflammation, pain, and tiny bumps in the area where the hair was removed which isn’t a fun time.

Ingrown hair is a common condition that occurs when you remove the hair on your body and can happen to anyone regardless of gender or hair type.

Often, an ingrown hair improves without treatment and you can avoid ingrown hair by not removing hair at all however, we know this isn’t practical as not many people want to rock a natural look.

In which case you can opt for alternatives such as waxing or use an electric razor to greatly reduce the odds that you get an ingrown hair.

 

Ways To Prevent Ingrown Hairs

Getting the right razor

Have you ever tried stretching the definition of your “disposable” razor and used it a few too many times only to find that the next day, your body is covered in razor bumps and rashes? Unsurprisingly, disposable razors aren’t designed for long-term use, the blades can dull quickly and leave you with an uneven, bumpy shave which will only greater the odds of you getting ingrown hairs. In which case it’s worth investing in some extra razor heads so you aren’t tempted to reuse the same one.

Exfoliate

Products that contain a chemical exfoliant like lactic, glycolic, or salicylic acid can help dissolve dead skin cells that trap ingrown hairs. Using a lotion or even just a washcloth in the area before removing the hair can help prevent ingrown hairs from forming. If you want some extra advice on exfoliating then check our article here.

Lubricant

Shaving dry hair can create sharper edges that are more prone to growing back into your skin. Using a shaving cream or a gel to soak into your skin for a few minutes will soften your hair and keep any ingrown hairs at bay.

No tweezing

It can be tempting to reach for the tweezers when you see some stray hairs but it’s best to avoid them. If you tweeze the hair, it might leave a fragment of hair under the skin surface, which could result in ingrown hairs and cause inflammation.

Rinse your blade often

Doing this will help add lubrication when you shave as well as get rid of any shavings that are clogging the blades. Debris such as excess hair and shaving cream make it harder to efficiently remove hair with the first pass which increases the chance of ingrown hairs as the cut won’t be clean which runs you the risk of having more debris, leftover dead skin cells, and uneven hair growth.

Trimming

It’s easy to forget you don’t always have to go for a clean shave In fact when you trim rather than completely remove the hair, whatever hair is left remains long enough that it doesn’t have as much of a chance of growing back into your skin, Dr. Conrad says.

Waxing

Unlike shaving the hair, waxing doesn’t result in those extra-sharp tips that are more likely to curl back into the skin. However, it doesn’t mean ingrown hairs will stay away for good. Waxing is a good hair removal method but the hairs will still grow back and can sometimes come back into the skin. If you’re looking to wax at home, be sure to take note of the state of your skin so you avoid any tender or irritated areas.

Symptoms Of Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs can crop up anywhere that you shave including the face, pubic area, and the head if you shave it. It’s not always easy to know when you’ve got ingrown hair though as they can have the symptoms of other shaving ailments like razor burn.

Some signs and symptoms include:

  1. Small, solid, rounded bumps (papules)
  2. Small, pus-filled, blister-like lesions (pustules)
  3. Skin darkening (hyperpigmentation)
  4. Pain
  5. Itching
  6. Embedded hairs

 

Ways To treat An Ingrown Hair

Warm compresses

First of all, you can try placing warm compresses on the area. You can also rub a wet washcloth or soft toothbrush in a circular motion over the skin.

Creams

If the ingrown pubic hair is causing a lot of redness and inflammation, you can get your Doctor to prescribe a steroid cream if they think it’s necessary. This topical treatment can reduce swelling and irritation around the hair.

Remove the ingrown hair

Once the hair emerges above the skin you can use sterile tweezers or a needle to gently pull it. Try not to pluck it out completely until the area is healed, or the skin will heal over the hair again. It’s also important not to dig into your skin as breaking through your skin could cause an infection.

Remove dead skin

Alternatively, you can gently wash and exfoliate around the ingrown hair to help the hair return to the surface of the skin.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my razor bumps are infected?

If the ingrown pubic hair gets infected, the bumps may be painful and filled with pus. To treat the infection, you may need to see your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment or wash. If the infection is severe, you might need to take an antibiotic by mouth.

Do ingrown hairs go away if you leave them alone?

Ingrown hairs will typically go away on their own if you leave them alone. But if they don’t or if you have a fabulous beach day ahead of you, here are four steps to speed up the process. Step one: Stop all hair removal attempts. Don’t try to pluck, pull, shave, wax, or cut hair in the area where ingrown hairs are.

Is it ok to pull ingrown hairs?

Digging into the skin to pull the hair out can cause an infection. It is also important not to pluck the hair out, as this increases the chance that the hair will be ingrown again as it grows back. The inflamed area surrounding the hair needs time to heal completely before removing the hair again.

Can I pop an ingrown hair pimple?

Never pop an ingrown hair cyst, as this can increase your risk for infection and scarring. You also shouldn’t try to lift the hair out with tweezers as you might with a normal ingrown hair. At this point, the hair is embedded far too deep underneath the bump or cyst for you to pull it out.

Do Dermatologists remove ingrown hairs?

Ingrown hairs that do not resolve on their own may require treatment by a dermatologist. This includes depilatories for hair removal, topical antibiotics, topical creams, laser therapy, and/or medical removal of the ingrown hair.

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