The Ultimate Guide to Ingrown Hairs: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
We’ve all experienced it. You’re freshly waxed, feeling like a goddess, ready to conquer the world. Then out of nowhere your soft and smooth skin is suddenly covered in red bumps, ruining your moment! These pesky red, irritating and often painful bumps are known as ingrown hairs.
What exactly is an ingrown hair?
An ingrown hair occurs when a hair that's been shaved, waxed, or tweezed grows back into the skin instead of rising up from it. This can lead to inflammation, red bumps, and sometimes pain or itching. You will know that you are experiencing ingrown hairs if you have the following symptoms:
Redness: The area around the ingrown hair may appear red or inflamed.
Pain or Tenderness: Ingrown hairs can cause discomfort, ranging from mild tenderness to sharp pain, especially when touched or pressed.
Itching: The skin surrounding the ingrown hair may feel itchy or irritated.
Papules or Pustules: In some cases, ingrown hairs can lead to the formation of small bumps on the skin's surface. These may be filled with pus or appear as red, raised bumps.
Visible Hair: Sometimes, you can see the trapped hair beneath the surface of the skin, especially if the ingrown hair has caused a small, raised bump.
Hyperpigmentation: Prolonged irritation from ingrown hairs can lead to darkening of the skin in the affected area.
Infection: In severe cases, ingrown hairs can become infected, leading to increased redness, swelling, warmth, and possibly the presence of pus.
What are the main factors that contribute to ingrown hairs?
Dead Skin Cells: Buildup of dead skin cells can block hair follicles, forcing the hair to grow sideways instead of upward.
Improper Skin Care: Inadequate exfoliation or using harsh skincare products can contribute to the buildup of dead skin cells, increasing the likelihood of ingrown hairs.
Curly Hair Texture: People with naturally curly or coarse hair are more prone to ingrown hairs because the hair tends to curl back into the skin more easily after being cut.
Tight Clothing: Wearing tight clothing, especially in areas where hair removal occurs (such as the groin or underarms), can exacerbate ingrown hairs by trapping hairs against the skin.
Friction: Friction from clothing, repetitive actions like cycling or even those more “intimate” activities can irritate the skin and cause hairs to grow back into it.
Treatment & Prevention
1. Exfoliation: Exfoliation plays a crucial role in both preventing and treating ingrown hairs. There are 2 main types of exfoliation; physical and chemical.
Physical Exfoliation
What to use: sugar scrub, exfoliating glove or dry brush to physically slough away dead skin cells
How it prevents ingrown hairs: reduces the likelihood of blockages in hair follicles
How it treats ingrown hairs: releases trapped hairs and lifts them to the surface of the skin, allowing them to grow out properly.
Check out our collection of physical exfoliants available at Sweet Beauty:
Botanical Propaganda Sugar Scrub
Chemical Exfoliation
What to use: Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic or lactic acid or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) such as salicylic acid
How it prevents ingrown hairs: promotes cellular turnover, preventing the buildup of dead skin that can lead to ingrown hairs.
How it treats ingrown hairs: helps to dissolve the buildup of dead skin around ingrown hairs, allowing them to break free more easily.
Explore the options below for chemical exfoliants available at Sweet Beauty:
Bush Balm Roller Rescue Soothing Serum
2. Vajacial: A vajacial is a spa treatment focused on the bikini area that cleanses, exfoliates, and nourishes the skin, often addressing ingrown hairs, blemishes, and discoloration.
How it prevents ingrown hairs:
Perfect synergy of physical and chemical exfoliation techniques
Eliminates dead skin build up
Intense Hydration
Softens hair follicles making them more pliable so it’s easier for hairs to grow out naturally without curling back into the skin
How it treats ingrown hairs:
Professional removal of ingrown hairs
Uses sterile instruments and ensures precise and gentle extraction
High Frequency Treatment
Stimulates the production of oxygen molecules that activate cell renewal which in turn helps to reduce inflammation
For more details on our vajacial service, click on the link provided below:
3. Laser Hair Removal: Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure that uses concentrated light beams to target and inhibit hair follicles, providing long-term hair reduction.
The most effective way to prevent ingrown hairs
Targets and destroys hair follicles at the root, reducing the likelihood of hair regrowth altogether!
More Laser Hair Removal details at the link below:
Recap: Key Points for the Management of Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs are painful, red bumps that often appear after hair removal
There are multiple factors leading to the development of ingrown hairs with a main contributor being a build up of dead skin cells
There are many ways to treat and prevent ingrown hairs including:
Regular exfoliation between waxes using one of many options sold at Sweet Beauty Esthetics
Taking advantage of some of our treatment options offered at Sweet Beauty Esthetics including our Vajacial and Laser Hair Removal!
Here’s to smooth sailing ahead!
