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For most of us we have at some point had an
ingrown hair and unfortunately some people can suffer really badly with
these. An ingrown hair is when the new
hair curls back on itself and starts to grow
back into the hair follicle, or a hair that does not grow out of the
hair follicle and actually remains embedded in the skin.
Ingrown hairs can affect most areas; the
face, neck, legs, intimate areas or in fact any part of the body.
In most situations they are usually just a
minor irritation on the skin, but if they are left untreated they can be very
painful or unsightly. More importantly if they are not dealt with then they can
become infected.
Unfortunately, while ingrown hair is more
common with people having thick, curly hair, almost everybody will get one at
some point and if you shave regularly, you may have to deal with ingrown hairs
and razor bump quite frequently.
Some clients who wax can also experience
ingrown hairs and it is important to treat these properly and do as much as you
can to prevent them. Often areas like the chest and pubic areas can be more
prone to ingrown hairs if aftercare guidelines are not followed correctly.
There are several ways that you can treat
ingrown hairs and if you suffer with these one if these methods may help to
treat the ingrown hairs.
1. Gentle exfoliation – Gently
really is the name of the game here. I recommend that you use either a gentle
exfoliation cream or a scrub product directly on the skin, or you can use an
exfoliating wash cloth or a pair of mitts with an anti bacterial skin wash. I
do find a loofah too rough on the skin. Exfoliate twice a day in the shower and
if you are exfoliating gently enough you should be able to just “nudge “the
hair so that it can release itself. Be careful not to exfoliate too roughly as
you don’t want to break and cut the skin as this will cause scabs to form and
this will make it really difficult then for the hair to get through the skin. I find that the Bit of Rough exfoliating washcloth is perfect as its gentle on the skin but just rough enough to left the
dead skin cells.
2. Applying an ingrown hair product -There are many products available on the market for the
treatment of ingrown hairs and if you research on the internet you can see
which ones are available and often read reviews for these. Also most therapists
who offer waxing will often retail or recommend a product that can be used for
the treatment of ingrown hairs. Products containing Salicylic acid are often the
best and can be applied to the skin a few times a day for the recommended
period; also the Salicylic acid will soothe the inflammation. If you combine this with gentle exfoliation
and keeping the skin as clean as possible then should help to remove the
ingrown hairs. Some clients have found that the application of Magnesium
Sulphate and left overnight has also helped to lift the hair out of the skin.
3. Teasing out the hair – If you
managed to get the ingrown hair to the surface then you should be able to get
it out. Take a warm flannel or some cotton pads with hot water and press them
on the skin and the heat will gently soften the skin. You will need to do this
several times and apply the compress with hot water. This will bring the hair
to the surface and now you should be able to actually tease the hair out of the
skin. Use a pair of clean sterile tweezers that will lift the hair. Take care
that you don’t break the skin and remove the hair with the tweezers in the
direction of growth taking care not to snap or cut the hair. Keep the skin
clean and a little medicated cream applied to the area will soothe and treat
the skin surrounding the hair.
With all these things prevention is so much
better than cure , so follow the waxing aftercare guidelines and for most
people this help to avoid ingrown hairs from developing.
Jack Dunn - Male Grooming
