How to Remove Ingrown Hair

Although they can occur naturally, for the most part, ingrown hairs are the result of shaving.

When you consider that shaving cuts the hair off at the surface and the skin closes around it, then it's easy to understand how the hair can be bent away from the opening it should be going up through.

Instead, it will bend around and grow into the skin, causing redness, irritation, and visible bumps.

This is not just a female problem. In fact, it is more prevalent for men, who shave every day, and who may have beard hairs that curl naturally. When the end of the hair has been sharpened by a razor, it can easily penetrate the skin, creating unsightly red bumps that become sore.

Depending on where the ingrown hair is, removal strategies vary. The most basic tip would be for use on the legs, a more commonly shaved area. If the hair is not too deeply embedded, it may help to scrub the area well with an exfoliating cloth or sponge.

Disinfect a pair of tweezers with alcohol, and try to catch a bit of the hair with the corner of the tweezers. Wash the area after, as you have "broken" the skin. Repeated tweezing, or tweezing done improperly, can cause scarring.

The best preventative is to use an electric razor, which does not cut as close as a blade. Also, shave in the direction of the hair follicle and not against it.

But if you have a tendency to ingrown hairs, particularly for men, there are a number of products available, for applying to your skin. These are essentially exfoliating solutions which need to be applied two or three times a day for 2-3 days to free the existing ingrown hairs.

Some of them recommend using daily before and/or after shaving the face, to prevent further occurrences.

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