Ingrown hair is a condition where the hair curls back or grows sideways into the skin. The ingrown hair condition is seen primarily among people having curly hairs. It may or may not be accompanied by an infection of the hair follicle (folliculitis) or "razor bumps" (pseudofolliculitis barbae), which vary in size. While ingrown hair most commonly appears in areas where the skin is shaved or waxed (beard, legs, pubic region), it can appear anywhere (e.g. eyelashes).
Anything which causes the hair to be broken off short with a sharp tip can cause ingrown hair. Shaving is the leading cause, followed by waxing and tight clothing. The embedded hair causes a localized inflammation (sometimes painful) response in the skin with prostanoid involvement. Sometimes an ingrown hair occurs without external intervention, when the pore is blocked for various reasons, as is the case in keratosis pilaris, and the hair is forced to grow sideways.
Symptoms include rash, itching skin, hair which remains in spite of shaving, and infection and pus collecting under skin. Treatments for ingrown hairs include putting a warm washcloth over the ingrown hair, shaving in a different direction, tweezing, exfoliating with facial scrubs, sponges, towels, or creams containing acids, and ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. Prophylactic treatments include twice daily topical application of diluted glycolic acid. If this is caused by waxing or shaving, one can try a topical application such as salicylic-prepared solutions which also aid dramatically in the treatment of the ingrown hair.
Treatment :
There are many of different treatments for ingrown hairs.
1. They can be removed with tweezers (though this can be painful and might cause infections).
2. Some people who chronically get ingrown hairs use laser treatment or electrolysis to completely prevent hair growth. This is effective, but quite expensive.
3. There are many of different products that prevent or cure ingrown hairs. Some based on alcohol, others are alcohol free. Alcohol free products are the better choice, because alcohol causes skin irritation.
External links for further reading :
- Ingrown Hairs from Weill Cornell Medical College
- How to Remove an Ingrown Hair - article from wikiHow
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