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She was sitting in the bathtub, holding a mirror over a painful bulge along her bikini line as she sought to remove a hair buried beneath the surface of the skin with tweezers. “Why don’t I use an ingrown hair remedy to solve this? » I asked myself. We’ve all been there: feeling the pain embodied in the unwanted peak position: wishing, praying for a balm, and wondering how we could have possibly avoided that pesky little lump in the first position. It turns out that no matter what hair removal regimen you follow, from lasers to sugaring to smart old shaving, the latest generation of exfoliating serums and creams ensure that when hair inevitably grows back, it will do so without discomfort. Below, a dermatologist and esthetician breaks down everything he wants to know about ingrown hairs, plus the most effective remedies to cure and save them.
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“Ingrown hairs are hairs that grow under the skin and cause pimple-like bumps to appear,” says Brendan Camp, MD, a double-board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
“Our skin is in a constant cycle of pushing dead cells up to remove them, which can clog pores if the skin is exfoliated,” says Gunn. “Dead skin will block the path for hair to grow outward, which can lead to ingrown hairs. “Camp notes that if the hairs fail to break through the skin as they grow back, they will wrap under the skin, which can lead to a foreign body reaction. “This causes redness, swelling, and the appearance of bumps on the skin. “
The most productive way to prevent ingrown hairs is to use razors with fewer blades and replace them frequently. According to Gunn, dull razor blades can cause skin inflammation and burns, and they’re also more likely to cause ingrown hairs. Keep in mind that fewer blades may not provide you with a closer shave, which will allow some hairs to remain above the surface to reduce the formation of ingrown hairs. Pro tip: Be sure to shave in the direction of hair growth with a foam or gel to reduce friction on the skin. Otherwise, the best advice is to exfoliate to remove any dead cells that might be covering the opening of the hair follicle.
Gunn notes that ingrown hairs will disappear without treatment; However, if you suffer from very persistent and painful pain that you would like to relieve as soon as possible, you can speed up the healing procedure with acne treatment ointments. ” Soak the domain in warm water or apply a warm towel for a few minutes “, says. Next, apply an exfoliant (think keratolytic agents like urea, lactic acid, or salicylic acid, known as Camp), which will melt away the dead skin on the surface and allow the new skin to breathe. Follow with an unscented moisturizer to heal dry skin. “If you see hair coming out, that’s good news and means you’re almost out of the woods! Take a pair of blank tweezers and carefully remove them.
Camp warns against removing ingrown hairs, as this can cause scarring and discoloration. “If there are symptoms of inflammation or infection, such as increased redness, swelling, pain, or the appearance of pustules, it may be advisable to prescribe a topical or oral antibacterial. This may be necessary. “
Yes, ingrown hair serums work. According to Camp, they can be used to release foreign bodies and ingrown hairs beneath the skin’s surface. “The inclusion of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and moisturizing ingredients treats irritated skin and facilitates the expulsion of pus and ingrown hairs,” he says.
Type of scrub: Although body scrubs can remove dead skin cells through physical exfoliation, Gunn prefers chemical treatments. “Our skin has enough to take care of without adding hard microbeads, apricot peels, and other elements that are used to make a manual exfoliator,” he says. “Chemical exfoliants necessarily melt away dead skin cells and impurities that cause ingrown hairs. Much easier and with little to no irritation.
Ingredients: Alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids (also known as AHAs and BHAs) are more productive in preventing ingrown hairs as they exfoliate the skin well and gently. Specifically, the “keratolytic agents found in humectants, such as urea, lactic acid, or salicylic acid. “acid, can facilitate the release of trapped ingrown hairs,” according to Camp.
Treatment Area: How to combat an ingrown plant will likely depend on the area where it grows. For example, applying a roll-on serum can make it easier to apply on your armpits, while on larger parts of the body, such as the abdomen or legs. It can be treated with a frame serum.
Removing ingrown hairs requires patience. ” Try to leave it alone until it reaches a tipping point,” advises Gunn. “When you see the hairs sticking out, or having a white dot like a pimple, it’s a party!Take a pair of blank clips and try to pull the hair up. They heal temporarily after that!
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