How To Treat And Prevent Ingrown Hairs?

Ingrown hairs can be very painful and are not very attractive. You usually see them appear after shaving or waxing. They start as small bumps that then become inflamed. They arise because a hair has not been completely removed or because it does not penetrate the skin properly afterwards.

Ingrown hairs can create serious problems. Therefore, in addition to knowing how to treat them, it is important that you also know how to avoid them. Learn how to treat and avoid ingrown hairs in the following article .

Tips for treating and preventing ingrown hairs

Think about the way you remove hairs

Some people say that waxing causes more ingrown hairs and others say that shaving does this. Wax will weaken the root of the hair follicle.

As a result, new hairs will not have the strength to break through the surface of the skin. However, shaving can also cause ingrown hairs because the roots are not completely removed.

Take care of your skin

If oil, dead skin cells, dirt or bacteria get into hair follicles, it is harder for new hairs to grow. To avoid this, exfoliate your skin preferably weekly.

Also, clean and moisturize it every day. Use non-comedogenic products for this, which prevent your pores from clogging.

Learn to shave well

When using this method, pay attention to the following steps:

• Soften your skin with warm water, soap, or shaving cream (women can use the same shaving cream as men).
• Do not shave against the direction of hair growth.
• Use light pressure while shaving.
• Use a new blade every time (or every two to three shaves).

Don’t wear tight clothes

Tight clothing will put pressure on your skin and will impede breathing. This is also the case for the hairs that grow just below the surface of the skin, which can cause ingrown hairs. More importantly, wear cotton rather than synthetics as much as possible.

Kill bacteria after removing your hair

Use natural antiseptic products, such as tea tree oil, to prevent infections. Apply this to your skin a few hours after shaving or waxing. If you do this sooner, it may burn.

Open your pores with warm water or steam

You can also choose to apply a warm towel to your legs. This will make it easier to remove ingrown hairs.

Do not use the same wax repeatedly

That is, if you wax yourself at home. In salons, they sometimes reuse the same wax for days or weeks. It is therefore recommended to follow the “Spanish” system, where wax is only used once.

Dip a cotton ball in witch hazel oil

Apply it to the skin where ingrown hairs occur. The witch hazel oil is ideal for soothing irritated skin. It will also reduce redness and fight inflammation. In addition, it moisturizes the skin and cleans the pores.

To get all the benefits from this remedy, it is best to use it before and after removing your hair.

Remove the skin over an ingrown hair with tweezers

Ingrown hairs remain trapped under the first layer of skin, but you can remove them by gently scraping some skin. Then gently lift the hair. However, do not take it off as this will only irritate the region more and it can cause inflammation.

Don’t forget to wash your hands beforehand (with a mild soap) and a little rubbing alcohol. Also, apply boiling water to the tip of the tweezers before using!

Prevent ingrown hairs from coming back in the summer or during exercise

Perspiration during exercise, rubbing your legs together, certain types of sports clothing, heat, and so on. These things can all contribute to the formation of ingrown hairs.

So avoid irritation from using petroleum jelly, talcum powder or cornstarch. Thoroughly rinse sensitive areas after exercise to allow pores to breathe again.

Use gel from the aloe vera plant

This is an incredible natural remedy for ingrown hairs. Apply it to the affected area every evening and let it soak into your skin. It is recommended that you keep an aloe vera plant in your home so that you can grab a leaf when you need it and scrape the gel out.

There are also creams and lotions with aloe vera, but they don’t work as quickly. When you buy aloe vera gel, make sure it does not contain alcohol. This can irritate the skin and cause a burning sensation.

Use essential oils

Think of chamomile or lavender. Check its concentration before use and dilute it with water if necessary. Some products are very strong and can damage the skin. For best results, a blend of oils is also preferred.

Steps to remove ingrown hairs

• Wash the region with a mild soap. Rinse with cold or lukewarm water.
• Scrub dead cells from your skin in the area where ingrown hairs are common. Do this every morning and evening to loosen the hairs. Be careful not to irritate the follicle too much or cause it to bleed. So only remove the dead cells, the oil and the dirt.
• Apply a warm (but not hot) soft cloth to the area of ​​the ingrown hairs. Let the cloth rest for a few minutes to soften the skin.
• Only use tweezers that you have immersed in boiling water or that you have rubbed with rubbing alcohol. Tension the skin around the ingrown hair and then remove it with a quick pull.

• Afterwards, apply an antiseptic product such as tea tree oil or aloe vera gel.
• Repeat these steps if ingrown hairs are common or if they occur on different parts of the body.