Ingrown hairs can be painful and extremely irritating. As a man gets older and starts shaving, the hair can start to take an itchy path and grow back into the skin layer. When the end of a hair turns back towards the skin, it becomes an ingrown hair. Also called razor bumps by men around the world, these ingrown hairs are also called pseudofollicultis barbae. The razor bumps become mini skin infections and can start to become annoying and itchy. Women also have to deal with this situation when saving their bikini line.
These ingrown hairs do not have to be a problem and they will stop developing if you stop shaving all together. But this isn’t an option for most as people need to be clean cut for work and other social settings. Here are some ways to take care of those pesky ingrown hairs.
• Try limiting the amount of times you shave. For example, if you shave everyday then attempt to shave every second day.
• Start shaving in the opposite way of your usual strokes. This will help minimize your chances of ingrown hair growth. Facial hair usually grows in a downward fashion. Try shaving upwards to avoid ingrown hairs.
• Younger men can try shaving more than they normally do so the hair will not even have a chance of growing inwards.
• Try shaving in the same patterns for awhile. This will help train your facial or body hair. The hair will eventually start to grow outwards and straight.
• Take note of your clothing. Many shirts can irritate the neck area and create ingrown hairs. Wear softer clothing that does not rub the hair the wrong way.
• Shave your skin with a sharp blade. Dull blades can increase your chances of getting ingrown hairs.
• Do not squeeze the skin too hard if you are dealing with an ingrown hair. Excessive squeezing can lead to infection and bruising of the skin.
• If you are using a pin to remove the hairs from growing back into the skin, make sure it is sterilized before hand.
• Electric razors tend to train the facial hair to go off in numerous directions. For a complete shave without the risk of ingrown hairs, use a brand new blade.
If you have already got ingrown hairs and want to treat them, try taking a sterilized pin and pull out the hairs before you shave. Do not dig hard into the skin as this can lead to scarring. Use face lotion to smooth out the skin afterwards and to prevent any infection from setting in. Ingrown hairs are normal for people all over the world and everyone can get them. If you are having trouble with the ingrown hair you might want to speak to your doctor about it and see if they can help you get rid of them. People from every culture can have ingrown hairs, but some cultures have a higher risk of them.
