How to avoid and treat ingrown hair: Expert tips

Dr Shefali Trasi Nerukar gives us tips on how to get rid of ingrown hair.

By: Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar | | Updated: September 25, 2014 2:07 pm

Do you notice small, red boils on your skin which do not seem to go away even days after a hair removal session? These are called ingrown hairs which often turn from red to brown to black and leave a bump on your skin. We ask skin specialist Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar about the causes and treatments of ingrown hair. Also Read - Don’t want to go for chemical peel to treat strawberry legs? Try these home remedies

An ingrown hair is essentially the tip of the shaven or tweezed hair growing back into the skin. This leads to redness and irritation in that area. It usually occurs in females who have thick hair growth. Another reason of ingrown hair is when hair removal methods have been performed incorrectly; for example, reverse shaving or waxing. Also Read - Get rid of unwanted facial hair with these chemical-free home remedies

Wearing tight, lycra or synthetic clothes or skin-fit denims after a waxing or shaving session further add to the possibility of ingrowths. These bumps can be painful too at times and can leave marks on your skin. (Read: Laser Hair reduction – all you need to know) Also Read - Want to go bare-chested this summer? It may be healthy to shave off your chest hair first

Here are a few ways you can avoid the appearance of ingrown hair:

Do not reverse shave or wax.
Wear loose clothing after hair removal.
Keep the area moisturised and clean.
Do not irritate the area with an existing ingrowth by waxing or shaving repeatedly.
Apply some ice or cold water after waxing. This will help relieve the redness and formation of ingrown hair.
If you have very coarse hair growth, opt for laser hair reduction which will make it finer and reduce the chances of rashes and ingrowths.

If you already have ingrowths on your skin, you can treat it using keratolytic creams containing 6 to 12 per cent glycolic and 0.25 per cent tretinoin. You can also visit a dermatologist who can prescribe a good chemical peel treatment to reduce the appearance of ingrown hair.

A home remedy that comes in handy to fix this problem is the use of tea tree oil. Directly apply a few drops of it on the ingrown hair after cleansing the area with soap. Now exfoliate the hair. Tea tree oil’s antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties will heal the skin and also reduce further ingrowths. (Read: Tea tree oil: 7 reasons to try it for your skin and hair problems)

Remember, it is best to treat the ingrown hair in the beginning itself because if left untreated, it will turn into a hard, black boil and leave a mark on your skin. So use these pointers and have silky, smooth and hair-free skin.

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Published : October 22, 2013 3:07 pm | Updated:September 25, 2014 2:07 pm

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