Ingrown hairs are common after shaving or waxing, often leading to irritation, itching, and redness in affected areas. Moisturizing, using gentle exfoliants, and refraining from picking or scratching are effective means of prevention.
Causes
Average hair growth involves exiting its follicle and growing away from your skin. An ingrown hair occurs when hair instead reenters your skin after shaving, waxing, or tweezing; it could also be the result of improper exfoliation or skincare practices. Dirt and dead skin cells clog follicles, making it harder for hair to come through. Exfoliation with physical or chemical exfoliants may help to prevent ingrown hairs; similarly, soaking a washcloth in warm or hot water and applying it over an affected area may open the pores and help eliminate ingrown hairs. Individuals should seek medical help if an ingrown hair becomes infected, such as when its bump swells up and begins leaking pus (cellulitis). Antibiotic treatment or drainage of an abscess may be necessary, while ingrown hairs could also indicate diabetes or thyroid disease.
Symptoms
Hair that grows back into the skin can form red, itchy bumps known as ingrown hairs. They may also form pus-filled pockets known as cysts or abscesses, which should never be picked at as this increases inflammation and the risk of infection. If a cyst or abscess develops, it should be diagnosed and treated promptly using antibiotics; otherwise, ingrown hairs could result in secondary bacterial skin infections (cellulitis), permanent discoloration, and scarring if left untreated. Ingrown hairs often appear several days after shaving or other hair removal methods and can appear on the thighs, armpits, neck, pubic area (bikini line), or chest. Causes include improper shaving techniques, dead skin clogging hair follicle openings, and friction from tight clothing or underwear that fits poorly. Moisture is critical in maintaining healthy skin to help avoid ingrown hairs; to do this, the CDC advises daily exfoliation with either an exfoliating body wash or loofah use along with daily exfoliating body wash/loofah usage to help exfoliate dead cells away and exfoliate dead cells away.
Treatment
Shaving, tweezing, and waxing can all result in ingrown hairs on the legs. This condition appears as an unsightly bump or scab with both ends of hair embedded into the skin, sometimes reddening or inflamed before becoming pus-filled and even potentially infected with pus. As picking at ingrown hairs can cause and worsen follicle infections, a practical solution would be using either a warm washcloth or exfoliating scrub to open up hair follicles and lift out ingrown hairs gently. Chemical exfoliants with alpha or beta hydroxy acids can also help dissolve dead skin and prevent ingrown hairs but use caution as these products may irritate the skin. If ingrown hairs persist, switch up temporary forms of hair removal, such as shaving and waxing, until the issue resolves itself.
Prevention
If you tend to develop ingrown hairs on your thighs, avoid shaving, tweezing, and waxing them, as these methods may irritate the skin and lead to new ingrown growing back into follicles or becoming another ingrown. Try temporary solutions such as depilatory creams for quick hair removal instead. If ingrown hair becomes painful and itchy, apply a warm washcloth over the area for several minutes to open up pores and drain pus from follicles, helping reduce inflammation and pain. This may open pores while draining pus from strands – helping alleviate inflammation while soothing irritation. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells that could clog hair follicles. Select gentle exfoliating products tailored specifically for this area, such as glycolic or salicylic acid-containing creams. After exfoliation, moisturize with cream specially designed for leg skin to avoid dryness that can contribute to ingrown hairs. Avoid tight-fitting clothing that causes friction on the legs and irritates them, and drink lots of water for proper hydration.
