Why hair grows in
Coarse hair acquires a sharp edge after shaving. If the hair is curly, it bends and re-enters the skin near the opening of the follicle or does not come out at all and grows under a layer of dead cells. The body perceives it as a foreign body, and inflammation develops around it with redness and thickening. This occurs especially often when shaving against the hair growth, pulling the skin too tightly, using dull blades, and dry skin with a thickened stratum corneum.
- Coarse and curly hair
- Shaving against hair growth
- Dull blades and skin tension
- Waxing and plucking
- Dry skin and thickened stratum corneum
- Tight clothing and friction
What does it look like
A typical element is a small dense red tubercle, in the center of which a dark loop of hair is sometimes visible. There is a purulent head that looks like a pimple. The elements are painful, itchy, and appear in groups one to three days after shaving. After healing, dark spots often remain, and with repeated injury, dense scars, even keloids on the neck and chin area. It is important to distinguish ingrown hairs from true folliculitis, in which the follicle itself becomes inflamed due to infection, and from contagious rashes.
- Red dense lump
- Sometimes a loop of hair under the skin is visible
- Purulent head
- Itching and soreness
- Dark spots after healing
- Scars due to repeated trauma
What to do with an element that has already appeared
First of all, you should stop shaving this area for several days: often the hair comes out on its own. A warm, damp compress for a few minutes two to three times a day and gentle exfoliation with a washcloth or a product containing salicylic or glycolic acid help. If the hair loop is clearly visible and lies superficially, it can be carefully picked up with a disinfected needle and brought out, but not pulled out by the roots. You cannot squeeze out an element, cut off the skin above it or pick with your nails: this leads to suppuration and scars.
- Pause shaving this area
- Warm wet compress 2–3 times a day
- Gentle acid exfoliation
- Do not squeeze or pick
- Treat the skin with an antiseptic
- If there is suppuration, consult a doctor
Prevention: hair removal technique
Most cases are preventable with proper preparation and technique. Steam the skin with warm water, use foam or gel, shave in the direction of hair growth without strong tension, using a sharp blade, rinsing it after each movement. You should not go through the same place several times. After shaving, rinse the skin with cool water and apply an alcohol-free moisturizer. Regular gentle exfoliation two to three times a week reduces the incidence of ingrown skin. Avoiding tight underwear immediately after the procedure also helps.
- Steam the skin and use shaving gel
- Shave in the direction of hair growth
- Change blades and do not go over the same place twice
- Regular gentle exfoliation
- Moisturizing care without alcohol
- Loose clothing after the procedure
When you need a doctor's help
You should consult a dermatologist if the elements appear constantly, leave scars and dark spots, or are poorly distinguishable from other rashes. The doctor may prescribe local products with retinoids and acids, antibacterial drugs for severe inflammation, and also discuss laser hair removal, which destroys the hair follicle and gives the most lasting result when it is prone to ingrown hairs. If a painful abscess with compaction has formed, the surgeon opens it. Squeezing out such elements at home is dangerous, especially in the face and neck area.
- Persistent rashes and scars
- Topical retinoids and acids as prescribed by a doctor
- Antibacterial agents for severe inflammation
- Laser hair removal as a long-term solution
- Opening an abscess by a surgeon
- Rule out other skin diseases