Ingrown hair is a condition where a
hair
Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals.
The human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin, is covered in follicles which produce thick terminal and f ...
curls back or grows sideways into the
skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other cuticle, animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have diffe ...
. The condition is most prevalent among people who have coarse or curly hair. It may or may not be accompanied by an infection of the
hair follicle
The hair follicle is an organ found in mammalian skin. It resides in the dermal layer of the skin and is made up of 20 different cell types, each with distinct functions. The hair follicle regulates hair growth via a complex interaction between h ...
(
folliculitis
Folliculitis is the infection and inflammation of one or more hair follicles. The condition may occur anywhere on hair-covered skin. The rash may appear as pimples that come to white tips on the face, chest, back, arms, legs, buttocks, or head.
A ...
) or "razor bumps" (
pseudofolliculitis barbae
Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a persistent irritation caused by shaving. It was first described in 1956.
Signs and symptoms Related conditions
Razor burn is a less serious condition caused by shaving, characterized by mild to moderate rednes ...
), which vary in size. While ingrown hair most commonly appears in areas where the skin is shaved or waxed (
beard
A beard is the hair that grows on the jaw, chin, upper lip, lower lip, cheeks, and neck of humans and some non-human animals. In humans, usually pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards.
Throughout the course of history, societal at ...
,
leg
A leg is a weight-bearing and locomotive anatomical structure, usually having a columnar shape. During locomotion, legs function as "extensible struts". The combination of movements at all joints can be modeled as a single, linear element ca ...
s,
pubic region), it can appear anywhere. Anything that causes the hair to be broken off unevenly with a sharp tip can cause ingrown hairs.
Ingrown hairs are also caused because of lack of natural
exfoliation in the skin.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms include rash, itching skin, and hair that remains in spite of shaving. The site of the ingrown hair forms a reddish, raised bump, similar in appearance to a
pimple
A pimple is a kind of comedo that results from excess sebum and dead skin cells getting trapped in the pores of the skin. In its aggravated state, it may evolve into a pustule or papules. Pimples can be treated by acne medications, antibioti ...
.
Prevention
When shaving, a few precautions can be taken to avoid taking showers and preparation of the skin before shaving. When shaving, applying the proper amount of lubrication (in the form of
shaving cream
Shaving cream or shave cream is a category of cream cosmetics used for shaving preparation. The purpose of shaving cream is to soften the hair by providing lubrication.
Different types of shaving creams include aerosol shaving cream (also kn ...
, gel, or soap) is important, to prevent the hair from being forced underneath the surface of the skin. In addition, the application of too much force with a razor can contribute to hair that is cut shorter than the surrounding
dermis
The dermis or corium is a layer of skin between the epidermis (with which it makes up the cutis) and subcutaneous tissues, that primarily consists of dense irregular connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. It is divided i ...
.
Using a
beard trimmer
A hair clipper, often individually called the apparent plurale tantum hair clippers (in a similar way to ''scissors''), is a specialised tool used to cut human head hair. Hair clippers work on the same principle as scissors, but are distinct fro ...
at the lowest setting (1.0 or 0.5 mm) instead of shaving is an effective alternative.
Alternatively, ingrown hair can be prevented by removing the hair permanently, e.g. by
laser hair removal or
hair removal through electrolysis.
Not enough exfoliation before and after hair removal causes hairs to become ingrown. Daily exfoliation prevents the accumulation of excess skin, which can allow hair to properly grow above the skin. Preventative tools include chemical exfoliation: coffee scrub, liquids, creams or physical exfoliation: gloves, loofah, or an ingrown hair prevention brush with the soft and firm bristles.
Treatment
The many different treatments are available for ingrown hairs:
* They can be removed with
tweezers
Tweezers are small hand tools used for grasping objects too small to be easily handled with the human fingers. Tweezers are thumb-driven forceps most likely derived from tongs used to grab or hold hot objects since the dawn of recorded history. ...
(though this can be painful) or dislodged with a rotable medical device for ingrown hairs.
* Some people who chronically get ingrown hairs use laser treatment or
electrolysis
In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a technique that uses direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Electrolysis is commercially important as a stage in the separation of elements from n ...
to completely prevent hair growth.
* There are different products that prevent or cure ingrown hairs. Some are alcohol-based, while others are alcohol-free. For some, alcohol can cause skin irritation and thus alcohol-free products may be preferred.
*
Prophylactic
Preventive healthcare, or prophylaxis, consists of measures taken for the purposes of disease prevention.Hugh R. Leavell and E. Gurney Clark as "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical and mental hea ...
treatments include twice-daily
topical
A topical medication is a medication that is applied to a particular place on or in the body. Most often topical medication means application to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes to treat ailments via a large range of classes ...
application of diluted
glycolic acid
Glycolic acid (or hydroxyacetic acid; chemical formula HOCH2CO2H) is a colorless, odorless and hygroscopic crystalline solid, highly soluble in water. It is used in various skin-care products. Glycolic acid is widespread in nature. A glycolate (s ...
.
* Twice a day application of
benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a chemical compound (specifically, an organic peroxide) with structural formula , often abbreviated as (BzO)2. In terms of its structure, the molecule can be described as two benzoyl (, Bz) groups connected by a peroxide () ...
for several days or weeks is effective in treating ingrown hairs.
* Applying
salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is an organic compound with the formula HOC6H4CO2H. A colorless, bitter-tasting solid, it is a precursor to and a metabolite of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). It is a plant hormone, and has been listed by the EPA Toxic Substance ...
solution is also a common remedy for ingrown hairs caused by waxing or shaving.
* Use an exfoliating glove in the shower and exfoliate the area every day.
Other treatments include putting a warm washcloth over the ingrown hair, shaving in a different direction, exfoliating with facial scrubs, brushes, sponges, towels,
salves, or creams containing acids, and
ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used for treating pain, fever, and inflammation. This includes painful menstrual periods, migraines, and rheumatoid arthritis. It may also be used to close a patent ductus arte ...
or other
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are members of a therapeutic drug class which reduces pain, decreases inflammation, decreases fever, and prevents blood clots. Side effects depend on the specific drug, its dose and duration of ...
s.
See also
*
Hair splinter
A splinter (also known as a sliver) is a fragment of a larger object, or a foreign body that penetrates or is purposely injected into a body. The foreign body must be lodged inside tissue to be considered a splinter. Splinters may cause initia ...
*
Pilonidal disease
Pilonidal disease is a type of skin infection which typically occurs as a cyst between the cheeks of the buttocks and often at the upper end. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, and redness. There may also be drainage of fluid, but rarely a fev ...
References
External links
How to get rid of ingrown hair- SkinHow.Org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ingrown Hair
Conditions of the skin appendages
Hair diseases