Are you struggling with ingrown hairs?

Let's start with the basics: What is an ingrown hair?

Simply put, an ingrown hair is one that has become trapped below the surface of your skin. It might have broken the surface, but then curled inwards, growing back into the follicle. Alternatively, it might have grown sideways from the start.

The way your hair chooses to move is often unpredictable, but those with curly hair are most prone to ingrown hairs as their hair doesn't always grow straight out the follicle. Also, shaving can increase your risk too because once cut, the hair may curl back in on itself then grow sideways as opposed to up and out.  

Keep calm and carry on 

Once you've got an ingrown hair, it's tempting to want to pierce your skin in a bid to dig them out. However, Liezel Smyrnios, the in-house skincare therapist trainer for Skin Renewal says this is a big no-no. "Picking at ingrown hairs causes inflammation and can create an infection in the follicle," she says, adding that "you'll also run the risk of scarring". 

How can you treat ingrown hairs at home?

In this situation, the best thing you can do is to leave them alone. "The only time you should take action," says Smyrnios, "is if the ingrown hair is already inflamed." In this case, she suggests you treat it with an antibacterial ointment until it's no longer red and sore. 

Prevention is best 

Ultimately, ingrown hairs, inflamed or otherwise, tend to resolve on their own. If you'd like to deal with less of them, your best line of defense is to minimise your risk. This means keeping your skin free of hair-trapping excessive dead skin cells with regular exfoliation. But, don't reach for your grainy scrub just yet, as it could irritate existing ingrown hairs and make them worse. Rather use a gentle chemical exfoliant like an alpha hydroxy acid lotion, applying it several times a week to affected areas and those prone to ingrown hairs.

Just bear in mind that alpha hydroxy acid can cause your skin to become more sensitive to UV rays, so use them at night or on skin that's not exposed to the sun.
 
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