Ingrown hairs- prevention & treatment

Prevention

There is no real magic trick to preventing ingrown hairs.

- If you sit for long periods, start walking and avoid
pressure on the buttocks
- If you wear tight underpants which causes friction,
wear loose clothes

When shaving the following tips may help prevent ingrown hairs.

- When you shave, leave your hair slightly longer
- Avoid shaving against the direction of hair growth
- Do not repeatedly shave hair in the same area. If a
small stub is missed, leave it for the next time
- Use a sharp razor
- Try not to shave using just plain water. Use a shaving
lotion- this makes the strokes easier and creates less
friction
- After completing shaving, use a moisturizer

Treatment

The majority of individuals with ingrown hair usually require no treatment. Most ingrown hairs resolve on their own. One may be able to see the responsible ingrown hair and remove it with a tweezer. IF it is deeply buried, perhaps it may be pulled out with a fine needle. Those individuals who have an ingrown hair that is causing pain or redness may want to see a physician. If the ingrown hair has become infected, one may need an antibiotic and removal of the hair.

Use of chemical peels and exfoliative agent to treat ingrown hair is going overboard. So try the simple things at home and only see a health care professional when the home remedies fails. Even for a simple ingrown hair, physicians charge a lot of money.