Ingrown Hairs

Goodbye Ingrown Hairs

The most lovely time of the year arrives. Those warm days invite you to leave the house, recharge your batteries with an energizing vitamin D bath and wear shorts and miniskirts so that your legs take centre stage. Now, what happens when we suffer from the problem of ingrown hairs? This phenomenon is one of the most common and annoying aesthetic problems; however, it has a solution.

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Why Does the Hair Become Ingrown?

According to specialists, this slight bump –similar to an acne pimple– that contains hair inside it is due to a ” plugging ” of the hair follicles filled with dead cells and traces of sebum on their surface. “When the hair does not overcome the barrier formed by the dermis, this problem appears”, explains dermatologist Griselda Barrachina. And he assures that, although anyone can suffer this discomfort at some point in their life, some reasons make it incarnate more easily:

  • Thicker or curly hair: it is typical for this type of hair to grow in the shape of a corkscrew, penetrate the skin and remain inside.
  • Use of tweezers or razors: when we shave with double or triple-blade razors, they tend to pull the hair back and cut it under the skin; thus, their average growth path is interrupted.
  • Waxing: believe it or not, this system is the one that produces the most ingrown hairs then it weakens the roots of the hair follicles. The hair is then not strong enough to grow through the skin.
  • Dry skin: shave the legs dry or not moisturize them regularly.
  • Wear very tight clothes: long pants, leggings, and tight stockings tend to squeeze your legs. It hinders circulation and prevents hair from coming off the surface.

Allowing to the professional, while they are considered harmless and appear sporadically in any part of the build (from the face and neck, through the chest and arms to thighs then legs). Ingrown hairs usually cause inflammation, redness, pain, tenderness, darkening of tissue, pus-like blister-like lesions, itching, and other uncomfortable skin symptoms.

How to combat them?

  1. Take care of your skin daily: cleaning, hydrating, and exfoliating it will help remove dirt and dead cells. To do this, you can use baking soda or sea salt, which, in turn, will improve your body’s circulation.
  2. Soften the affected area: the application of a warm compress tends to soften the tissues around the inflammation. It favors the extraction of embedded hair either with tweezers or with light pressure with the fingers.
  3. Use apple cider vinegar or black tea: the organic acids that these products contain help regulate the skin’s PH and reduce the inflammation caused by this problem. Its direct application softens the bump and helps remove residues that prevent hair growth to the outside.
  4. Avoid hot wax: as we already said, this method weakens the roots of the follicles and reduces the strength of the hair to go outside. If chosen, the wax should not remain reused.
  5. Shave your hairs in the same direction as they grow: Leg hair generally grows downward, although some may be the exception. When you shave in the opposite direction, these can stay on your legs, bend or curl.
  6. Rinse after each shave: even if it is annoying, cleaning your skin and the razor blades after each stroke will remove dirt, dead skin remnants, or any other microscopic invader that can damage it.
  7. Space your hair removal time: leaving hair longer is the surest way to prevent ingrown hairs. Give your skin a break to recover because if you constantly wax, you will only irritate it more and more.
  8. Use depilatory creams: this technique works by dissolving hairs below the skin’s surface, unlike razors, which leave strands with sharp edges.
  9. Do not use products that contain alcohol: the contact of alcohol on your skin can cause your pores to close even more. And this worsens the irritation.
  10. Laser hair removal: if you’ve tried everything and nothing works for you. I resorted to this resource to eliminate the root problem. Without a doubt, this technique is the best remedy because it progressively removes hair and improves the appearance and elasticity of the skin.

Perfect legs. All year long!

The care should be relegated to the spring or summer months since it is in the coldest days when our skin tends to become dehydrated and dry more. I followed these proposals:

  • Hydration: in addition to drinking two litres of water a day. Use a moisturizing cream and apply it in circular motions to reactivate circulation.
  • Baths with lukewarm water: the hotter the water. The greater the possibility of eliminating the layer of essential oils and the skin’s moisture and reserving it.
  • Leg spa: an excellent daily exfoliation that prevents itching and flaking of the skin.
  • More exercise: a 30-minute walk a day, jogging or biking will make your legs look firmer and healthier.

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