Worried about an ingrown hair?

An ingrown hair is a hair that curls back on itself and starts growing back into the follicle. This is a common problem for men and women. Ingrown hair is generally not a serious skin care problem, but it can be unsightly, painful and very bothersome.

Causes:

1. Skin suffering from lack of moisture
2. Stiff beard hair
3. Embedded oil in the hair follicles
4. Dead skin cells in the pores and on the surface of the skin can cause ingrown hairs.
5. Coarse curly hair growing in a curved hair follicle
6. Improper shaving technique with a blade such as too close a shave
7. Hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing, tweezing, electrolysis, often irritate the hair follicle.

Problems due to ingrown hairs include and we have experienced them at some stage:

• Constant tenderness
• Inflammation
• A blister on the skin containing pus
• Itching
• Tingling
• Pain
• Hard, prominent, irregular scar tissue in the skin

How to get rid of ingrown hairs?

Fortunately getting rid of them is pretty simple and straightforward and the procedure can be carried out at home.

• Ingrown hairs can be removed by carefully lifting them out of the skin with tweezers. The hairs should not be plucked. Don't forget to sterilize a pair of needle-nose tweezers.
• Apply a warm, moist compress to the area for a few minutes to soften the skin. Thoroughly wet a clean washcloth with very warm water and hold it against the affected area. When the washcloth cools down, run it under warm water again. If you can see the ingrown hair embedded in the skin, this treatment will soften the hair and bring it closer to the surface.
• Wash the area around the (formerly) ingrown hair with warm water and a moisturizing soap. Gentle washing helps prevent infection.
• Apply an antiseptic to provide extra protection against infection.
• For a more permanent hair removal method, then electrolysis is the way to go, if you have the money for it!

Prevention:

• Prior to shaving, use a gentle scrub this will both remove dead skin for a cleaner shave and help point hair out of the skin. 
• Old blades are both dull and can introduce bacteria into freshly shaved skin. So use a new blade.
• Press gently with the blade as too much pressure removes excess surface skin.
• Try loosening your clothing. Next to shaving, tight clothing is the most frequent cause of ingrown hairs.
• Try and avoid shaving over the same area too many times.
• Exfoliating the skin can be a very useful procedure for preventing hairs that are ingrown or razor bumps.
• Daily moisturization of the skin is necessary as well to prevent ingrown hair.

If these steps do not solve the problem and the pain and discomfort increases, be sure to see a dermatologist. It's quite possible that there is a more serious underlying reason for the pain or discomfort that requires treatment.

(Sources: hairremoval.about.com, expertdoctor.blogspot.com, ezinearticles.com/?Ingrown-Hair---Seven-Causes-and-Eight-Effects&id=77, healthy-skincare.com/ingrown-hair.html)

(Image sources: salonweb.com/medik8/images/ingrownhair2.jpg, complimentssalonandspa.com/assets/images/web/salon_waxing1.jpg, gillettevenus.ca/en_CA/tips_and_faqs/new_shavers/images/tips_newshavers_ underarms_3.png, entertainmentpk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/mens-shaving.jpg)