What are the causes of hair growing sideways under the skin? What are the symptoms and complications of ingrown hairs? How can ingrown hairs be treated and prevented effectively? Get answers to these questions and more.

Understanding Ingrown Hairs: Causes and Risk Factors

An ingrown hair is a hair that has grown back into the skin instead of rising up from it. This can happen due to several reasons, including:

1. Clogged hair follicles: Dead skin cells can block the hair follicle, forcing the hair to grow sideways under the skin.
2. Curly or coarse hair: Naturally curly or thick hair is more likely to bend back and re-enter the skin, especially after shaving or cutting.
3. Hormonal changes: People with high levels of certain sex hormones may have more hair growth, increasing the risk of ingrown hairs.
4. Shaving, waxing, or tweezing: These hair removal methods can leave the hair with a sharper edge, making it more likely to poke back through the skin.

Certain people are more prone to ingrown hairs, including those with curly or coarse hair, and those who frequently shave or remove hair from areas like the face, legs, armpits, and pubic region.

Symptoms and Complications of Ingrown Hairs

The main symptoms of an ingrown hair include:

• A raised, red bump or group of bumps that resemble pimples
• Boil-like sores
• Itching and discomfort
• Visible hair under the skin
• Pus inside the bumps

If left untreated, ingrown hairs can lead to complications such as:

1. Infection: The trapped hair can become infected, leading to further irritation and swelling.
2. Skin discoloration: Ingrown hairs can cause darkening of the skin around the affected area.
3. Scarring: Repeated ingrown hairs in the same area can lead to scarring.
4. Pilonidal cysts: Some experts believe that ingrown hairs may contribute to the development of these pockets of hair and skin debris at the base of the tailbone.

Effective Treatments for Ingrown Hairs

In most cases, ingrown hairs will go away on their own. However, if the ingrown hair is causing significant discomfort or becomes infected, it may require medical treatment. Some common treatments include:

• Steroid creams to reduce swelling and irritation
• Retinoids (Retin-A) to remove dead skin cells and reduce skin pigment changes
• Antibiotics, either topical or oral, to treat infections
• Incision and drainage: A doctor can make a small cut with a sterile needle or scalpel to release the trapped hair

Preventing Ingrown Hairs

Preventing ingrown hairs can often be managed at home through proper hair removal techniques and skin care practices:

1. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells and tease out ingrown hairs.
2. Shave with a sharp, single-blade razor, using warm water and a lubricating gel.
3. Shave in the same direction as hair growth and use as few strokes as possible.
4. Rinse the razor blade after each stroke to prevent clogging.
5. Avoid shaving too closely to the skin and leave a bit of stubble.
6. Use an electric razor slightly above the skin’s surface.
7. Apply a cool washcloth to the skin after shaving to soothe it.
8. Consider alternative hair removal methods like creams, lasers, or electrolysis, which are less likely to cause ingrown hairs.

Dealing with Recurring Ingrown Hairs

For people who experience recurring ingrown hairs, it’s important to address the underlying causes and develop a consistent prevention strategy. This may involve:

• Trying different hair removal methods to find the one that works best for your hair type and skin.
• Maintaining a consistent exfoliation routine to keep the skin free of dead cells.
• Consulting a dermatologist if home remedies are not effective in preventing or treating ingrown hairs.

By understanding the causes, symptoms, and effective treatment and prevention strategies, individuals can better manage the discomfort and complications associated with ingrown hairs.

Ingrown Hairs and Skin Infections

Ingrown hairs can sometimes lead to skin infections, especially if the affected area becomes infected. Signs of an infected ingrown hair include:

• Increased redness, swelling, and pain around the ingrown hair
• Pus or drainage from the affected area
• Fever or other signs of a systemic infection

If an ingrown hair becomes infected, it’s important to seek medical treatment. A healthcare provider may prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to clear the infection and prevent further complications.

Key Takeaways

In summary, ingrown hairs are a common and often preventable condition caused by a variety of factors, including hair texture, shaving habits, and skin care practices. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and appropriate treatments, individuals can effectively manage ingrown hairs and reduce the risk of complications. Remember, seeking medical attention is advisable if an ingrown hair becomes significantly irritated or infected.

Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and Infections

Written by Stephanie Watson

• What Is an Ingrown Hair?
• Ingrown Hair Symptoms
• Common Areas for Ingrown Hairs
• Ingrown Hair Causes
• Ingrown Hair Complications
• Ingrown Hair Treatment
• Ingrown Hair Prevention
• More

An ingrown hair is one that’s grown back into your skin instead of rising up from it.

Sometimes, dead skin can clog a hair follicle. That forces the hair to grow sideways under your skin, rather than up and out. Or if you cut naturally curly hair too short, the sharpened end of the hair can pierce your skin, causing an ingrown hair.

An ingrown hair irritates your skin. You might notice:

• A raised red bump (or group of bumps) that’s like a little pimple
• A boil-like sore
• Itching
• Discomfort

You may have pus inside the bumps. Or you may see the hair under the skin that’s causing the problem.

Ingrown hairs often pop up in areas where you shave, including your:

• Face and neck
• Scalp
• Legs
• Armpits
• Chest
• Back
• Pubic area

Anyone can get an ingrown hair. But the problem is more common in people who have very curly or coarse hair. Curly hair is more likely to bend back and re-enter your skin, especially after it’s been shaved or cut.

People with high levels of certain sex hormones can have more hair than usual. This can make them more likely to get ingrown hairs, especially after shaving.

Many people who have thick or curly hair get a type of ingrown hair called pseudofolliculitis. More commonly known as “razor bumps,” this group of little bumps is common on the beard area after you’ve shaved, waxed, or tweezed to remove hair. The hair that grows back has a sharper edge, so it can more easily poke back through your skin and get trapped under the surface.

Often, an ingrown hair will go away on its own. But if it doesn’t, you could have:

• An infection
• Darkened skin
• Scarring

Some doctors believe that ingrown hairs also cause pilonidal cysts. These pockets of hair and skin debris usually happen at the base of your tailbone, between your buttocks. They can be swollen and painful. You might need surgery to treat them.

If an ingrown hair is bothering you or gets infected, your doctor can make a small cut with a sterile needle or scalpel to release it. They may also prescribe medicine such as:

• A steroid that you put on your skin to ease the swelling and irritation
• Retinoids (Retin-A) to remove dead skin cells and reduce skin pigment changes
• Antibiotics that you take by mouth or rub onto your skin to treat an infection

To prevent ingrown hairs, try these tips when you shave:

• Rub your face in a circular motion every day using a wet washcloth or an exfoliating scrub to tease out ingrown hairs.
• Shave with a sharp single-blade razor.
• Wet your skin with warm water before shaving, and use a lubricating gel.
• Shave in the same direction your hair is growing.
• Use as few strokes of the razor as possible. That lessens the chance of a hair slipping back into your skin.
• Rinse the blade with water after every stroke.
• Don’t shave too closely to your skin. Leave a little bit of stubble if you can.
• If you’re using an electric razor, hold it slightly above the surface of your skin.
• Apply a cool washcloth to your skin after you shave to soothe your skin.

You can also try other hair removal methods that are less likely to lead to ingrown hairs. Those include creams that dissolve hair and a laser or electric current (electrolysis) to remove the hair follicle for good.

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Ingrown hair: Treatment and prevention

Ingrown hairs can be painful and a nuisance. They typically affect people with thick, curly hair, and can become infected if left untreated. But, how should they be treated and can they be prevented?

Preventing ingrown hairs can often be managed at home, though there are times when a visit to the doctor may be appropriate.

This article explores ways to treat and prevent ingrown hairs, to reduce discomfort for people who experience them.

Share on PinterestIngrown hairs can appear anywhere on the body and may become infected if they are not treated.

An ingrown hair is a hair that has curled back into the skin instead of growing out of the skin’s surface. It is most common in people with thick, coarse, or curly hair types. Medically an ingrown hair is known as “pseudofolliculitis barbae.”

An ingrown hair can occur anywhere on the body. Ingrown hairs commonly occur in areas where the skin is shaved or subject to a lot of friction, including:

• beard
• legs
• underarms
• chest
• pubic area

Signs and symptoms of an ingrown hair are:

• itching skin or irritation surrounding the hair
• rashes
• razor burn

The site of the ingrown hair will form into a raised bump on the skin that may begin to look like a pimple. The bump will often turn reddish, become irritated and sensitive, and may fill with pus.

Anything that does not let the hair grow normally can cause ingrown hairs, and it is usually for one of the following reasons:

Improper hair removal

The most common cause of ingrown hairs is an improper shaving technique. Cutting hair very close to the skin creates a very sharp tip on the end of each of the hairs.

Most of these hairs will grow back out without a problem. However, some hairs can curl back on themselves and grow into the skin. When this happens, the body responds to the hair as if it were an intruder, causing inflammation, which is the typical symptom of an ingrown hair.

Shaving is not the only way ingrown hairs occur. Waxing and plucking hairs out also commonly cause ingrown hairs.

Plucked hair grows back through the follicle. As such, it may not make it all the way to the surface of the skin before turning and clogging the follicle.

Clogged follicles

It is also possible for hair follicles to become clogged by:

• dead skin
• dirt and debris.

When this happens, the hair in the follicle can become stuck or grow sideways into the skin, causing an ingrown hair. In some cases, the hair can be seen growing under the surface of the skin.

Friction

Friction caused by wearing tight clothing for extended periods of time can also cause ingrown hairs.

The friction caused by body movement throughout the day can also rub hairs against the skin continuously. This causes the hairs to turn around and push back into the follicle.

Ingrown hairs are irritating, but most of the time they can easily be treated in the home.

Using a warm washcloth or soft toothbrush

Share on PinterestApplying a warm washcloth to the ingrown hair and rubbing in a circular motion may help to uncurl the hair.

If waiting it out is not an option, there are other methods people may want to try. Hairs that have grown back into the follicle can be gently coaxed out using a warm washcloth and soft toothbrush.

After soaking a washcloth in warm water, apply it to the ingrown hair to warm and relax the pores and follicles. Rubbing the washcloth in a gentle circular motion may help uncurl the hair.

If this does not work, rubbing a very soft toothbrush in a similar motion over the area may help unclog the follicle and release the trapped hair.

Avoiding irritation

The first step to treating an ingrown hair is to stop doing things that may irritate it. People may need to stop shaving, waxing, or plucking the area around the ingrown hair.

Scratching an itchy ingrowing hair should also be avoided. Also, people should wear loose clothing on areas surrounding the hair to avoid friction.

These simple practices are often enough to make the ingrown hairs go away on their own. When a hair grows to about 10 millimeters in length, it will usually release itself from the follicle.

Using tweezers

Once any part of the hair appears above the skin line, a sterile needle or tweezers can be used to pull the hair straight.

Only do this once the hair is above the skin. Digging into the skin to pull the hair out can cause an infection.

It is also important not to pluck the hair out, as this increases the chance that the hair will be ingrown again as it grows back. The inflamed area surrounding the hair needs time to heal completely before removing the hair again.

Use gentle soaps to clean areas around the ingrown hair and prevent infection. Using natural exfoliates around the hair can also help remove dead skin cells. Exfoliating also helps clear the inflamed and irritated skin around the hair.

Sometimes ingrown hairs are irritating to deal with or become a regular problem. When this happens, some people stop removing hair in the problem area altogether.

Individuals who get ingrown hairs on their necks from shaving may switch to trimming instead. Problematic pubic hairs can be cut short instead of removed entirely to help prevent ingrown hairs. There are also a few products and treatments available to prevent these ingrown hairs.

However, if the problem is persistent, people should see their doctor for other preventive measures. These methods can include intense pulse light therapy or prescription creams to reduce hair growth. Such preventive measure can help decrease the risk of deeper infections and scarring.

Over the counter products

Share on PinterestDiluted tea tree oil may help to kill the bacteria and bring down the swelling of an ingrown hair.

There are also some over the counter products that may help stop or treat ingrown hairs.

Using creams with salicylic acid can help open the pores and follicles, preventing them from clogging.

Some reports note that diluted tea tree essential oil may help ingrowing hairs by:

• killing bacteria
• reducing redness
• bringing down swelling

Natural exfoliation

Some people regularly use homemade exfoliators to reduce ingrown hairs. Certain ingredients can be scrubbed into the skin to reduce dead skin cells. These products include:

• sugar
• coffee
• salt
• baking soda

Preparing for hair removal

Properly preparing for hair removal can also help prevent ingrown hairs. Before shaving, wash the area thoroughly with a gentle soap. Use a moisturizing shaving cream or gel to reduce friction.

When shaving, use a fresh razor that will make precise cuts. Dull blades leave jagged cuts that may increase the risk of ingrown hairs. Avoiding a close shave can also be helpful.

Alternative hair removal options

Some people turn to other ways of removing hair to avoid the risks of ingrown hairs that come with shaving, waxing, or plucking. These include:

• Laser hair removal: This can be an expensive process, but the results are usually semi-permanent hair loss and no ingrown hairs. Laser hair removal damages the hair follicle at a deep level, preventing hair from growing at all.
• Chemical hair removal: These products are also an option for some.
• Electrolysis: This is another more permanent form of hair removal. It is designed to destroy the root of the hair and requires several sessions.

Any of these methods may irritate the skin and should be and discussed with a dermatologist before use.

In most cases, ingrown hairs are treated at home and do not require medical attention. There are a few times when a doctor may need to be involved.

If the ingrown hair becomes infected, the bumps may continue to grow and fill with more pus. They may be more painful, red, and irritated than ever before. People who experience ingrown hair over large areas may require medical treatment as well.

If an ingrown hair becomes infected, the person may need to visit the doctor for treatment. A doctor may prescribe antibiotic ointments, steroid creams, or medicated washes to use on the area. In severe cases, a doctor may refer a person to a skin specialist.

Use topical treatments on the affected area only, as they can cause dry skin and other side effects. For severe infections, a doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics.

Sometimes an ingrown hair is not infected, but it is very persistent. In cases like these, doctors may prescribe retinoids. Retinoids can help remove dead skin cells more quickly than just washing and exfoliating. Retinoids are not for everyone. Every medical treatment option should be discussed with a doctor or dermatologist before use.

What is hirsutism, causes and methods of correction

Question – answer
#clinic_kosmetomed

April 14, 2020

Ever since antiquity, women have been striving for a perfect and beautiful body, and all this time they have faced the problem of excessive growth of unwanted hair and their removal. It is no secret that excessive hair growth causes moral damage to a woman, reduces her self-esteem, and besides, this may hide an endocrine disease.

What is meant by excessive hair growth or hirsutism?

Hirsutism (from the Latin word hirsutus) – shaggy, hairy – this is the growth of hair in women in a male pattern in typical places : upper lip, chin, sternum, white line of the abdomen, upper back, inner thigh surface . In this case, thin and fluffy hair is replaced with hard, long and pigmented – terminal. Quantitatively, hirsutism is assessed on the Ferriman-Gallway scale as 8 or more points.

What is hypertrichosis and how is it different from hirsutism?

Hypertrichosis is the transformation of thin vellus hair into coarse terminal hair and their excessive growth in places where only vellus hair should normally be. Hypertrichosis, unlike hirsutism, can be observed in both women and men , taking into account national characteristics and age. So the growth of vellus hair on the shins in women is the norm. In the case of excessive growth of terminal hair, this situation is called hypertrichosis. In men, hair growth on the chest is considered normal. However, the appearance of too much hair on the male chest would be called hypertrichosis. But the appearance of terminal hair on the chest in women is called hirsutism.

Endocrine causes of excessive hair growth on the face and body in women

The reasons for the development of hirsutism can be both endocrine – due to hormonal imbalance, and non-hormonal.

Endocrine causes include excessive production of male hormones – androgens in a woman’s body (in the ovaries or adrenal glands) with various dysfunctions and polycystic ovaries. Hirsutism can also appear with insulin resistance, Itsenko-Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism and obesity.

Non-hormonal causes of hirsutism in women:

• familial hirsutism (constitutional) is hereditary, often occurs in women – residents of certain geographical areas,
• exogenous hirsutism occurs due to the additional intake of drugs containing androgens, corticosteroids and other drugs, or under the influence of stress, prolonged hunger, etc.
• idiopathic hirsutism – this is excessive hair growth in women of the male type of an unclear reason, when the endocrine nature of the disease was excluded during the examination, the influence of exogenous factors was excluded and there are no hereditary causes.

Idiopathic hirsutism may be associated:

• with increased sensitivity of hair follicles to the action of male sex hormones-androgens,
• with increased number of hair follicle androgen receptors,
• with increased activity of the enzyme (5-α reductase), which enhances the transition of the male sex hormone testosterone to its active fraction – dihydrotestosterone.

Ovarian dysfunction (often polycystic ovaries) and idiopathic hirsutism account for approximately 90% of all cases of excessive hair growth in women .

Why is hirsutism dangerous?

Excessive hair growth in itself does not threaten life and health, however, hirsutism can be the result of various endocrine diseases. It is important to correctly examine in order to exclude or confirm a particular endocrine disease.

Our clinic – the National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation – is the leading medical institution in Russia, where complex treatment of hirsutism is carried out, taking into account the endocrine causes of the disease and their elimination.

With such a comprehensive approach to the treatment of hirsutism, we can guarantee the patient the achievement of effective results in the radical elimination of excess hair growth.

Algorithm for the treatment of hirsutism and hypertrichosis in our clinic:

• Your call to +7 (495) 500-00-97
• Consultation with a dermatologist
• According to indications (according to complaints) consultation with specialists: gynecologist-endocrinologist, endocrinologist, etc.
• Examination and clarification of the cause of the disease
• Prescribing treatment based on examination results
• Choice of epilation method taking into account the causes of the disease and contraindications
• Hair removal procedures

Our specialists have the maximum possible number of professional hair removal methods :

Waxing is a hair removal procedure using wax at a certain temperature. The advantages of the method are the absence of contraindications, the possibility of treating any part of the body or the whole body in a short time, and the low cost of the procedure. The main disadvantage is that hair removal is performed without destroying the hair follicle and has a temporary aesthetic effect. In addition, there is a risk of ingrown hairs.

Photoepilation is one of the most effective and radical methods of hair removal. From the very first procedures, the hair becomes thinner and becomes almost invisible, and in 6-8 sessions the hair follicle is completely destroyed. In our center, the procedure is performed on a high-tech multifunctional laser system – Quantum, with a working emitter of intense pulsed light (IPL) – Quantum HR.

The method is effective, BUT it has many disadvantages: it removes only dark hair on light skin, it requires mandatory application of a contact gel during the procedure, photoepilation procedures are not performed in summer.

Laser hair removal is the most effective modern method of radical removal of unwanted facial and body hair in women and men. During the world clinical practice, this method has been recognized as the safest for health and the most effective in the treatment of hirsutism and hypertrichosis. In our clinic, laser hair removal procedures are performed on the most advanced professional diode laser Palomar Vectus , USA. Any area of ​​the skin – the face (upper lip, chin, eyebrow line), armpits, thighs, bikini area, arms and legs, acquire a well-groomed appearance for many years.

It is important to remember that even with full-volume hair removal, it is necessary to carry out complex therapy hirsutism and hypertrichosis in women when endocrine problems are detected in order to achieve the most effective result in eliminating unwanted hair growth.

Federal State Budgetary Institution National Medical Research Center
Endocrinology
Ministry of Health of Russia

Didn’t find the answer to your question?
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what to do? – Kommersant Ufa

• Bashkortostan / As advertising

Today’s fashion dictates its own conditions, women tend to acquire smooth and delicate skin without unwanted hair, not only in the intimate area and armpits, but also on the face and body. Initially, body hair had protective functions, protecting ancient people from the cold and exposure to aggressive environmental factors. But today, thanks to convenient and comfortable clothes, skin care products and other benefits of civilization, they have lost their original purpose. In modern women, hair growth over the body is insignificant, with the exception of the intimate area, where it is thicker and thicker, and the armpits, as well as the shins. In the rest of the body, the hair has the character of fluffy. However, there are also conditions in which there is increased hair growth on the face or body. Why is this happening?

Causes of unwanted hair

The greatest influence of heredity and ethnic characteristics. If women in your family have hair growth on the body or in the facial area, it is very likely that you will inherit it too. In Slavic women, hair is usually thin and light, their growth over the body and face is insignificant. But in Asians and Caucasian women, the growth of dark and dense hair on the arms, in the chin area and above the upper lip, on the stomach and even around the nipples is quite possible. These genetic features can be dealt with with the help of modern cosmetic procedures.

Increased hair growth may be associated with various neuro-endocrine disruptions in the body. If dark and coarse hair appears on the body more and more often, it is necessary to check the reproductive sphere, often a similar symptom occurs with ovarian sclerocystosis syndrome. It is also accompanied by disruptions in menstruation, the formation of acne and infertility. Body hair grows with it due to disturbances in the production of estrogens and androgens, if the balance is shifted towards the latter.

What else can influence?

Often, unwanted facial hair appears closer to menopause, which is also associated with a decrease in estrogen levels, with sufficient androgen activity. It is they who encourage the hair follicles to work more actively.

Some medications can affect the growth of unwanted hair, usually hormonal contraceptives, steroids or anticonvulsants, cancer medications, and some others. The problem can be solved only after consulting a doctor and discussing the possibility of replacing or completely canceling the drug.

How to deal with unwanted vegetation?

Today, many methods have been developed to combat vegetation in the face or in certain areas of the body. The choice of one method or another will depend on the localization of the zone, its area, the degree of expression of the hairline, and even financial capabilities and the results expected from the procedure.

The most common today are plucking and shaving hair, as well as sugar and wax epilation. In addition, epilation methods are used with the help of creams and solutions, foams. In cosmetology clinics, electrolysis and laser exposure are practiced.

Each of the methods has its undoubted pluses and minuses, as well as areas that are most recommended and undesirable for influence.

Mechanical methods are the simplest and most affordable, but their result is unstable and often after removal the hair grows back quickly, sometimes also forming the problem of ingrown hairs.