How to Deal with Ingrown Hairs and the Dark Spots They Leave Behind – Vivant Skin Care

How to Deal with Ingrown Hairs and the Dark Spots They Leave Behind – Vivant Skin Care

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With about 5 million hair follicles on the surface of your skin, the odds of getting an ingrown hair at some point are fairly high. They’re itchy, painful, and they often leave behind dark marks as a not-so-subtle warning that you haven’t seen the last of them. The worst part? All your efforts to keep your skin velvet smooth also happen to be the surest ways of triggering one of these sore, tender bumps. To avoid the dreaded ingrown hair and the marks they leave behind, here’s everything you need to know.

WHAT CAUSES INGROWN HAIRS

Ingrown hairs result from hair becoming trapped within the skin, leading to inflammation and sometimes infection. It can happen organically, but it’s usually the result of trauma to the follicle.  

Shaving

Shaving stretches the hair beyond the follicle and then creates a sharp edge on the hair. The hair snaps back beneath the surface of the skin, and that new, fresh edge can get snagged instead of growing correctly out of the pore.

Plucking or Waxing

All hair removal processes can cause trouble by disrupting the hair’s natural growth path within the follicle.

Impactions

A buildup of dead skin cells can also contribute to ingrown hairs as the follicle can become blocked, causing the hair to grow sideways.

Hair Type

Both men and women are candidates for ingrown hairs (they can appear on the face, neck,or the bikini line). It’s more common with thick or curly hair, which tends to curl back or grow sideways in the hair follicle.

HOW DOES AN INGROWN HAIR CAUSE HYPERPIGMENTATION? 

Ingrown hairs are often accompanied by bacteria and inflammation in the follicle, which causes the skin to mobilize a protective response in the form of increased melanin. The dark spots that appear are known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

HOW TO TREAT AN INGROWN HAIR

1. Apply a warm compress to soothe and reduce inflammation.

2. Once the hair emerges above the skin, use sterile tweezers to gently lift it just enough to release it from under the skin. Do not pluck it out, and don’t poke or break the skin. This is likely to introduce bacteria, further inflame the bump, and increase the chances of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

3. Keep the area cleansed and gently exfoliated to kill bacteria and keep the follicle open. Vivant’s micro-exfoliating and anti-microbial Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Wash is an excellent choice.

4. Apply a benzoyl peroxide gel like Vivant’s BP 10% Gel Medication to flush the follicle, kill bacteria, and speed healing.

5. To soothe redness and irritation, you can apply Allantoin Sedating and Hydrating Lotion or Totaloe Calming and Hydrating Gel.

Don’t continue to shave or remove hair in the affected region. This is “one of the worst things you can do,” says Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center. “Wait until razor bumps have resolved before going back to shaving or engaging in further hair removal at the site.”

HOW TO AVOID INGROWN HAIRS

Exfoliate regularly, and especially before shaving, with ingredients like mandelic acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid to keep the follicles clear of impactions.

Use a vitamin A or mandelic acid serum to accelerate cell turnover and keep dead skin cells from clogging follicles and creating impactions. 

When shaving, follow the direction of the hair growth and avoid shaving too close to the skin or going over the same area multiple times. Don’t pull the skin taut while shaving.

Make sure the skin is wet before shaving, and use a moisturizing shaving cream, gel, or foam while shaving. Vivant’s Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Wash or Green Tea Antioxidant Cleanser are good choices

Using an electric razor and avoiding the closest shave setting will reduce the chances of getting an ingrown hair.    

HOW TO GET RID OF THE DARK MARKS LEFT BEHIND BY INGROWN HAIRS 

Use products that accelerate cell turnover to help disperse pigment from the skin’s surface. Vitamin A, mandelic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid are good choices.

Pair these with brightening ingredients like vitamin C, kojic acid, or hydroquinone.

Mandelic acid and glycolic acid are both exfoliators and brighteners.

Wear sunscreen daily to protect against UV, which will worsen the dark marks.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS 

Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Wash

Gentle exfoliating and brightening cleanser with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Daily Repair Pads 

Mandelic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide, and healing zinc decongest pores, remove surface debris, and help disperse pigment, leaving skin smooth, hydrated, and ready to drink in your favorite serum.  

 8% Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Serum

A brightening, antibacterial, micro-exfoliating serum clear, healthy follicles and radiant skin.

Derm-A-Gel

Accelerate cell renewal to fade pigment, decongest follicles, and promote smooth, even tone.

Pure C + E

A daily booster for advanced photoprotection, brightening, and cellular repair. Formulated for purity and potency.

BP 10% Gel Medication

Concentrated antibacterial medication to peel impactions from the follicle and speed healing.

Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15 

Daily foundational sunscreen to protect against UV damage. Lightweight, non-greasy, non-comedogenic.

Read about why dark spots get darker before they get lighter.

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How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair Scars – Bushbalm

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Apr 10, 2022 Posted by: David Gaylord

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Getting discolouration and scarring from ingrown hairs is very common. As an ingrown hair heals the skin is irritated and the pigment often never recovers. Below you’ll find the routine to get rid of ingrown hair scarring. 

Do ingrown hairs leave scars? 

Yes. Just like any irritation to the skin there is a chance you can get a scar. Ingrown hairs often lead to redness and irritation, which can lead to what are often referred to as ‘dark spots’. 

Where are ingrown hairs most common? 

Depending on your hair growth you can get ingrown hairs in many locations. Some of the most common in men are on the neckline and women commonly get ingrown hairs on their bikini line. 

Most common places for ingrown hairs: 

• pubic area 
• neckline 
• back of neck
• nipple hair

Can I get laser to remove ingrown hair scars? 

Yes. Using laser treatment on scaring is very common. However, we recommend seeing your doctor or trying more natural treatments and products prior to going with laser treatment. We recommend reading the article by the AAD on questions you should ask before using laser. 

Getting rid of ingrown hair scars on your pubic area 

To clear up dark spots and ingrown hair scars on your pubic region we recommend a two types of products. 

• A dark spot oil high in vitamin c 
• A surface exfoliant high in vitamin c 

Focusing on vitamin c is critical to lighten dark spots and scarring of ingrown hairs, specifically on your pubic area. Since your bikini and pubic region is more sensitive than most areas we recommend looking for products that use natural or naturally derived ingredients. 

“Bermuda Dark SpotOil is a 100% natural and vegan skincare product that helps reduce the look of discoloration and dark spots found anywhere on the body. With a hint of lemon essential oil, Bermuda has a soft refreshing scent that will make you feel like you are in paradise.”

Ingrown Hair Photos on your Inner Thighs 

What is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation? 

Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is when skin cells are damaged and react by making additional melanin. Generally this type of hyperpigmentation shows up on tan or brown skin. 

“I am a Black woman and it has evened my skin so much to the point that my confidence has increased! I use it on my face, private area and my armpits. I’m so excited for swimsuit season and can’t stop looking in the mirror. ” – Dark Spot Oil Customer 

If you have curly, coiled hair you are more receptive to ingrown hairs, which typically lead to this type of hyperpigmentation. 

Tips to Prevent Ingrown Hair Scarring 

There are several ways to prevent scarring from ingrown hairs, which are non-intrusive. 

Laser Hair Removal 

One way to prevent ingrown hairs is to reduce the amount of hairs that need to grow back. Laser hair removal, although a more costly option, does have this effect on the skin and hair. 

Exfoliating your Bikini Line 

By exfoliating regularly you’ll soften the skin and hair follicles helping the curly or coiled hair grow back through the skin appropriately. Use a physical exfoliant to soften scar tissues, reduce razor bumps and prevent ingrown hairs. 

Moisturizing your Pubic Area Regularly 

Using a moisturizing shaving cream, as well as pubic hair oil will help soften the skin and hair. You always want to soften the skin on your pubic region to prevent ingrown hairs. 

 Are you more likely to get ingrown hair scarring? 

Those who get the most ingrown hairs are more likely to get scarring from them. However, if you have a skin tone that is more prone to dark spots or scarring you’re also at a disadvantage. By focusing on preventing ingrown hairs entirely you’ll reduce the chance of getting hyperpigmentation, which is what we recommend. 

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About the Author

David Gaylord

CEO and co-founder of Bushbalm Skincare. As someone who suffers from chronic eczema he’s become a solutions based skincare advocate.

Ingrown hair: how to remove / get rid of, what to do, why ingrown hairs

We asked experts why hairs grow in, how to get rid of them and what to do for prevention.

Our experts:

• Irina Zhurina – master of the Wax & Go salon chain
• Kristina Schlega – cosmetologist at the LazerJazz clinic

90 017

What are the causes of ingrown hairs?

Root cause improper hair removal , in which the hair breaks off or part of the follicle remains under the skin.

This is what happens when the wrong shave against hair growth and on dry skin. Less often – after incorrectly performed depilation with wax, sugar, an electric epilator or tweezers.

Another reason is thick superficial layer of skin . Horny scales are layered and do not allow the growing hair to break out. Thickening of the epidermis often occurs due to overdrying of the skin with aggressive surfactants and scrubs, as well as for certain diseases (for example, diabetes or hypothyroidism).

Tight underwear , tights, tight jeans rub mechanically, from which the skin is protected and thickened.

Sunburn can also be the cause – the skin dries out, and it is more difficult for the hairs to penetrate the stratum corneum.

Hereditary factors may also affect . For example: when the follicle is located under the skin at an acute angle . African Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics are more likely to suffer from ingrown hairs—thick, coarse, frizzy hair can fold under the skin on its own.

May affect taking hormonal drugs .

Irina Zhurina : Hormonal medicines change the general condition of the body – the hair can change its structure, the skin can become dry or oily. After treatment, everything returns to normal.

Hair does not grow back after laser hair removal – the laser destroys the hair completely, along with the follicle.

I wax at the salon and often get ingrown hairs. Is the master doing something wrong?

Irina Zhurina : Optional. This could be due to any of the above reasons. Although it happens that the master does not follow the technique – or you go to different masters. They can be good and do everything according to the rules, but everyone’s hands are different – they cannot remove hairs in exactly the same way. It turns out that once the hair was removed at one angle, the second time at a slightly different angle, the third time at the third. It is better to go to one master.

How do you know if it’s an ingrown hair and not a wart, pimple or herpes?

Kristina Schlega : First, the location: in women, hair usually grows in the bikini area and on the legs, in men – on the face. Next, we look at the formation itself: usually, an ingrown hair looks like a reddish spherical seal with a visible dark hair inside.

Ingrown hairs may look like pimples. Note the moment when the seal appeared. Ingrown hairs appear within a day after shaving or other depilation method.

Herpes is accompanied by severe discomfort: pain and burning. Bubbles with a clear liquid appear on the reddened skin.

Warts look like flat patches of skin color. Sometimes they go by themselves without a trace.

Why does an ingrown hair leave a dark spot? And what to do with it?

Dark spots are post-acne hyperpigmentation. They appear when inflammation appears at the site of an ingrown hair, or the skin has been cut open to remove it.

Serums with acids for lightening can be applied pointwise to the pigment spot – or special products against ingrown hairs can be used. As a rule, they contain the same clarifying components – fruit acids, vitamin C.

Are there different types of ingrown hairs? How to remove them?

There are four types of ingrown hairs:

• Subcutaneous (they are also called pantyhose ) (No. 1 in the picture) – more often appear on the legs from tight clothes (jeans and tights). The hair grows into the surface layer of the skin and grows along. Often it even shines through the skin, and it is not clear that it has grown at all.
• Superficial ingrown hairs (piercing) (#4 in the picture) are hairs that have grown but have re-embedded into the skin. The reasons are tight clothing or deformation of the hair itself.

Pantyhose hair is easy to handle by yourself. They can be treated with a scrub, light peeling, a scrubber or special anti-ingrown products. After this treatment, the mouth of the follicle is cleaned and the hair comes out.

Etching are easily removed with tweezers. The main thing is not to do this when the skin around is inflamed: it is better to wait for a calm state so as not to infect the infection.

• Twisted (#2 in the picture) is similar to subcutaneous, but the hair is twisted in one place and continues to grow under the skin, not out. Sometimes this leads to inflammation.

Experts advise against pulling out twisted hairs yourself, but if you still need bad advice, here’s how to do it.

Prepare the skin with acid preparations a day in advance to exfoliate the stratum corneum. Disinfect with alcohol or an antiseptic, take a sterile needle from a syringe, pry off the skin and find a hair. Treat the tweezers with alcohol and pull out the hair, pulling it out by the root. Treat the removal site again with alcohol.

• Follicular (growing inward) (No. 3 in the picture) are the most dangerous, inflammation often forms around them, the hair in this case can block the path to the sebaceous ducts, provoking the development of inflammation and the accumulation of bacteria. It looks like a big pimple or boil. As a rule, it occurs in owners of thick, dense skin.

Inward-growing hair should be taken from a doctor – beautician, dermatologist, surgeon. Even a qualified hair removal master will not remove them – this is a medical procedure. After self-treatment, scars and spots may remain.

---

If you wait, the hair will not come out by itself?

How lucky.

Irina Zhurina : Hair can really grow by itself, it often happens after epilation. At first it is weakened, but over time it comes to the surface.

Kristina Schlega : Often subcutaneous and twisted hairs come to the surface. The rest must be removed.

What should I do if there is inflammation or pus in a lump with a hair?

Irina Zhurina : Treat with a remedy for ingrown hairs or acne. They contain salicylic, lactic, multifruit acids, enzymes, soothing ingredients, bisabolol, allantoin, panthenol. Wait until the inflammation subsides and, if possible, remove the hair. But it is better, of course, to go to a specialist.

Kristina Schlega : If you see edema, or a purulent element has grown in size and hurts, you should contact a dermatologist, cosmetologist or surgeon.

---

Where to go to have an ingrown hair removed?

You can go to a salon with a medical license, to a clinic for a beautician or surgeon.

Kristina Schlega : It is safer to have your hair removed in a salon or medical center than at home. We have laser hair removal machines in our clinic – with their help you can get an ingrown hair.

What can I do to prevent ingrown hairs?

Avoid tight synthetic underwear for 3-5 days after depilation. Wear non-constricting cotton underwear and clothing, through which the skin will breathe – there is less risk of creating a pathogenic environment for bacteria.

Shave properly.

Shave with sharp razors with special products (foams and gels improve glide). Before shaving, do not steam the skin, do not lie in the bathroom for a long time – otherwise you can remove the top layer of skin with a razor or get hurt on the folds. You can do a light peeling or scrub in advance.

Legs: If the hairs are long, start shaving in the direction of hair growth. If short – against growth.

Bikini line: shave straight ahead and then against.

Armpits: can be shaved in different directions, because the hair grows in different directions there.

• Use body exfoliators – soft scrubs, enzyme powders, delicate exfoliating washcloths. Ideal – 2 times a week. If more often, the skin will begin to thicken and this will only aggravate the situation. If less, there will be no effect.
• Supracor Stimulite washcloth
• Pomegranate body scrub, Lycon
• Tea-Tree shower gel, Lycon — contains 2% tea tree essential oil and has a bactericidal effect, protects follicles from inflammation after depilation.
• For Your Sugar Body Scrub
• Use moisturizing products – it is easier for hairs to grow through moisturized elastic skin.
• Use anti-ingrown products – use 2 times a day – in the morning and in the evening – until the ingrown hair appears on the surface. Then twice a week – for prevention.

Kristina Schlega : The main task of such products is to exfoliate and moisturize the skin so that the hair easily breaks through. This is provided by acids (salicylic and fruit acids), plant extracts (chamomile, calendula, aloe).

• Aravia Enzyme Powder – designed to prepare the skin for depilation
• Cream Ingrown-X-It Solution, Lycon – spot treatment and for delicate areas
• Serum-spray Ingrown-X-It Solution, Lycon with a complex of lactic and salicylic acids
• Anti-ingrown hair cream Kerapil, Noreva
• Paste against ingrown hairs White line, Italwax

I don’t have ingrown hair products on hand.

What can replace them?

Kristina Schlega : You can use acid toner, serum, light peel, enzyme facial powder – products with AHA, BHA acids or enzymes. If the product is intended for home care (and not professional care), then the concentration of active substances is optimal.

What if not one hair has grown in, but 20 at once? What does this mean?

What are you from Brazil 🙂 But seriously, there is such a disease – pseudofolliculitis – when a lot of hair grows at once. As a rule, people with thick skin and dense curly hair suffer from it.

Or you have found yourself in the hands of an incompetent epilator.

---

Our experts:

Kristina Shlega

cosmetologist of the LazerJazz clinic

Irina Zhurina

Wax & Go salon chain master

---

• Best Body Cleansers 2020
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ingrown hair spots and badyaga, photo

ingrown hair spots …

April 29, 201 1, 10:26

34 replies

Last —

September 14, 2015, 18:51 Go to

April 29, 2011, 11:19

#1

It is necessary to scrub, probably, after epilation a few days, then there will be no ingrown hairs. I think so)) 314 April 29, 2011 13:03

#4 #50003

Natasha, I scrub my whole body every day, I just have thick, black and wavy hair on my legs – a complete set. I have been using the epilator for many years, and for me, “ingrown hairs” are no longer just hairs that at first cannot be shaved off, and then it becomes clear that they are under the skin. For me, these are huge bumps that sooner or later fill with vile pus and burst, and somewhere there, at a depth of several millimeters, a long hair hid (((((if you don’t pull out the hair, the scar remains much more trenchant than any spots ( (((

April 29, 2011 7:08 pm

#6

April 29, 2011 9:55 pm

#7

90 363 29 April 2011, 23:50

#8

Author

Natasha, I scrub my whole body every day, I just have thick, black and wavy hair on my legs – a complete set. I have been using the epilator for many years, and for me, “ingrown hairs” are no longer just hairs that at first cannot be shaved off, and then it becomes clear that they are under the skin. For me, these are huge bumps that sooner or later fill with vile pus and burst, and somewhere there, at a depth of several millimeters, a long hair hid (((((if you don’t pull out the hair, the scar remains much more trenchant than any spots ( (((

But I don’t smear anything, neither bodyagi, nor peroxide, I just blot it with alcohol

After epilation I smear it with some kind of milk, like Clean Line for the body

April 30, 2011, 04:40

#9

30 April 2011, 13:16

#10

May 01, 2011, 05:55

#11

Shave against growth – it is pricked at once. Allergy has already gone to the depilatory cream. I live in Florida, walking in pants here is not to love yourself))) Therefore, the way out is to shave according to hair growth (shave for a long time), then with golden oil (the oil itself is yellow + small sparkles), at least disguise. But it doesn’t help the stains.

By the way, the legs don’t look so scary anymore, and the freshest stain (actually, it was a burn from too hot wax) has brightened!

May 01, 2011 05:55

#12

May 1, 2011 03:27

#13

I go for wax + I did it myself with warm wax in a cartridge on my legs … that’s all I did it right, and then I smeared my legs with olive oil to remove the remnants of wax – no irritation.

good luck to you!

May 02, 2011, 03:22

#14

May 04, 2011, 02:17

#15

It hurts to walk because the skin on my legs hurts 0_0

04 May 2011, 22:24

#16

May 06, 2011, 04:35

#17

some strange action))))

14 June 17, 2011, 18:54

#19

– if it’s still at the stage of inflammation – I think it’s useless to smear the scars with brilliant green. after pulling out and squeezing out my hair, I had terrible huge red spots, and they didn’t heal for a long time (and my skin is terribly sensitive). I first smeared with argosulfan – a wound healing ointment, very good, judging by the indications for use. but something didn’t last long anyway. I generally keep quiet about bepanthen – no effect. and anointed with the good old green. Within 2 days the redness was gone. now the paint is still left, but it is clear that the appearance of the legs is already much better. brilliant green, of course, is not the most aesthetic option – you have to walk around in trousers for a week .. but beauty requires sacrifice)

June 17, 2011 7:21 pm

#20

July 31, 2011 10:24 pm

#21

October 01, 2011, 21:26

#22

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November 04, 2011, 21:23

#23

Author

Another topic about badyagi. I read old topics, they are very old, in order to dig into them again, so I created a new one. I, like many, have had nightmares of ingrown hairs and ingrown hairs after several years of using the epilator. I couldn’t get badyaga in powder, so yesterday, separately from each other, I anointed my legs with hydrogen peroxide and badyaga forte gel. Today, nothing pricked, I spent the whole day in my pants, took them off, and under them there is such horror. http://s53.radikal.ru/i141/1104/6f/0f3f69adbebd.jpg I have never used badyaga before, please tell me, is this how it should be? Or is it an allergic reaction? The skin is not flaky, just covered with some red pimples. Before the procedure, I didn’t touch my legs for several days, neither with a razor, nor with wax, nothing . ..

November 20, 2011, 00:02 3

#25

December 19, 2011, 10:06 pm

#26

I bought a Badyaga Forte gel .. I smeared it on my feet, then held 20 minutes …

And there is no effect ((the skin does not blush, does not pinch …

maybe I wiped little?

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05 Jan 2012, 14:38 48

#28

May 26, 2012, 04:54 PM

#29

May 30, 2012, 03:46

#30

May 30, 2012, 0 4:32

#31

June 19, 2012, 22 :41

#32

June 24, 2012, 20:59

#33

I’m going to go sunbathing soon – then I’ll have to stop all this)

More advice – buy an epilator suitable for epilation in water – from wet skin, the hairs are pulled out more easily and are less likely to break off, and less painful.

September 14, 2015, 18:51

#34

Daria

Julia so you do it right and you won’t burn anything) without peroxide .2 spoons of badyagi 3 water and gently rub for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water)

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