What Is An Ingrown Hair

An ingrown hair is a hair that has curled in and penetrated the skin with its tip instead of growing outwards. Commonly known as razor bumps, ingrown hair generally results in inflammatory conditions. Ingrown hair is described by the medical term pseudofolliculitis barbae or PFB. People with curly hair are at a higher risk and while almost 65% Afro Americans are afflicted by this condition, only 20% white Caucasians face this problem.

· What Are The Causes Of Ingrown Hair?

The main cause of ingrown hair in both men and women is hair removal through techniques like shaving, tweezing, electrolysis, waxing and cream depilation, which often irritates the hair follicle and results in an inflammation. While men generally encounter razor bumps on their faces, women may have ingrown hair on legs, underarms, bikini area and any other place where they might have carried out hair removal. People with dry skin are at a higher risk of getting ingrown hair. Stiff, curly or coarse hair is also more prone to getting ingrown. Other factors that cause ingrown hair are genetics, build up of dead skin cells that clog pores and hair follicles that are full of oil.

· What Are The Symptoms Of An Ingrown Hair?

The most common symptom of a ingrown hair is inflammation of the skin. While at times this can be painless, it is generally accompanied by tingling, itching and redness. In many cases, an ingrown hair results in a painful pus filled blister. Many a times, ingrown hair gets infected by yeast, bacteria or fungi, further exaggerating the problem.

· How Is An Ingrown Hair Diagnosed?

Ingrown hair symptoms vary from person to person and the best way to diagnose this condition is to get it examined by a dermatologist.

· How Is Ingrown Hair Treated?

In case you have inflamed ingrown hairs that keep getting infected or are very painful, then you should get them treated at a dermatology clinic. Treatment of ingrown hair generally involves the use of electrolysis and depilation.

· How Can You Avoid Getting Ingrown Hair?

In cases where a tendency to have ingrown hairisn’t genetic, this condition can be avoided through proper skin care and depilation methods. A skin care regime that involves regular moisturization and exfoliation will make your skin soft and smooth, providing less resistance to growing hair and result in a decrease in the number of ingrown hair. Make it a point to exfoliate with a loofah every time you take a bath and moisturize your skin afterwards with a body lotion.

Dermatology experts also suggest that one should shave in the direction of the growth of hair instead of shaving in the opposite direction. While this might not give you a very close shave, it will definitely prevent ingrown hair. Both men and women should apply an aftershave lotion to avoid infection of hair follicles.