Getting Rid of an Ingrown Hair
Most of us know what an ingrown hair is or may have probably heard about it. For those who don’t know or haven’t heard of it, it is a hair that has managed to grow back into the skin. It stays inside the skin, instead of growing out, and can cause irritations and discomfort to someone. Also, it can be unsightly depending on where it is.
What can cause ingrown hair? There are several reasons but I’ll mention two of the very common causes of ingrown hair. One of them is shaving. If it is not done properly, shaving can result to ingrown hair. Grow beard, instead, if shaving is not that necessary. If it is, then make sure you do it the right way. Choose a shaving tool that will be able to provide you with a cleaner and smoother shave.
Another cause of ingrown hair is tight clothing. The hair is prevented from growing out by the tight clothing so it is pushed back into the skin causing ingrown hair. If you can’t avoid wearing tight clothing, make sure that you shave the affected area properly. Also, make sure that your hair on that area are not pressed too much to prevent ingrown hairs.
How To Get Rid of Ingrown Hair?
First, make sure that you identify the ingrown hair from those that are not. Not all pimple-like appearance on your skin are ingrown hair. Some are probably real pimples and curing them need a different method than it is with ingrown hair.
Then, try to soften your skin so as to make it easier to remove the ingrown hair. You may try a hot compress which is done by applying a warm towel or compress on the affected area for a few minutes. After a few minutes, you should be able to tease out the hair from your skin easily.
You should use a sterile pair of tweezers or needle or similarly available tool to take out the ingrown hair from the skin. But do not forcefully pluck the hair if it is embedded deeply in your skin. You should let your dermatologist take care of it. You should also make sure that you properly sterilize your tweezers or needle to avoid infections.
Sterilizing can be done by boiling your tools for several minutes or by cleaning them with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to do this to avoid complications that can worsen the situation.
Wash the affected area properly once you’re done removing the ingrown hair. You may apply antiseptic after cleaning first with soap and water to avoid irritations. You can also apply hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol afterwards.
You may use some known ingrown hair treatment creams available in the market as a last resort. They can help to remove your ingrown hair. Choose the brand that will give you the best value for your money.
Although having ingrown hair is not something serious, it may lead to serious skin infections if not dealt with sooner. Use the simple methods I have mentioned to get rid of an ingrown hair. If you have ingrown hair, you may opt to deal with it the soonest possible time than face major problems in the future.