Ingrown hair – how to get rid of it?

Ingrown hairs are unsightly and painful. They occur when a shaved hair gets stuck in a follicle or starts growing into the skin. They can cause scarring, redness, and swelling (the medical term for this is Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, or PFB). Ingrown hairs are very common and usually occur after puberty. They are more common on areas of the body with coarser hair, such as the bikini area in women and the chin and neck in men. Rarely, ingrown hairs can occur on other areas of the skin, such as the eyelids.

Why do ingrown hairs appear?

Ingrown hairs occur when the sharp tip of a hair turns or starts to grow sideways into the skin around the hair follicle. This is a harmless condition characterized by a small dark or sometimes pink bump under the skin. Often, a small dark part of the ingrown hair is visible under the skin bump. In more extensive cases, multiple small red or pink bumps may be visible around the hair follicle in areas that are shaved frequently, such as the face, neck, armpits, legs, and pubic hair.

The growth direction and structure of the hairs play an important role in hair growth. There are thick, rounded hair follicles that grow very curly hair. This follicle encourages the hair to re-enter the skin after it has been cut by shaving, thus initiating the development of ingrown hairs.

The main cause of ingrown hairs is improper shaving technique. Alternative methods of hair removal such as waxing can also cause them. Tight clothing leads to friction, which can also lead to ingrown hairs.

What are the symptoms of ingrown hairs?

Symptoms of ingrown hairs can be rash, itchy skin, residual hair after shaving and infection. Other, less common symptoms are small hard round bumps, darkening of the skin, pain and ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs can be prevented by following a few simple instructions.

How to get rid of ingrown hairs?

Proper shaving techniques and skin preparation before shaving are ways to avoid ingrown hairs. Apply a sufficient amount of shaving product to your skin before shaving, which can be cream, soap or gel. Some people press the razor too hard when shaving, which causes the hair to be shaved deeper than the surrounding skin. To prevent this, do not pull the skin taut while shaving. It is recommended to use a single-edged razor, and if possible, use an electric razor or trimmer. Do not shave against the direction of hair growth and rinse the razor after each stroke.

In general, ingrown hairs are medically harmless, but they can cause cosmetic problems and lead to scarring, loss of skin color (progressive hyperpigmentation), skin infections, and rarely, keloid scars.

Permanent hair removal and ingrown hair problems

Today there are methods that can get rid of ingrown hairs forever. Laser hair removal is currently one of the most sought-after aesthetic treatments, both among women and men. With the help of the most modern technology, the diode laser, which is currently the gold standard when it comes to laser epilation , at the Bagatin Polyclinic we can guarantee our clients long-lasting results. The best candidates for laser hair removal are people with light skin and dark hair, but the results with the diode laser will not be lacking in people with lighter hair.

Free consultations

Before each laser treatment, we offer you a free consultation with our specialists, where you will receive a recommendation for the number of treatments and where we can discuss the treatment, preparation and precautions in detail. If you would like to book a free consultation or treatment, please contact us by phone at 01/46 10 225 or by email at info@bagatin.hr .