We use various methods to get rid of hair on our skin to have a beautiful looking skin surface. We use waxing, tweezing, depilation or shaving to remove unwanted hair. This results in removal of hair below the level of the skin and after this procedure, the hair ends are left with pointed tips. When these tips begins to re-grow, they might grow within the surrounding tissue of the same hair follicle instead of growing outwards. The hair that curls back or grows sideways into the skin is known as ingrown hair.
Ingrown hair is medically termed as pseudofolliculitis barbae or PFB. Also, sometimes hair can be seen beneath the raised skin area, like a black spot, this is ‘ingrown’ hair that does not penetrate the dermis to grow, as it should. Ingrown hair irritates the skin and may lead to an infection, redness and swelling at the hair follicle. It might be an annoying occurrence on the skin. The seriousness of the inflammation and infection of the ingrown hair may vary in each case. Let us know how to recognize infected ingrown hair and various infected ingrown hair treatments.
Recognizing Infected Ingrown Hair
You can easily identify itching, mild or severe pain in the affected area.
Treatments for Infected Ingrown Hair
Infected Ingrown Hair Treatment # 1: The most important part of infected hair follicle treatment is not to meddle or squeeze the infected area. First, use alcohol or toner and disinfect the area. Take a clean towel which has been dipped in boiling water, allow it to cool down before using it. Now, gently pat it on the infected area. Repeat this procedure twice. You will see that the hair rises to the surface of the skin. Now, using a cotton ball, disinfect a pair of tweezers with alcohol. This will remove any dirt and germs from the tweezers. Now remove the hair using this tweezers. Once you are done, dab alcohol on the area to prevent infection. This is the best infected ingrown hair removal and treatment method.
Infected Ingrown Hair Treatment # 2: Using tea tree oil is one of the best infected ingrown hair remedy. Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties which prevent and fight off infected ingrown hairs. You can also use lavender oil which fights inflammation and prevents redness of skin. Use this infected ingrown hair treatment daily for one week, and then use twice a week to ward off ingrown hairs and to have a soft skin.
Infected Ingrown Hair Treatment # 3: Exfoliating the skin after bath is one of the best ways to get rid of ingrown hair. Using an exfoliant will slough off the dead skin cells and open up the pores. This allows the hair to come above the skin layer and not get back into it. Any body exfoliant or body scrub will work best when applied after taking a shower, because this is when your skin is moist and they show the best results. Sugar is a very gentle exfoliant that removes dead skin cells and helps the hair point back out of the skin. Read more on sugar hair removal recipe.
Infected Ingrown Hair Treatment # 4: A homemade scrub can be used as an effective infected ingrown hair treatment. Mix one cup white cane sugar and half cup extra virgin olive oil or jojoba oil together. Add ten drops each of tea tree and lavender essential oil. You can add twenty drops of just one essential oil instead of using two different oils. Mix these ingredients well by stirring thoroughly. Now, wet your skin and take a small amount of this scrub and apply it in circular motions using a washcloth or with your hands. Rinse off any leftover residue with warm water. You can store this homemade scrub in an airtight container away from heat and use it for the next six months.
The above mentioned infected ingrown hair treatments will definitely help you get rid of the problem and you will have a soft and smooth skin texture. Moisturizing your skin regularly with olive oil or jojoba oil will keep your skin away from ingrown hair problem. Also exfoliating your skin before you opt for skin care is the key to smooth, soft and even looking skin. infected-ingrown-hair-treatment.html
