Ingrown hairs are one of life’s small, but persistent annoyances which we would gladly do without. But to go about this, one would have to first know what we are dealing with. For knowing is half the battle, right?
So hair becomes “ingrown” when it bends and grows back inside the skin instead of piercing it. Redness can appear on the surface and then a rash, often accompanied with discomfort, or even pain.
How to prevent ingrown hairs?
Anybody with hair on their body will experience is subject to ingrown, renegade hairs. That being said, those with thicker skins or more abundant hair growth are particularly at risk. In that sense, skin that is regularly exfoliated (say, once a week), either with an exfoliating glove or cream is less prone to developing ingrown hairs. Indeed, dead cells that accumulate at the surface of the epidermis act as a barrier, preventing hair from getting through.
Ingrown hairs can appear on any part of the body where hairs do grow. That being said, they appear more frequently on zones which are subject to repeated shaving, and even more when improper technique is used. Here are a few guidelines:
- Switch to single blade or safety razors. Multi-blade razors cut the hair below the skin, which may disrupt normal growth
- Wet the skin and apply shaving cream prior to shaving
- Make sure you do as few passes as possible with your blade as possible in order to prevent bending the hairs towards the surface of the skin
- Never shave against the grain (against the hair growth)
No hair, no problem!
Ditching the razor, then, goes a long way towards preventing the appearance of ingrown hairs on your body. In that case, alternatives have to be found. Waxing is a fine solution, but then, so is a more permanent solution like electrolysis, which has the obvious benefit of freeing you totally from the issueof ingrown hairs. No hair, no problem!
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