The Top 3 Solutions For Ingrown Hairs
People who prefer sleek and smooth skin tend to shave, wax, or pluck their unwanted hair frequently. While the trend of eliminating body hair provides several benefits for men and women, this practice also brings a pesky side effect in the form of ingrown hairs. They are itchy, uncomfortable, and painful nuisances that no one wants.
Yet, ingrown hairs are a common problem seen in all age groups. It regularly occurs in shaved skin, especially in people with thick curly hair. Although they may seem harmless, treating and preventing ingrown hairs is important. Not only is it painful, but it can also cause inflammation, infection, scarring, and hyperpigmentation. To stop these things from happening, let’s learn how to treat ingrown hairs.
Table of Contents
The DIY Method
Treatment options for ingrown hair can be attempted at home, but medical practitioners don’t recommend this method because of the risks. It’s always best to consult with a doctor before trying to treat it on your own. If you’re only dealing with minor ingrown hair, you may follow these simple steps.
Step 1. Lay off on all hair removal attempts.
Usually, any trapped ingrown hair will try to find a way out through the skin. While waiting for this process, it’s essential to take a break from shaving, waxing, or plucking. It will not only allow the ingrown hair to heal but also eliminate the risk of infection.
Step 2. Apply a warm compress and gently exfoliate the area.
If the hair is still embedded in the skin, you must soften the affected area with a warm compress and gently exfoliate it. Wet a soft washcloth with warm water and press it on the ingrown hair for 10 to 15 minutes. Slowly move the cloth in circular motions to gently exfoliate your skin for 10 to 15 seconds. Skip the exfoliation process if your ingrown hair hurts or is irritated.
Step 3. Remove the ingrown hair.
Once you see the looped hair growing through your skin, you can fiSterilisenally remove it using a small needle and tweezers. Sterilize all tools before using them. Pass the tip of the needle through the loop and tug lightly to free the ingrown hair. You can then use the tweezer to gently pull the strand out.
It can be difficult to do this method without accidentally hurting yourself or pushing the hair even deeper into the skin. Instead, let a professional doctor get rid of and treat your ingrown hair.
Topical Treatments
Instead of trying to dig and pull out the ingrown hair from your skin, consider using a topical treatment to speed up the healing process. You can use several home remedies and over-the-counter products to help you dry out the bumps and draw out the ingrown hair. However, you may need to apply them several times each day before you see an improvement.
You can use exfoliating skincare products to remove dead skin cells clogging your pores and lift the hairs away from the skin. Products containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids can help. Tea tree oil is also found to be effective in reducing inflammation, opening pores, and loosening ingrown hairs.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is another treatment to consider. Among all the other procedures, this is the best and most effective choice in quickly getting rid of ingrown hairs. Not only does it treat ingrown hairs, but it can also prevent them from returning in the future. That’s because this treatment is direct and goes straight to the problem – the hair follicle.
How does it work?
Laser hair removal works by directly hitting the hair follicles and burning away their ability to produce new hair. A medical practitioner will aim a pulse of highly concentrated light onto the affected area. This light energy will then be converted into heat, penetrating the skin, burning the hair follicles, and destroying the hair.
What are the benefits?
This cosmetic procedure offers many benefits. Laser hair removal delivers better precision and can selectively target affected areas while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. Each pulse of the laser only takes a few seconds and can treat large areas, saving you precious time. Most patients also report hair loss in the targeted area after four to eight sessions. Others notice their hair falling out within 10 to 14 days.
Are the results permanent?
In some cases, the results of laser hair removal are not permanent. You might need to schedule touch-ups to continuously enjoy great results. However, patients can still expect long-lasting effects.
How much does it cost?
Laser hair removal is an expensive cosmetic procedure, but the long-lasting results are worth it. The overall cost of the treatment will depend on the number of sessions required and the affected area. But according to the NHS, single treatments may cost you around:
- £85 for the upper lip
- £270 for the arms
- £110 for underarms
- £130 for the bikini line
Takeaway
Although there are different home and medical remedies to treat ingrown hairs, the best solution is laser hair removal. This procedure is the most efficient, fastest, and painless in treating and preventing ingrown hair. It may be the most expensive out of the three solutions listed above, but its benefits are much better. If you love smooth, hair-free skin but hate its pesky ingrown hair side effects, get in touch with a doctor today and book your laser hair removal treatment.
