Ingrown Hairs...Ouch!
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 19:24
- Written by Stacey Naito DO, AOBFP
for the quickest methods by which to clean it. As a result, they are often prone to developing ingrown hairs, where hair gets trapped inside a follicle or grows back into the skin, forming painful bumps.
If you want to minimize the chances of developing these nasty bumps, you must exfoliate! This can be accomplished with salicylic acid based cleansers, post-shave products and moisturizers. You can also use a soft-bristle brush or washcloth to exfoliate dead skin cells. Make sure that you are consistent with your exfoliating regimen or else you will find yourself having to treat ingrown hairs instead of preventing them from forming.
When you shave, it is always best to do it in the shower. The moisture and steam from the shower will soften the hairs and open up the follicles. Use a good lubricating shaving cream or gel to increase the glide of the razor. Make sure you use a razor with a sharp blade, and shave with the direction of hair growth.
What do you do if you already have ingrown hairs? One thing you can do is to GENTLY lift the ingrown end out with a pair of tweezers, but do NOT pluck the hair! If the area is swollen, you can apply witch hazel to soothe it.
These days it is completely acceptable for men to use skincare products, so don’t be afraid to check out the many wonderful products out there that are specially formulated for men. ZIRH, Neutrogena, Aveda, Lab Series and Clinique are among the companies with decent product lines. Above all else, please abandon the mentality that bar soap is the only skin care product you need! Bar soap is highly alkaline and strips the skin of moisture. What was supposedly good for grandpa isn’t good for you!