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Ingrown Hairs
What Is An Ingrown Hair?
Ingrown hairs are a common condition that affect both men and women, especially in persons with curly hair. Also called Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB), razor bumps, razor burn, or shaving bumps.
An ingrown hair is a hair that does not break the surface of the skin, instead it curls back or grows back inward, embedding itself "in" the skin. This can become unsightly and painful, and very distressing for the affected person.
Causes of Ingrown Hairs
Causes of ingrown hairs are usually the results from several methods of shaving and improper shaving techniques as to achieve a clean-shaven appearance.
Shaving Methods That Can Cause Ingrown Hairs Include:
- Shaving everyday.
- Plucking hairs with a tweezers.
- Removing hairs with electrolysis.
Improper Shaving Techniques That Can Causes Ingrown Hairs Include:
- Shaving too close by using a multi-blade razor. (Instead, use an electric shaver or a single-blade razor, make sure the blade is sharp, not dull).
- Shaving against the grain. (Instead, shave with the grain of your hair growth).
- Running your razor over the same spot.
- Pulling the skin taut while shaving.
What happens is the hair becomes sharpened after shaving, allowing it to pierce and penetrate the skin adjacent to the hair follicle (ingrown hair), causing a foreign body inflammatory reaction (like a reaction from a splinter of wood in the skin). This reaction often produces painful, pruritic, and sometimes hyperpigmented papules and pustules, causing inflammation and possible infection, and occasionally keloid formation over the beard area. The shape of the hair follicle, hair cuticle, and the direction of hair growth each play a role in the inflammatory response once the hair is shaven or plucked and left to grow.
Usually the areas that are affected are, in men, shaving the beard area (the cheeks, chin, and neck), and in women who shave the legs, under the armpits, and the bikini area. Pseudofolliculitis pubis is the condition occurring after pubic hair is shaved, affecting both males and females.
Ingrown hairs can also result from wearing tight fitting clothing which can rub against the skin.
Treatment of Ingrown Hairs
Many treatment options are available. Proper treatment is essential to avoid unnecessary scarring, pigmentation changes, and hypertrophic scarring (keloid scar) formation. Treatment must be individualized (what works best for you), as not all regimens will work for each person.
Management includes:
- Cessation of shaving (stop shaving).
- The use of lotion depilatories, or hair clippers, combined with routine lifting of ingrown hairs are the most effective treatments, although complete cessation of shaving is first required.
- Topical application of glycolic acid lotion is an effective therapy.
- Various combinations of topical antibiotics, corticosteroids, and retinoids.
- Modification of shaving techniques.
Laser Therapy
More recently, laser therapy has revolutionized the treatment of PFB and has enabled a cure for the first time for those plagued with this disorder and for whom a beardless face is acceptable. (References: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed - Jul 2005)
Recap: Prevention of Ingrown Hairs
Don't shave too close by using a multi-blade razor.
Use a single-blade razor or electric shaver.
Shave with the grain of your hair growth.
The use of a moisturize after shaving will help to soften the hair so it won't be so easy for the hair to penetrate the skin.
Don't shave everyday.
Don't run your razor over the same spot.
Don't pull the skin taut while shaving.
Lotion depilatories may be effective for you.
Topical application of glycolic acid lotion may be effective for you.
Combinations of topical antibiotics, corticosteroids, and retinoids may be effective for you.
Wear loose fitting clothing.
When all else fails, complete cessation of shaving is required.
References:
1) U.S. National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health - PubMed - Jul - Aug 1977 - 2004 - www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
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