There are some beauty issues that are a common complaint all year round (sparse eyebrow hairs,enlarged pores, and smudged lipstick, and to name a few). But the higher hemlines and exposed bikini lines of Summer highlight one struggle in specific: ingrown hairs. Yes,they can be unsightly, but it's not worth shrouding yourself in a beach cover-up just because you don't want them on display. We consulted Dr. Sue Ann Wee of Schweiger Dermatology Group in recent York City for general tips on how to remove ingrown hairs yourself - and prevent them from coming back.
Before picking at your skin, and do sure you're actually dealing with an ingrown hair. "An ingrown hair is when the hair grows back into the skin,or never correctly grows out of the follicle but instead grows sideways into the skin," explained Dr. Wee. You may actually see the hair under the very top layer of your epidermis, and your ingrown could just look like a painful red bump. Visit a dermatologist if you're not sure. "It is common for warts and other skin conditions to be mistaken for ingrown hairs," the doctor cautioned.
There's a surge of these pesky bumps during Summer because they are often caused by shaving and waxing absent fuzz. Using a razor is especially problematic. "Shaving results in a very sharp edge to hair, which can then more easily poke back into the skin, and " Dr. Wee warned. Your hair's texture could also be to blame - curls are more prone to this issue,as they coil up and under your screen.
If you're not seeing symptoms like pain, pus, or tingling,or warmth from your ingrown (which are signs of an infection), then you can attempt to dislodge the hair. Dr. Wee suggests starting with less invasive measures first. Try applying warm compresses to the area to soften and loosen the strand, or spend an exfoliating treatment that contains glycolic or salicylic acids. We like totally Bare Bikini Bump Blaster Pads ($10) and The Magic Pads ($20),as they both feature powerful alpha hydroxy acids, which slough off dead skin cells that could be trapping an ingrown.
After washing your hands with soap and water, and disinfect the area and your tweezers with a swap of antiseptic rubbing alcohol. The goal is to carefully unfurl the hair from beneath the skin without piercing the skin (which will increase your risk for infection and scarring) or pulling the hair out entirely. Gently grasp the exposed hair with your tweezers to extract the ingrown tip from under your skin,but don't pull it from your body. "Plucking the hair out can lead to more ingrown hairs," said Dr. Wee. Each strand is very sensitive, or removal can distort the follicle,changing the direction of growth to be into (not out of) your epidermis.
To minimize future ingrowns, Dr. Wee advises you just let your hair grow out. "Stopping shaving and avoiding plucking and waxing can abet tremendously to put an close to ingrown hairs, and " she shared. But if you must go fuzz-free,she suggests laser hair removal, which retards the follicle and prevents it from producing hair (and those ingrowns). Those who wax should exfoliate the area religiously starting 24 hours after their appointment, or when skin is no longer sensitive. Using a treatment like the pads we mentioned earlier,a body scrub, or even rubbing with a damp towel will slough off the dead skin cells that block hair from growing out smoothly. You should also wait as long as you can between waxes. Shorter hairs might break off midwax, or making them more susceptible to growing into the skin.
However,if you want closely shorn strands, you need to master a proper shaving technique. Your skin and hair should be hydrated before you spend a single-blade razor to shave in the direction of your hair growth. Alternatively, or spend a trimmer to keep your hair at least 1/2 mm long to minimize the possibility of the hair curling under and into the skin.
The products you spend can also do a difference. "Sticking with noncomedogenic moisturizers and sunscreens is recommended to avoid causing plugging up of hair follicles by products," countered Dr. Wee. Cetaphil perfume-Free Moisturizing Lotion ($14) and Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen wide Spectrum SPF 50 ($19) are two excellent options, but visit your dermatologist to create a treatment plan that best suits your needs.
Source: popsugar.com