We
all know that first sign of an ingrown hair. Suddenly, as we’re
shaving one morning, we notice a spot that’s unusually tender.
Upon closer inspection, it looks red and swollen. And, we know that
within a matter of days, that little inflamed follicle is likely
going to turn into a large and unsightly bump that’s going to be
painful to say the least.
Ingrown
hairs are very common, and most men will experience them from time to
time. Needless to say, any man who is dealing with an ingrown hair
is looking for the fastest, easiest and most painless way to get rid
of it. This is why it’s not unusual for a man to contemplate
simply shaving it off. However, as you’ll see, that’s always a
bad idea.
Basics
About Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown
hairs are still widely misunderstood despite how common they are.
Essentially, an ingrown hair is a hair follicle that has become
inflamed, and, most often, infected. It is caused by a hair growing
back into the follicle rather than growing straight out. There are
many things that can cause this to happen, such as shaving with a
dull blade and failing to exfoliate away dead skin cells that can
clog up the opening through which the hair is supposed to grow out.
Ingrown
hairs do sometimes go away on their own, but, most often, some type
of treatment is necessary. Ingrown hairs can, if left untreated,
become extremely infected, causing an abscess to develop on the skin.
However, most methods of getting rid of an ingrown hair can be
performed in the comfort of your own home, not requiring any real
medical treatment.
Why
Trying to Shave Off an Ingrown Hair is Never a Good Idea
You
may think that because an ingrown hair is a hair that simple grew
back into its own follicle, you can simply shave it off like you
would any other hair. The problem is that once that ingrown hair has
grown inward, it’s basically impossible for your razor
to make contact with it, especially because of the swelling that has
happened around it.
In
fact, trying to shave an ingrown hair can make problems worse. For
one thing, the skin surrounding it is so inflamed that running a
blade over it can cause further pain and irritation. Additionally,
the action of running a blade over it can further push the hair into
the follicle.
Alternative
Treatment Methods
If
you’re dealing with an ingrown hair, we recommend applying a hot
compress to it for twenty minutes several times each day. This
should open up the follicle so that the hair naturally loosens from
its inward position. You can also try applying a hydrocolloid
bandage to the area. These bandages safely bring down inflammation
so that the hair can have more room to loosen itself.
Ingrown
Hairs Are, to Put It Plainly, a Huge Pain
While
shaving an ingrown hair off might seem like a logical method for
getting rid of it, it can actually make matters much worse. This is
why we recommend going with one of the alternative methods above.
Your face will thank you.