If youve evershavedany part of your body, you probably know the inevitable pain of ingrown hairs.
Treating them is nice, but learning how to prevent ingrown hairs in the first place is even better.
But theyre especially annoying when they pop up in more sensitive areas, like in your pubic area.
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What causes ingrown hairs?
Each follicle contains a hair that grows through your skin.
At that point, the hair might look like a hoop with both ends embedded into your skin.
The best way to prevent ingrown hairs is, unfortunately, to just not remove your hair.
Always use some kind of lubrication before you shave.
Shaving dry hair can create especially sharp edges that are more prone to growing back into your skin.
you’ve got the option to also try using a warm compress before you shave.
Only use a sharp razor.
Shave in the direction that your hair is growing.
So shavingwiththe grain is one easy way to help prevent ingrown hairs.
Rinse your blade after every stroke.
Doing this will help add lubrication when you shave.
Resist the temptation to pull at your skin for a closer shave.
From there, they can easily become ingrown hairs.
Do your best to let your skin sit naturally while shaving.
Consider using an electric razor or clippers.
Gently exfoliate before you shave.
Moisturize after you shave.
Moisturizing keeps your skin smooth and hydrated.
It also reduces the chances for irritation because it reinforces the skins protective barrier.
Consider trimming what it’s possible for you to instead of fully removing the hair.
You dont necessarily have to choose between fully shaving and letting things go wild.
There is a middle ground here!
Instead of shaving, give waxing a try.
In that way, waxing can reduce your chances of getting an ingrown hair.
However, it’s possible for you to still get ingrowns after waxing as the hair grows back.
Try out a serum meant to prevent ingrown hairs.
There are a bunch of serums on the market that promise to help prevent ingrown hairs from forming.
Or try removing your hair with a cream, instead.
Like waxing, hair removal creams dont cut the hair.
Instead, they dissolve the hair shaft,Cleveland Clinic explains.
Without that structural integrity, the hair doesnt stay rooted in your skin, so out it comes.
If you get ingrown hair frequently, consider laser hair removal.
But its a misconception that laser hair removal means youll just never grow hair in the treated spots again.
But it still isnt necessarily off limits for those people.
If you do get an ingrown hair, whats the best way to treat it?
First, theMayo Clinicrecommends that you stop shaving, tweezing, or waxing until things clear up.
Unfortunately, that could take a whileanywhere from one to six months.
This motion gently exfoliates the area without traumatizing it, Dr. Conrad says.
I would not recommend doing this, Dr. Goldenberg says.
Plus, opening up your skin in this way can expose you to a potential infection.
Is it theoretically possible for you to squeeze out an ingrown hair with no ill effects?
Oh, and youd have to do it all without piercing yourself or otherwise making the situation worse.
Sounds much more up a dermatologists alley, dont you think?
