A Guide to Treating Ingrown Hair Scars
It’s safe to say that most of us who regularly remove hair from our body have a few ingrown hair scars hidden away. While these scars usually don’t cause any lasting pain or discomfort, they can cause a large hit to one’s self-confidence. In order to treat and prevent the development of ingrown hair scars, it is important to understand how they are caused in the first place. We are going to discuss ways to prevent ingrown hairs and how existing scars may be treated.
What causes an ingrown hair?
Many people believe that ingrown hairs are only caused by plucking or waxing hairs. The truth is that any type of hair removal—including plucking, shaving, and waxing—causes ingrown hairs to develop. When we remove hair, the hair is not only broken off at or below the surface of the skin, but the tugging motion that results from removal often causes the tip of the hair to curl while within the follicle. As the hair continues to grow, it literally forms a loop where it has grown up and back down into the same or a neighboring hair follicle. Naturally, the body detects this invasive process as a potential infection and the follicle becomes inflamed. Inflammation leads to redness, swelling, pain or irritation, and itchiness. In some instances, the follicle can become further irritated by bacteria which can then lead to the formation of puss within the swollen follicle.
Why does an ingrown hair leave a scar?
Any time the skin has sustained harsh treatment, there is a possibility that the tissues will not fully recover without aid. When a hair follicle becomes inflamed because of an ingrown hair, the tissues can become so stressed due to inflammation that scarring results. Ingrown hair scars are more likely to develop if one picks or squeezes an ingrown hair, or if the area becomes infected with bacteria, fungus, or a virus. Scars of this variety often appear as brown, purple, or pink spots, depending on how recent the scar is.
How can ingrown hair scars be removed?
Not all ingrown hair scars can be completely removed, although the chances are fairly good that they will fade away after time. The good news is that helping the skin to heal itself can really help to reduce the appearance of the scarring so that little or no trace is left. First, you will need to start by exfoliating the affected area. This will help to remove any excess skin that can build up and further clog the already stressed pores and follicles. The stimulation will also encourage new cell growth so that the scarred tissues can be replaced by healthy new cells.
After exfoliating the area, use a toner to help strengthen and tighten the skin against possible infections. A great natural toner to use is 100% witch hazel, which provides a nice cooling and rejuvenating effect on the skin, plus it’s mild enough not to cause irritation in sensitive areas. One should take care not to purchase witch hazel that has alcohol added, as alcohol can cause further dryness and irritation to the skin.
The last step is to keep the skin well moisturized. Any old lotion will not help to heal or reduce the appearance of scars, as some lotions can actually contribute to clogged pores by causing excessive greasiness and buildup of dead cells. You can create your own moisturizer by mixing a bit of olive oil (don’t worry—olive oil is skin-friendly because it doesn’t clog the pores) with pure vitamin e oil. The olive oil will provide long-lasting hydration for the skin and vitamin e is essential to skin cell repair. Apply this mixture to the skin and allow it to work its magic. If you need some drastic treatment, place a warm, moist cloth over the area and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. Remove the cloth and gently wipe away any excess oil.
How can ingrown hairs be prevented?
Unfortunately, the only way to ensure that ingrown hairs do not develop is to refrain from plucking, shaving, and waxing the hair away. Many of us simply cannot do with this, while leaves only one alternative: hair removal gel or cream. Because hair removal gels and creams do not cause a pulling sensation on the hair, there is a lessened chance of the hair curling at the tips. Another option is to shave in the direction that the hair grows, rather than shaving against. This method sometimes requires one to shave more frequently, but it cuts down on the amount of “tug” that the hair sustains during shaving.