What is Ingrown Hair and How to Remove it?

Ingrown hair: A painful problem with an easy solution

An ingrown hair is a not-so-rare problem faced by millions of humans worldwide. This painful condition has a proven and easy solution in the form of Laser Hair Removal (LHR). Before exploring this issue, let's start with the basics of ingrown hair.

What is an ingrown hair?

An ingrown hair can prove to be a very painful condition. This is because, unlike normal hair, it does not grow outside the human skin but grows inside. Sometimes, people call these ingrown hairs razor bumps, barber bumps, or shave bumps.

What Causes Ingrown Hairs?

The condition of ingrown hair is very common. Anyone who waxes, shaves or tweezes their hair can potentially develop ingrown hairs. People who shave often are more prone to develop an ingrown hair problem. 

Apart from this, the genetic makeup of individuals also plays an important role in determining the individual's propensity to get ingrown hairs. For instance, brown-skinned people and those who have curly, thick and coarse hair can easily get this condition.

Why do you need to remove ingrown hair?

One needs to remove ingrown hair because it can lead to the following issues.

• Bacterial infections.
• Ugly raised scars.
• Razor bumps.
• Hyperpigmented dark patches of skin.
• Depressed scars.

Methods to remove ingrown hair

Here are some of the most common methods for ingrown hair removal.

• Physical scrubbing

Physical exfoliation reduces ingrown hairs by pushing hair out of the way and freeing tucked-under hairs. One can also use scrubs which are a gentler option for dry-brushing ingrown hairs around the bikini line and torso.

• Chemical hair removers

Chemical hair removers are regulated plant extract exfoliation in a skin clinic. They remove dead skin and prevent and treat ingrown hair. Additionally, glycolic and salicylic acids can also cure ingrown hair and clear pores.

• Retinoids or other prescription acne medications

Tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A) helps exfoliate dead skin cells. This reduces the chances of hair growing inside the skin. Oral and topical medicines can also prevent ingrown hair infections.

• Home remedies

There are many simple home remedies for ingrown hair like:

1. Simply washing the affected area regularly with a soft-bristled toothbrush in a circular motion can solve the issue.
2. A sugar wax made from sugar, honey, water and salt is a potent remedy for ingrown hair.
3. Ice or a cold compress technique can be used to reduce the inflammation in the affected area.
4. One can apply tea tree oil with a cotton swab on the affected area.
5. Baking soda can also help in removing ingrown hair.
6. One can make a paste from aspirin, warm water and honey and apply it to the affected area.

LHR: The best method to remove ingrown hair

Laser hair removal is one of the most effective remedies for ingrown hair. The laser hair removal methodology is so successful because it addresses the root cause of the problem, the hair follicle. 

The high-density laser beam burns the follicle, thus devoiding it of its ability to produce hair. The affected area will heal with time. The main issue with ingrown hairs is that these hair continue to grow and return. They are like those pesky weeds on a farm that keeps coming back.

With the help of laser hair removal, one can effectively eliminate this problem, as the hair won't be able to grow back. Thus, this provides a permanent solution to the issue.

How to remove ingrown hair using the LHR process 

In this method, the medical practitioner will use a focused high-density light beam(LASER) to perform a small operation on the affected area. The melanin pigment in our skin absorbs the laser light emitted during laser hair removal. The light energy of the LASER beam then transforms into heat energy and burns the hair follicles.

Contrary to popular belief, the LHR method does not permanently remove hair. The patient may require follow-up treatments. The LHR method is most effective for persons with black hair and light skin.

What are the pre-care and post-care tips for LHR?

The LHR surgery requires some pre and post-care tips. Here they are:

LHR pre-care tips

• The patient should not apply any kind of cosmetics, perfume, or deodorant to the treatment area on the day of the visit.
• For at least three days before the scheduled visit, the patient should consciously avoid exposure to sunlight.
• The patient should avoid waxing, threading, or tweezing in the affected area for at least four weeks. It's ok to shave.

LHR post-care tips

• The patient should wash carefully with mild soap, pat dry, and not rub it for 48 hours.
• The patient should avoid makeup, moisturizer, and deodorant if redness or discomfort in the affected area continues.

Wrapping up

Many people experience the discomfort of ingrown hair at some point. Untreated ingrown hairs can be extremely unpleasant and even dangerous. We saw that various treatment methods are available for ingrown hair removals, such as physical scrubbing, chemical peeling, topical lotions, home remedies, and laser hair removal (LHR).

As discovered in this blog, LHR happens to be one of the best deep ingrown hair removal methods available today.  

At UnCover, we have mastered the science of laser hair removal using our state-of-the-art equipment and talented medical professionals. When you choose UnCover, you choose

• 10,000+ happy patients with a 4.8-star rating.
• US-FDA-approved LHR technology.
• 3 months EMI at zero cost.

We at UnCover provide highly affordable LHR plans from Rs 1800 to Rs 15,000. The cost of the LHR package depends on the number of sessions and the body part on which you require the LHR surgery. Discover our pricing plans and get rid of the incessant pain of ingrown hair.