Home Remedies For Ingrown Facial Hair
September 13, 2021 | Farah Jassawalla

Home Remedies For Ingrown Facial Hair

Ingrown hair is usually a cosmetic concern rather than a medical one. Even though they cause red tiny bumps to grow which are painful and irritating, these bumps generally go away on their own. If not scratched on, these bumps do not leave a scar behind. And also, unless they get infectious, medical prescriptions are not necessary for this condition.

Ingrown hair usually develops when the facial hair is removed by shaving, plucking, waxing, or using chemical hair removing products. This removal of hair from the hair follicles present beneath the skin sometimes causes the dead skin cells to get clogged inside these follicles. This is one of the reasons why the new hair growth from these follicles may experience hindrance in their growth.

The facial hair may not be able to grow straight out of their follicles, rather they are forced to either curl back inside due to clogging or may grow out at an awkward angle. Sometimes, using a blunt razor or unhygienic hair removing tools may develop a bacterial or fungal infection in the hair follicles, which may also be the reason for the ingrown hair.

Ingrown hair gets stuck inside the skin layer which develops red bumps on the skin. These are different from usual pimples and acne; the ingrown hair is itchy, annoying and painful. These may also contain pus in case of bacterial or fungal infection, and antibiotics are needed for treatment in this case.

There are several home remedies and daily life practices that may help in handling and avoiding ingrown hair.

Cleansing and exfoliating:

Daily face washing with mere water may not help much, rather using cleanser on a daily basis, and exfoliating scrubs twice or thrice a week facilitates preventing the clogging of pores. They may also help in washing off dangerous bacteria.

As clogging is one of the main reasons for ingrown hair, cleansers and exfoliating scrubs remove dust, dirt and dead skin covering the face. This helps open the pores and aids in the growth of hair in the right direction.

Shaving techniques and tools:

Firstly, opting for the right razor blade is the major step to avoiding ingrown hair. Single blade razors should be preferred over double ones; double blades, like an electric razor, cut the hair too deeply which increases the chances of ingrown hair.

Secondly, using a clean razor blade is highly necessary to avoid ingrown hair as well as bacterial infection. Frequent use of one razor blade gets it blunt and dirty which increases the risk of bacteria entering into the pores causing infection. So, frequent change of blade is a healthy practice to avoid facial ingrown hair. Also, washing the blade after each stroke with clean water is a must.

Thirdly, a few shaving techniques should be kept in mind: shave in the direction of the hair. Shaving it in the opposite direction creates a high risk of ingrown hair as it disturbs the hair follicles. Also, the skin shouldn’t be held taut while shaving. It cuts the hair too deep and also causes razor burns.

Furthermore, the use of shaving cream or any facial oil that keeps the skin moist and lubricated while shaving should be encouraged. Shaving on a dry face elevates the risk of ingrown hair and other skin problems.

After-shave moisturizers:

Other than that, after-shave moisturizers or lotion should never be overlooked. It helps keep the skin soft and hydrated. Applying moisturizer immediately after shaving reduces irritation, itchiness, and the risk of ingrown hair. It hydrates the skin and induces natural hair growth. For more information on facial hair and similar issues, book your online appointment at Shifa4U.

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Farah Jassawalla

Farah Jassawalla is a graduate of the Lahore School of Economics. She is also a writer, and healthcare enthusiast, having closely observed case studies while working with Lahore's thriving general physicians at their clinics.