What are ingrown pubic hairs and how to treat them?
Ingrown hairs happen when hair grows back into the skin, not to the surface area. Usually, hair that is shaved, waxed, or plucked will grow back through the skin and toward the surface area.
When an ingrown hair develops, you might discover small, round bumps called papules or small, pus-filled bumps called pustules. Sometimes, the skin around the ingrown hair might become darker. This is called hyperpigmentation. You may also experience pain or itching around the area of the ingrown hair
You risk developing an ingrown hair any time you eliminate hair from your body. This includes shaving, waxing, or plucking. Certain people may be at a higher risk for ingrown hairs, according to iytmed.com. For instance, people with thick, curly hair tend to establish ingrown hairs more regularly than people with fine, thin hair. This is especially true with pubic hair, which tends to be coarser than hair on the head or the remainder of the body.
What causes ingrown pubic hairs?
When you eliminate hair, it typically grows back. A lot of hair shafts will show up through the skin and not cause an issue. Other hairs, nevertheless, might grow beneath the skin. When this occurs, the body responds to the hair as if it were an attacking or foreign object. That’s when symptoms, consisting of pain, itching, soreness, or swelling start.
How to treat ingrown pubic hair
In most cases, ingrown pubic hairs do not require treatment. That’s because they can, and do, clear up by themselves without treatment. Occasionally, nevertheless, treatment may be required. The following treatment alternatives may be handy if you have ingrown pubic hairs.
Stop getting rid of the hair in that area
Stop waxing, shaving, or plucking the hair in that area till the ingrown pubic hair is gotten rid of. Such treatments will just intensify the delicate area a lot more. Scratching or choosing at the ingrown hair will likewise make the discomfort worse. It might even lead to a skin infection or leave a scar.
Remove dead skin
Gentle washing and exfoliating around the ingrown hair might help the hair go back to the surface of the skin. If that doesn’t work, your doctor may recommend a drug that can help dead skin cells slough off quicker. Retinoids, such as tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A), can speed up the clearing of dead skin cells. They may also help clear up dark skin patches that occurred because of the ingrown hair.
Use creams to reduce inflammation
If the ingrown pubic hair is triggering a great deal of redness and inflammation, your doctor might recommend a steroid cream. This topical treatment can reduce the swelling and inflammation around the hair.
Take antibiotics
If the ingrown pubic hair leads to an infection, you may require an antibiotic ointment. If the infection is severe, an oral antibiotic may be needed.
How can you prevent ingrown pubic hairs?
The best method to prevent an ingrown pubic hair is to not eliminate hair in the first place. Nevertheless, that’s not constantly a possibility. Waxing, shaving, and plucking might be necessary for medical or cosmetic factors. In that case, you can follow these steps to ideally avoid future ingrown pubic hairs.
Prime the pubic area for shaving
Treating the pubic region before you take a razor to the area might reduce your risk for ingrown hairs when the hair begins to grow back. First, wash your skin with a mild soap. Then, use a lubricating shave cream or gel, or one that’s created for sensitive areas, when shaving. When you’re completed, dry the area thoroughly prior to putting on undergarments and pants.
Use a sharp razor
If your razor is numerous uses old, you may wish to start with a fresh one. Dull blades do not produce a tidy, exact cut on the hair, which increases your risk for an ingrown hair.
Think about laser hair elimination
Though pricey, laser hair elimination is a lasting solution to the issue. Laser hair elimination removes the hair at a deeper level, damaging the hair follicle. In many cases, that prevents the hair from growing back. Laser hair elimination needs numerous treatments during a few weeks and months, but the results are usually semi-permanent.
Look into other non-razor hair elimination options
Chemical hair cleaners are a choice, but they can aggravate sensitive skin. Test a small patch of skin before using it all over. Some prescription creams can reduce hair regrowth, especially when used after a hair elimination treatment, such as laser treatment. Electrolysis is an irreversible hair elimination treatment. It uses an electrode to ruin the hair root. Like laser hair removal, electrolysis requires several treatments throughout a few weeks or months.
When should you see a doctor?
A periodic ingrown pubic hair is nothing to be alarmed about. Following the prevention actions discussed above may help you avoid ingrown hair in the future. However, there are a few occasions when you might want to see your doctor about ingrown pubic hairs. These situations include:
- The ingrown hairs have ended up being chronic. If you are having trouble with often recurring ingrown hairs, your doctor can help you find a treatment that will ideally avoid future problems.
- The ingrown hairs are the result of excessive hair. If you are experiencing irregular or unusual hair growth, your doctor might have to look for a hidden cause that could be adding to the ingrown pubic hair issue.
