Characterized by red, irritated bumps on the surface of the skin, ingrown hairs are an unsightly irritation, but are rarely serious in nature. In grown hairs can mimic other skin conditions, so chronic skin problems should be diagnosed by a dermatologist or other physician. People with coarse, curly hair are more prone to ingrown hairs and this condition, medically referred to as pseudofolliculitis, occurs most commonly on frequently shaved areas such as a man’s face or woman’s legs, underarms and bikini area.

The best treatment to get rid of ingrown hairs is prevention. However, if you have an ingrown hair, do not tweeze or pluck it out, but rather try to lift the hair from the follicle and back to the skin’s surface. Also avoid further irritating the follicle by squeezing the area around the ingrown hair. If a pustule has formed, apply warm compresses and keep the area clean and moisturized until it heals.

To prevent ingrown hairs, there are a few grooming tips, that if implemented, should reduce or eliminate this minor but problematic occurrence. Ingrown hairs are often triggered by shaving. This is because shaving cuts the hairs off, leaving a sharp end that may easily penetrate back into the hair follicle if the hair should curl up beneath the skin’s surface. Avoid a “too close” shave by using a single-blade razor, shaving in the direction of hair growth, and avoiding excessive pressure on the razor. If possible, shave with an electric razor rather than a blade.

Women may choose to use depilatory creams in place of shaving. This may prove effective at preventing ingrown hairs because it leaves the hair with a smoother, more rounded tip than shaving, tweezing, or waxing, which essentially cuts or breaks the hair off. However, many people find that depilatories either irritate their skin or their sinuses. Avoid depilatories if you have an allergic or irritating reaction.

Another problematic condition that can lead to ingrown hairs is excessively dry skin. Use a non-comedeogenic shaving cream, moisturizer and cleanser containing salicylic or glycolic acid on shaved areas to help the skin stay clean, soft and pliable. Exfoliating to remove dead skin cells is another preventative measure that can reduce the blockage of pores and help the skin stay soft.

If skin has become dry or pores become blocked, ingrown hairs can begin to become a regular occurrence. To avoid ingrown hairs while treating dry skin and improving the skin’s surface, allow hair to grow out. Many times when hair is permitted to grow, the hair is pushed back out through the surface of the skin and is no longer ingrown. Though this is not always a practical approach, it can be useful in certain situations and allows the avoidance of the unpleasant irritation from ingrown hairs while the skin surface is improving.

Many times, ingrown hairs heal on their own but can occasionally become worse. Depending on the type of hair a person has, ingrown hairs may become a chronic problem even with preventative measures actively being implemented. In this case permanent hair removal from the problem area may be necessary. Permanent hair removal, or electrolysis, can eliminate ingrown hairs in areas where it becomes a continual problem. Chronic skin problems, including ingrown hairs, should be checked by a dermatologist.