Ingrown hairs are prevalent among people with curly hairs, most especially blacks. In point of fact 30 – 40% of blacks experience it. If you have ever experienced razor or shaving bumps whereby the hair grows back into the skin and leaves you in discomfort then you have it. Some parts of the body most especially the cheeks, legs, pubic area and the armpits are most susceptible to this problem. The problem apart from the ugliness is discomforting and required urgent treatment.

What Is Ingrown Hair?

The problem occurs when a close shave scraps the skin which causes the hair stubble to be trapped below the skin. As the hair begins to grow back, some of it fails to grow out of the hair follicles but instead grow and curls inside. Consequently as the tip of the ingrown hair pierces the skin, it becomes irritated and redness and irritation results which causes a bump on the surface of the skin known as razor or shaving bump or by it’s technical term Pseudofolliculities Barbae. This skin inflammation if not attended could lead to permanent scarring and color change to the skin.

What Causes Ingrown Hair

• Improper shaving is the main cause of ingrown hair. Shaving follows after some rules which if not applied appropriately, ingrown hairs is the result. For example, shaving in haste often result in improper shaving and should be avoided.

• Using of dull blade to shave is another form of improper shaving and should be avoided. You should therefore endeavor to use sharp and new razor blades when shaving. Dull blades increase the chance of the hair tearing unevenly and thus causing ingrown hair.

• Shaving against the grain of hair growth is another form of improper shaving which often result in ingrown hair. It causes irritation of the skin and points the hair back into the skin thereby causing a bump.

• Excessive pressure on the skin during shaving could also cause ingrown hair. Besides it often remove additional surface skin.

• Shaving over the same area too many times could also cause ingrown hair. Each stroke removes skin cells which could cause unnecessary irritation.

• Shaving without washing the shaving area with warm water or dry shaving either through bathing or just scrubbing could also cause ingrown hair. Scrubbing removes the dead skin and also assist in pointing out the hair out of the skin for cleaner shave.

Treatment of Ingrown Hair

• Once infected with ingrown hair problem, before doing anything at all allow the hair in the affected area to grow for a while (at least 2 – 3 days) before shaving again. This will give the skin a rest.

• Avoid squeezing or picking on the bumps resulting from the ingrown hair. This could make the bumps worse.

• Infant diaper cream is effective in getting rid of the bumps resulting from ingrown hair quickly. Apply it gently over the area where it has manifested or where you feel it might develop.

• Apply Tend Skin Care Lotion which is actually the most effective and will cure the ingrown hairs and the shaving bumps fast.