05 Aug How To Prevent Ingrown Hairs

How To Prevent Ingrown Hairs

One of our most frequent question is how to prevent ingrown hairs.  Ingrown hairs, or pseudofolliculitis barbae is caused by an inflammation and foreign body reaction. Over time, this can lead to keloidal scarring which looks like hard bumps on the beard area, neck, chest, or
even the groin.

So how does the ingrown hair actually develop? Shaving sharpens the ends of the hairs like a spear. The hairs then curve back into the skin causing inflammation and infection, leading to pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). This is most common in individuals with curly, coarse, wiry hair hence the hairs curves back. Additionally there is a buildup of dead skin cells which block the follicles and distort the way the hairs come out of it. This leads to skin irritation, small bumps with hair in the middle (papule), pain, discoloration (brown, purple, red), and itching.

Who is at risk? PFB is predominantly seen in individuals with coarse, curled hair who shave regularly. People of African Descent are genetically predisposed to curly hair and curved hair follicles which confer a much higher risk of PFB. However, anyone can develop ingrown hairs.
Here’s how to prevent ingrown hairs

Best Way to Prevent Ingrown Hairs

The best way to prevent ingrown hairs/ PFB is to not remove any hair. But of course, avoiding hair removal can be difficult for many people. This is especially true if hair removal is what’s causing the ingrown hair.

Another way to Prevent

The second-best way to prevent pseudofolliculitis would be to trim the hair close to the skin with cuticle scissors, and limit shaving and other hair removal methods. Understandably, some people want the hair removed all together so a trim is not as ideal. If you do need to shave, use a clean blade and shave with the grain. Don’t shave against the grain because that leads to ingrown hairs.

Other methods such as laser hair removal provide a long term benefit of reducing ingrown hairs. The energy from the laser reduces inflammation and removes hair while zapping the hair bulb. For more permanent hair reduction, 4 to 6 sessions is recommended depending on the area being treated. These laser hair removal sessions should be performed 4 weeks apart. During the 4 weeks, apply proper skincare products to prevent ingrown hairs.
When it comes to skincare products, there are several options to help prevent ingrown hairs. The goal is to reduce the dead skin cells via exfoliation and cell turnover. The use of over-the-counter lotions with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or glycolic acid between hair removal sessions exfoliates dead skin cells. This keeps the skin smooth and decreases the tendency to form ingrown hairs. Retinoid or Tretinoin cream, topical steroids, and antibiotics may be used to promote exfoliation, lessen dark spots, reduce inflammation and treat infected follicles.

If ingrown hairs grow untreated, Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), secondary bacterial infection, scarring, and keloid formation are potential complications. So it’s best to do things to prevent ingrown hairs. If you need more tips on how to prevent ingrown hairs, you can contact our office at (215) 278-6638 for a virtual or in office consultation.