PROBLEM WITH INGROWN HAIRS ON LEGS

Soft, smooth and well-nourished skin is certainly something that every one of us desires. Ingrown hairs can be disturbing and occur in both men and women. The consequences of such hairs are dark spots, but also scars on the skin. If you are one of those people who are constantly struggling with ingrown and inflamed hairs, you have surely wondered why they appear in the first place. And, more importantly, how to prevent them.

What is ingrown hair?

An ingrown hair, as the name suggests, is one that does not come to the surface but comes back and grows under the skin. For some people, this may happen once every few months or once a year. In others, the problem may occur continuously and develop into a chronic condition.

Hair growing under the skin prevents the natural secretion of the sebaceous glands. Because of this, the contents of the sebaceous glands remain under the skin and it is easy to get infection and inflammation at the root of the hair, which is expertly called folliculitis. Unprofessional and incompetent treatment of an ingrown hair, attempts to pull it to the surface with tweezers or pulling it out, will easily lead to various bacterial infections. The skin reacts to the ingrown hair like a foreign body and tries to expel it, resulting in various infections and inflammatory processes.

Exfoliate your skin regularly to prevent ingrown hairs

Exfoliation is a proven and effective method of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and cleansing pores. As ingrown hairs often result from clogged hair follicles, regular exfoliation can work wonders in smoothing and cleansing the skin, eliminating the risk of ingrown hairs. 

Use excellent blades

Make sure you use the best possible blade every time you shave. This means no old, rusty disposables, please! A dull or dirty blade can result in an uneven, unhygienic and bumpy shave - and this is not conducive to preventing ingrown hairs. Have new razor heads on hand so you always have a close shave.

Shave down, not up

Sounds strange, doesn't it? However, shaving (or in the opposite direction to hair growth) actually cuts the hair at a sharper angle, making it more likely to grow back under the skin. Prevent this by shaving in the same direction as the hair grows, and use a high-quality shaving cream to prevent the razor from further irritating your skin.

Try dry brushing

Similar to an exfoliating scrub, a dry brush will help remove dead skin cells and increase skin renewal. The result is less clogged pores and follicles, allowing hair to grow properly. Dry brushing is fantastic for larger areas that may not get as much attention, such as the legs, back and chest. Gently rub a dry brush in a circular motion before jumping into the shower. If you're already a fan of laser hair removal, this method will also help to remove dead follicles from hair follicles that the laser has destroyed.