Staph infections are treated with antibiotics to prevent other serious complications, such as blood infection. Learn more: Staph infection ». Digging for the hair only increases the risk of infection. Picking or popping an infected ingrown hair also increases your risk of complications. Instead, gently scrub the area with warm water and soap.
This can help ease the ingrown hair out of the skin on its own. Learn more: How to handle: Ingrown hair on the legs ». Most of these complications can be avoided by taking measures to prevent ingrown hairs and treating any infections promptly. Mild ingrown hair infections often clear up on their own without treatment. Your doctor can identify an infected ingrown hair through a physical examination of the skin. No other tests are typically needed for diagnosis.
Antibiotics may be prescribed in severe cases. These are used if you have large, pus-filled, or open sores. Your doctor can also provide tips for lifestyle changes that may reduce your likelihood of ingrown hairs. Picking or popping the ingrown hair will only increase your risk of infection because it exposes the follicle to bacteria. Picking the skin can also cause scars. Many cases clear up on their own without any interference. Mild cases of infection may clear up on their own after a few days, but severe cases can take a couple of weeks.
After the infection has cleared, you may have a scar or discolored skin that can last for several months. Learn more: Treating and preventing ingrown pubic hairs ». Preventing ingrown hairs in the first place can decrease your risk of related infections. Removing these can treat and help prevent ingrown hairs.
Exfoliation before shaving can help. Scrub the legs with an exfoliating body wash or use a loofah to help remove dirt and unclog pores. Exfoliation also gently scrapes away the dead skin cells that accumulate on top of the skin. This layer of dead cells can trap new hairs inside the follicles, causing them to grow inward.
Also, gentle exfoliation is sometimes enough to pull ingrown hairs up and outside the skin, where they can grow correctly.
Dry brushing is a way to get rid of dead skin cells. Brushing the skin with a firm, long-bristled brush in a circular motion can gently scrape away the outer layer of dead skin cells, revealing softer skin underneath. Removing this layer can also keep the pores and follicles clear and prevent hairs from growing inward. Too much friction can result in irritation and inflammation.
It may also cause razor burn, in which the skin becomes bumpy, red, and sometimes painful. By reducing friction, shaving cream reduces the risk of irritation. The type of shaving cream can also make a difference. Sensitive skin may react to ingredients in some creams. Chemicals and fragrances in shaving creams can irritate and inflame the skin, leading to skin issues, such as ingrown hairs. People with sensitive skin may benefit from using natural or hypoallergenic products on their legs.
A good razor should glide gently across the skin, leaving behind no missed or half-shaven hairs. Replace razors regularly to avoid dullness, which can add friction. Razors that do not glide smoothly can catch and pull hairs, and ingrown hairs can result. A razor that catches can also cause small nicks and cuts, which can become infected. In the past, some dermatologists believed that single-blade razors reduced risk to the skin. However, a study showed no difference between single- and multiple-blade varieties.
Do wet your skin with warm water and use shaving gel shave in the direction the hairs are growing use as few strokes of the razor as possible rinse the razor after every stroke hold a cool, wet cloth to your skin after shaving to reduce irritation use an exfoliating scrub to help release any trapped hairs try a different hair removal method, such as hair removal cream try a long-term way of removing hair, such as laser treatment.
Find a pharmacy. Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview An ingrown hair occurs when a shaved or tweezed hair grows back into the skin. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Pseudofolliculitis barbae Open pop-up dialog box Close. Pseudofolliculitis barbae Razor bumps pseudofolliculitis barbae affects men with curly beards. Share on: Facebook Twitter.
Show references Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. Philadelphia, Pa. Saunders;
0コメント