Many of us will suffer from ingrown hairs at some point in our lives. Men and women are both at risk of developing them, particularly if they shave on a regular basis. Although the resultant lumps and bumps are harmless, they can be unsightly and uncomfortable.
As the new hair grows within the hair follicle, the end can curl back on itself meaning that the hair doesn’t even make it out of the follicle. In other cases, the hair may grow out of the follicle but then continue to grow sideways beneath the surface of the skin.
Most ingrown hairs will eventually make it to the surface but they can cause problems while you are waiting for this to happen, and inflammation or infection can leave their mark on the skin.
Some people are simply more likely to get ingrown hairs; those with curly hair will most probably experience more problems than those with straight hair. Shaving and other temporary hair removal methods can also cause hairs to grow back under the skin.
Close shaving can cut the hair below the level of the skin, increasing the likelihood of ingrown hairs, but waxing can also have the same results. If you have a chronic problem of this type, your best bet may be to invest in laser hair removal for a long-term solution to the problem.
