What is an ingrown hair?
Ingrown hairs can affect anyone but are more common in Black people with curly hair who shave.
It also looks at ways to prevent ingrown hairs and who is most at risk.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
What Are the Symptoms of an Ingrown Hair?
Symptoms of an ingrown hair include:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet NZ & Raimo Suhonenwww.dermnetnz.org2022
What Are the Causes of an Ingrown Hair?
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ & © Raimo Suhonenwww.dermnetnz.org2022
Ingrown hairs are otherwise known aspseudofolliculitis barbae.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae is achronic(persistent) inflammatory condition associated with shaving or plucking.
It is common in people with tight curly hair whose hair can curve back and penetrate the adjacent skin.
Risk factors also include behaviors like:
How Is an Ingrown Hair Treated?
Some ingrown hairs can heal themselves with time.
More importantly, you should never pop a pus-filled bump or venture to dig out an ingrown hair.
With pseudofolliculitis barbae, the formation of a keloid can often cause permanent scarring.
A secondary skin infection happens when a break in the skin from aprimary infectionallows bacteria entry into deeper tissues.
This can lead to widespread inflammation and pain as well as possible scarring and tissue damage.
Popping a pustule also forces pus into deeper tissues where it can form a pus-filled cyst or nodule.
How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs may be hard to prevent in some people.
However, it is important to note that improper shaving techniques and skin care practices can also contribute.
In some cases, you may be referred to a skin specialist called adermatologistfor treatment.
Ingrown hairs are common in the beard area as well as the armpits, legs, and pubic area.
Black people who shave are especially vulnerable.
An ingrown hair will often resolve on its own if you allow the hair to grow back naturally.
Proper shaving techniques can go a long way toward preventing ingrown hairs.
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