Ingrown Hair: What Is It and How to Prevent This Problem?

If you’ve had a beard for a long time, you must have encountered countless problems and issues. Ingrown hair is just one of them, but it’s one the most discomforting things that can happen to your beard, ever bearded man knows that. The bump you get on your skin is frustrating, and just when you think it’s a simple allergic reaction, you find yourself facing an ingrown hair.

Thankfully, ingrown hair isn’t an insolvable problem. You can get of such thing by following the below steps.

First, what is an ingrown hair?

ingrown hair

This particular problem appears when the tip of a strand curves just when it’s about to hit the surface, thus causing a bmp under your skin and a red reaction, which is similar to the effect pimples cause. The difference here is that when it’s an ingrown hair, there’s usually a black point visible under the skin, and it’s not painful.

Ingrown hair is a common thing, with over 3 million cases of it in the US every year according to the Mayo Clinic.

While it seems scary, ingrown hair isn’t painful, and it’s more of an inconvenience for your aesthetic look. It can be bit itchy, but that’s pretty much it. It’s not really a problem, more of a discomfort.

Can an ingrown hair become a serious problem?

If an ingrown hair gets infected, it can increase in size and become painful and full of pus. Thankfully, they’re not so big of a problem even then, as they’re not technically a medical problem, and will most likely decrease in size then disappear spontaneously. Even when they’re full of pus, they can easily be removed with oils and creams that you can purchase from a local drugstore, preferably after consulting your doctor.

If you’re worried about it and it’s too painful to bear, pay your doctor a visit and he’ll prescribe the proper antibiotics for your case. But that’s rare and you most probably won’t get to that point, so don’t worry.

Remember to resist the urge to scratch or squeeze the hair, as that would only get it worse. Be patient, and give it time to heal, as you’re probably going to cause more harm than good.

Why are bearded man more likely to face this problem?

ingrown hair

Besides the fact that they have facial hair to begin with, bearded men are more likely to face ingrown hair because of shaving and the use of razors. As a matter of fact, this phenomenon is more likely to happen in shaved areas like the face, underarm, legs and pubic area.

Is there a certain hair type that’s more likely to develop this problem?

People with curly or coarse hair are more likely to face this issue as their hair curves naturally, so it’s normal for it to do it under the skin and wrap back on it. Also, pesky bumps are more common in black and Latino. Statistics showed that black men aged 14 to 25 develop the issue the most.

Recommended: Best Electric Shaver for Black Men’s Hair

Can you avoid ingrown hairs by changing your shaving routine?

Many people in the world face this problem so frequently that they have to get medical attention and use laser removal treatments to face it. If that’s not the case for you and you just want a simple method to avoid ingrown hair, you can do it by changing your shaving routine. Here are some tips you can follow for the best results.

Keep your beard clean

Frequently clean your face and beard as the dead skin that accumulates on them can clog the hair follicles thus obstructing normal hair path and stops it from going outside and facing the world, thus the ingrowing problem.

Thoroughly cleanse your beard before and after shaving using a high-quality shampoo, like the Zeus Beard Shampoo and conditioner set, in which the harmonic combination of The Dragon’s Blood, and green tea extract, avocado oil, and Pro-Vitamin B5 is bound to keep your beard moisturized and your hair on its proper path.

Make sure to remove any debris that may get stuck to your beard during the day, and always wash your facial hair with cold water before going to bed.

Keep that razor away from your face

Avoid shaving your beard too closely, especially if you have curly hair, as that exposes the sharp ends and allows them to easily pierce through your skin back inside.Even if you’re using an electric razor, make sure you’re leaving some space between the blade and your skin. For that you can apply a shaving gel or a cream that can form a thick layer between the razor and your face.

Shaving one’s beard closely may seem like a tempting thing to do as it gives you a satisfying feeling that you can’t resist, but you need to stop doing it if you have curly or coarse hair since you’re more likely to face irritation that way.

Get some beard oil or cream

ingrown

Get some cream or oil on the tip of your fingers and gently rub your skin and beard as that will allow you to tease any stubborn hair. Do this several times throughout to day to avoid giving ingrown hair the chance to appear.

You can also use depilatory creams if you’re looking for a permanent solution, as these products dissolve the hair completely, so no more problems for you. Be careful if you go with those so, as using them without sufficient knowledge can lead to adverse results. Only consider them as a last resort0

Other tips

  • Use a single-bladed razor, and make sure it’s sharp enough to remove hair effectively
  • Shave your beard in the same direction of your hair, to avoid sharp ends
  • Wet your skin with warm water before shaving, and rinse it completely afterwards, then apply a cool cloth to reduce irritation

Verdict: should you get worried if you have ingrown hair?

Not really. This is a common problem among both genders, but it’s not so big of an issue to get you too worried. Follow the above instructions and you’ll say good bye to ingrown hair for good.