Ingrown hairs and razor bumps can appear in any area that has hair, but especially in the areas that we shave like the legs, armpits, and pubic areas. For men, this means that the most commonly affected areas are on the jawline, chin and neck. These hairs and bumps can lead to pain and severe irritation of the skin, and cause an uncomfortable rash to appear on the skin of the affected areas.
Red rashes can be embarrassing, but without treatment, these ingrown hairs and razor bumps can lead to cysts in the skin and acne.
How do Ingrown Hairs and Razor Bumps Form?
Ingrown hairs form when the tip of a hair curls back and grows back into the skin.People who have this happen are genetically predisposed to it. And trying to shave the hairs too closely just worsens the irritation.
Ingrown hairs can be painful and cause severe irritation or itchiness in the afflicted areas, which takes the form of small, red bumps also known as razor bumps or razor burn. Although ingrown hairs can appear most commonly in the places where you manually remove body hair, they can still appear anywhere on the body where hair grows.
Treatment Options
For men, growing out your beard can stop ingrown hairs. Once the hairs get long enough, they will pop out from under the skin. Another option is to permanently remove the hair from the area. Unfortunately for men who have ingrown hairs in their beard area, removing the hair permanently means their face will be smooth and hairless (and not look “manly” as before). For all people, removing the hairs permanently also can stop ingrown hairs. If the hair is removed, it cannot be ingrown! Permanent hair removal is done with a special laser that can only be done in a doctors’ office and under the auspices of a board certified dermatologist or nurse practitioner skin specialist. Lasers you can purchase on your own do not remove hair permanently.
It is also important to always use a gentle cleanser and also not to try and exfoliate ingrown hairs. Plucking them can also lead to permanent scars.
Dr. Green can also prescribe medications to help control ingrown hairs. Prescription medications such as topical benzoyl peroxide can reduce the inflammation, and retinoid prescription creams can help uncork the ingrown hairs.
For a skin exam and to determine the best treatments for your ingrown hairs or razor bumps, request a consultation with Dr. Lawrence Green at the Aesthetic and Dermatology Center today. Call: (301) 610-0663.
To see Dr. Green in action visit Dr. Green’s Instagram page @dr.lawrencegreen.