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Ingrown hairs are common effects of waxing and shaving. However, when they're in your bikini zone, they're absolutely unpleasant. Some women even freaked out after mistaking ingrown hairs for something else, say, boils, warts, or worse, herpes. And like you, I'd gladly take ingrown hairs over any of those any day.
Now, going back on track, ingrown hairs, in most cases, are harmless. They may be hard or soft to touch and are likely filled with pus. On occasion, they can also become itchy, inflamed, or infected. In this article, we will learn more about what causes ingrown pubic hairs and how to treat and prevent them, particularly after a Brazilian wax.
If you are looking for a solution, check my recent article for the best ingrown hair treatment for brazilian.
What is an ingrown hair and who gets it?
An ingrown hair happens when a hair re-enters the skin and curls back within the follicle, instead of growing back out of the skin. In essence, it's like your skin's reaction to the sudden hair removal in the form of an inflamed bump.
Suffice it to say, ingrown hairs are a very common problem for women who shave, wax, tweeze, or use depilatory creams. But other than hair removal methods, ingrown hair can also occur to people who wear tight clothing.
Too much pressure or friction against the skin in our genital area can irritate it. Consequently, it increases the chances of having ingrown hairs. For some women who have thicker or curlier hair, their likelihood of getting ingrown hairs is greater. That is because this type of hair has a higher tendency to curl back under the skin.
How do I distinguish a regular ingrown hair from a bad one after BRAZILIAN WAX?
Knowing how ingrown pubic hair - infected or not - looks like is important. You wouldn't want to be anxious if you confuse it with worse skin problems. Plus, if things take a turn for the worse, you may need to see a doctor.
Generally speaking, most ingrown hairs go away on their own. Nonetheless, dealing with ingrown pubic hairs isn’t exactly an exciting experience. Even more so if they become infected and painful.
Read more : Best numbing cream for waxing
When this happens, the red lump can progress into a cyst. As a result, they become filled with pus and will feel tender and itchy.
A cyst brought by an ingrown hair can be large, pea-sized small, hard, or soft. Often, a cyst just develops near the skin surface and appears with a yellow or white head. But sometimes, they can also grow deep under the skin. Other signs of infection include bleeding, swelling, and darkening of the skin around the infected area.
Normal ingrown hairs, on the flip side, usually appear in red bumps. At times, they come with slight discomfort. However, they shouldn't be too serious nor should they be inflicting you severe pain. Most likely, you will feel some pressure in the area, like how it feels to touch a pimple.
how do I remove ingrown hairs in my genital area After Waxing?
If Lady Luck is on your side, your ingrown pubic hairs will disappear on their own without treating them. But if not, then there are some options you can try at home. Let's take a look at some ways to remove and treat bad ingrown hairs.
1. Bad Ingrown Hair Removal Tips
Step 1 : Apply a hot compress or a soft washcloth soaked in warm water. Taking a warm bath can also be an alternative. Warm soaks help push an ingrown air to come out of the skin. The warm temperature will soften the area around the ingrown hair. This way, it's easier to pull it out.
Step 2 : Use natural skin scrub mixtures to gently exfoliate your skin and release the ingrown hair from underneath your skin. These DIY scrub ingredients could be:
Step 3 : Use sterilized tweezers and needle to remove an ingrown hair. Using the needle, encourage the tip of the hair to come out to the surface. Once the tip is out, carefully pluck the end of the hair using the tweezers. Before plucking, make sure that the tip is released from the skin. Digging into your skin may cause an infection.
2. Treatment Tips
If you’re tired of going through the same ordeal over and over again, then it might be best to stop getting a Brazilian wax. Remember that this is one of the primary causes of bad ingrown hair in the pubic area. Besides, if you stop removing your pubic hair, it will reduce the chances of having a skin infection.
Are there careful measures I need to follow to prevent further infection?
Do you want like this? Via sishair.com
During the entire ingrown hair phase, leave the area alone until it's fully healed. Except when keeping the area clean, avoid touching it. Also, don't shave the areas surrounding the infected ingrown hair. Doing so is like exposing the area to bacteria and causing it to be more inflamed.
If you're the pimple popper type of person, then you need to shove this side of you in the back door. It's never a good idea to pick or pop a cyst from an ingrown hair. Cysts grow from a sac that's found under our skin. This sac usually contains a yellow substance.
Although popping the cyst can remove the liquid inside it, but it does nothing to get rid of the sac. As a result, the cyst may develop again. Popping the cyst is like inviting bacteria into your skin, which can make the already-bad ingrown hair worse.
Is there a way to prevent and treat ingrown hairs altogether?
Via glowing.com
There is - or are - actually.
Although you'll need to prepare beforehand. And by that, I mean get ready to spend several hundred bucks. Laser hair removal is the quickest solution of removing ingrown hairs and getting rid of them for good.
Apart from the cost, this treatment can be painful for some women. However, if you want a long-term solution to ingrown hair in the pubic zone, then this is your only option. Just make sure to see a doctor or technician who is well-experienced in this area.
Another option is to go for electrolysis. Similar to laser hair removal, this should be done by certified electrolysis professional. This hair removal method uses tiny needles to inject electric currents into the hair follicle. For your bikini area, you will need to undergo several electrolysis sessions.
If you aren't very conscious of your health, you can take some pills that suppress hair growth. Examples of these drugs are spironolactone, flutamide, and finasteride.
When do I need to see a doctor ?
Via hairsimply.com
Again, ingrown hairs are normal and don't need medical treatment. Although with a bad case of ingrown hairs, it's easy to confuse them with a more serious skin condition. Even if they develop into cysts, they can still be treated at home.
However, if you notice the following signs, then you should see a doctor:
When it comes to skin disease and infections, it always pays to be extra careful. Prompt treatment is crucial to prevent dangerous skin problems. By seeking a doctor’s help, your skin condition can be properly diagnosed and you can have the right treatment.
Bottom line
Although having bad ingrown pubic hairs isn't as painful as a Brazilian wax, at least waxing can be done in a matter of minutes. With ingrown hair, you have to deal with them for days, weeks even if they're infected. Hence, if there's anything you can do to prevent them - which there is, just follow the tips above - then you must do it without hesitation.
But if ingrown hair are already down there on their full glory, then carefully treating them should be your next step. If symptoms of infection persists or if they get worse, immediately visit a doctor.