They itch, hurt and look ugly: ingrown hair. But how can you prevent and what helps once they are there? And can they really lead to blood poisoning?
An ingrown hair is one of those ailments that can quickly become a problem. Because: It can itch, hurt and on top of that it also looks very unsightly. Especially in summer, when women shave almost every day, their hair can catch fire. But why is that and what is the best thing to do? In order to clarify these questions, we asked dermatologist Dr. Let Sabine Zenker from Munich explain how hair doesn't wax in the first place, and get us tips on what to do if it does happen.
Ingrown hair: these are the causes
"Ingrown hair is hair that curls and grows into the skin instead of growing out," explains Dr. Sabine Zenker. "This leads to pimple-like inflammation that can itch and hurt." That is why this problem occurs especially in people who have thick, curly and unruly hair. This tends to curl up so that it grows back into the skin.
The problem usually arises after hair removal, the so-called shaving pimples. Because: If the hair on legs, arms, etc. has been shaved or epilated, the hair that grows back has a "sharper edge". This makes it easier for it to penetrate the skin in the wrong direction, get stuck under the surface of the skin and then continue to grow. Another possibility of ingrown hair is dead skin that clogs the hair root, forcing the hair inside to grow laterally under the skin instead of upwards.
Are some people more affected than others?
Unfortunately yes! Dr. Zenker explains: "Ingrown hair occurs most often in people who have thick, curly or unruly hair. It tends to curl more than fine, straight hair in a way that allows it to grow into the skin."
Are there certain parts of the body that tend to have ingrown hairs?
Due to shaving, there are some places on the body that are more affected by ingrown hairs than others, for example the armpit area or the pubic area. "This means that cheeks, chin and neck can also be affected in men."
Ingrown hairs: this is how you can prevent them
The best way to prevent ingrown hair is to just let it grow. "No longer shaving, plucking or epilating works best against ingrown hair," says Dr. Zenker. If you still do not want to do without it, you should note the following when removing hair: "Before removing hair, remove the skin with Scrubs Treat to prevent clogging of the pores. Then remove the hair in the direction of growth.
After peeling and shaving the skin with a Moisturizing lotion apply cream so that the hair can grow out of the pores. If you want to get rid of the problem in the long term, Dr. recommends Zenker permanent laser hair removal.
The hair is already ingrown: what now?
"If the spots are unattractive and do not interfere aesthetically, you can leave the ingrown hair alone." But if there is an inflammation or even an abscess, it means: "Stay away and go to the doctor!"
"The dermatologist can make a small incision in the skin with a sterile needle or scalpel to remove the ingrown hair from the skin," explains Dr. Zenker. Medications with anti-inflammatory effects (cortisone) or antibiotic creams are also prescribed. Dr. Zenker's extra tip to remove dead skin cells and take ingrown hairs the nutrient medium: medical peels.
Improper handling of ingrown hair: can this result in blood poisoning?
There are often rumors that ingrown hairs can lead to blood poisoning (sepsis) in the worst case. In most cases, this is unlikely. In general, however, care should be taken when boils are on the skin. These are inflamed, reddened and tender painful nodules, often with a pus plug in the middle. These may have to be opened by the doctor, in the best case they open themselves and flow away.
You should never try to open them yourself or initiate other treatment steps. Improper handling can lead to life-threatening blood poisoning. It becomes particularly dangerous in the area of the lips, nose and cheeks. Bacteria can quickly get into the brain and trigger infections via the blood path around the area of the nose. You can read why you should never express pimples on your face here.
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