At Hairless NYC Electrolysis Clinic we see many clients that are frustrated with inflamed and painful bumps on skin- INGROWNS!!!

Ingrown hairs are hairs that curl back or grow sideways into the skin instead of rising up from it. An ingrown hair irritates the skin. It produces a raised, red bump (or group of bumps) that looks like a little pimple. Sometimes an ingrown hair can form a painful, boil-like sore.

Anyone can get an ingrown hair. The condition is most prevalent among people who have coarse or curly hair. It may or may not be accompanied by an infection of the hair follicle (folliculitis) or “razor bumps” (pseudofolliculitis barbae), which vary in size.

Often, an ingrown hair will go away on its own. If it doesn’t go away, an ingrown hair can become infected, darken the skin, or leave behind a scar, especially if you’ve been scratching or picking at it.

Chronic ingrown hairs can lead to:

Bacterial infection (from scratching)

Skin darkening (hyperpigmentation)

Permanent scarring (keloids)

Pseudofolliculitis barbae, also known as razor bumps

ARE TEMPORARY METHODS OF HAIR REMOVAL SAFE?

Shaving – While ingrown hair most commonly appears in areas where the skin is shaved, (bear, legs,pubic area) it can appear anywhere. Anything which causes the hair to be broken off unevenly with a sharp tip can cause ingrown hairs. Shaving is the leading cause – followed by waxing- especially when you shave against the grain or slant of the hairshaft.

Tweezing, waxing –– tend to hasten the rate of regrowth, thicken, strengthen and deepen the hair, thus making it darker as well. They also increase the possibility of irritations, infections and thus scarring. Finally they create distorted follicles with the additional possibility of ingrown hair. Never tweeze an ingrown hair, it will favor the pore to close, creating inflammation and making the problem worse – sometime painful cysts will occur to the site.

TIPS THAT CAN PROVIDE SOME RELIEF FOR YOUR PAINFUL INGROWNS:

–Exfoliate the area twice a day, scrub the ingrown hair gently. This will help to remove any dead skin cells, dirt, and oils that might be trapping the ingrown hair. It may also physically nudge the tip of the hair out of your skin.

-Apply a warm, moist compress to the area for a few minutes. This will soften the skin. This treatment will soften the hair and bring it closer to the surface. If you can’t initially see the hair, leave the warm compress on until it rises to the skin’s surface.

WHY NOT CHOOSE A PERMANENT SOLUTION?

Electrolysis – After all Electrolysis was invented to treat just that – an ingrown eyelash.

In 1875 Dr. Charles Michel, a St. Louis ophthalmologist, devised this system to remove his patients’ painful ingrown eyelashes. After perfecting his technique on eyelashes, Doctor Michel tried his hand at cosmetic surgery by applying it to eyebrows – hence Electrolysis was adopted for Non Medical use.

Electrolysis can eliminate ingrown hairs and the skin returns to a healthier look without all the irritation from the temporary methods. It is effective for anyone regardless of skin and hair types and colors. Using state of the art technology Electrolysis destroys the ability of the hair follicle to grow another hair. The regenerative ability of the hair follicle is permanently eliminated- therefore you are permanently free of unwanted hairs and ingrowns.

Our Professional Electrologists at Hairless NYC Electrolysis Clinic  have many years of experience in treating ingrown hairs successfully. Your skin will return to a healthier look with no more red bumps and no discoloration.