Ingrown hair is a common problem for a number of men and women all over the world. Although it is not considered to be a serious medical or skin related condition, it can cause a significant amount of pain as well make a person look unsightly. The condition normally stems from having recently shaved the hair off the area, and may take a whole day to show the symptoms of redness, skin irritation and swelling. The type of hair you have will also influence the degree to which you are affected, as people with curly hair have a higher likelihood of developing ingrown hairs. When you shave your hair, the razor will sometimes slice the hair shaft in a way that the end of the hair becomes exceedingly sharp. While the hair continues to grow, it may tend to grow back into one of the nearby hair follicles, causing an inflammatory response in the skin that leads to the development of a pimple or a bump. While rather uncommon, some of the more serious health problems that could arise out of the development of ingrown hairs include pseudofolliculitis barbae that could, again, lead to an extreme condition of folliculitis where the hair follicle becomes acutely inflamed. Some other factors that could influence the development of ingrown hair include the buildup of dead skin cells in the pores or on the surface of the skin, skin suffering from a significant lack of moisture, excessively stiff hair in the affected region or single hair removal methods such as tweezing that irritate the hair follicle. Dead cells can further start to accumulate at the site and form papulae which may also contain pus while the skin starts to heal.
When it comes to treating ingrown hairs, exfoliation is one of the most important and initial procedures followed. Every time you choose to shave your armpits or shower, make is a point to remember to properly exfoliate the areas of your body where you face the problem of ingrown hair frequently. However, take special care of the condition of your skin and do not apply too much pressure as you could cause a few abrasions. Create a paste to help with exfoliation by mixing a spoon of baking soda with a tablespoon of liquid soap and apply it on your underarms before washing it off. To soothe the skin irritation and itching, you could puree half a cucumber and add 1/3 a cup of milk and apply the mixture over the affected areas with the help of some gauze or cloth. Rinse it off after a few minutes.