Have you ever been a victim of ingrown hairs? If the answer is yes, then you might be familiar with ingrown hair scars.
Generally, this problem is a real bother to some people. Everyone wishes if the ingrown hair would be effectively removed without leaving scarring behind. However, is this possible?
In most cases, it leaves behind scars in the process of healing. They are common on legs, pubic area, thighs, face, stomach and bikini area, among other body parts.
Both men and women fall, victims following various practices such as:
Generally, we say hair is ingrown when part of it curls or coils back into the skin. This is common among people who have curly and course or lot of hair on their skin. In these two instances, some hairs coil back into the skin during shaving or waxing.
Normally, it should rise up instead of curling back. When it coils back to the skin, causes a lot of irritation on the skin. According to Wikipedia on ingrown hair scars, the coiling back comes along with:
As noted above, scars are the first on the list of effects. They are resilient and hard to remove. However, this article deeply examines how you can manage them that can be on legs, thighs, bikini area, pubic area, face, and stomach.
When a section of your hair coils back into the skin, it continues growing. While discussing ways to remove ingrown hair scars, skincareguide.com notes that the continuous growth of the coiled hair causes the skin to be inflamed. Initially, a pimple will occur.
This pimple is pus-filled. The temptation to pop it out is irresistible. This is where the scarring starts. The picked pimple dries, but a scar is left behind. This is evident on the skin many days after the ingrown hair heals.
Generally, bumps resulting shouldn’t be messed with. On how to remove dark spots from razor bumps and ingrown hair, scarsandspots.com highlights that they will heal on their own if they are not tampered with.
However, people cannot resist the temptation of picking and popping off the resulting bumps. When this happens, the affected region heals but leaves behind permanent scars, that won’t heal for long.
According to NHS.uk, ingrown hair scar causes are related to the causes hair coiling back into the skin. In fact, the scars are just a result. Factors that attribute to them as well as affect how serious they will include:
You may have heard people talk about ingrown hair scars male or female. Are they dependent on gender? The answer is no. Both men and women are at a risk of getting them.
On ingrown hair complications, Mayo Clinic identifies that they are commonly noted in specific body parts. These include:
Generally, this shouldn’t cause a lot of alarm. However, the severity of the problem differs from one person to the other. To some people, especially men, this is just a passing cloud.
However, this may not be the case among women. To women, developing red or brown scars, especially pubic areas, legs, thighs, etc is a big issue. To some extent, they lower the victim’s self-esteem.
If left untouched, the pimples disappear naturally within a few days. However, the problem gets worse as many people try to dig out the pimples, use some creams, oils, etc., this only worsens the condition.
However, you shouldn’t worry yourself too much as there are numerous ways how you can get rid these scars.
Like earlier noted in this article, these scars may tan your skin, making it look bad. Those that are either red or pink, also interfere with the normal skin tone. In this regard, it is advisable to understand the existing ingrown hair scar removal options.
Below are some of the options that are available for removing them:
Try exfoliation
Have you ever heard of exfoliation? This method works by removing dead skin cells on the skin. The method may apply chemical or physical mechanisms. Some of the common methods applied during exfoliation are chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
However, exfoliation alone may not completely remove them. It can, however, be combined with other options such as creams.
Creams can also help
Creams area known to be the most effective and affordable way to give a try. There are numerous lotions and creams that effectively remove scars on any body part within a few weeks if not days.
However, you should research on the best cream or lotion for your skin type. A lotion that works for one person may not work for the other.
Chemical peeling
Although this comes along with exfoliation, chemical peeling can be used on its own. This involves the application of certain acid chemicals that eat off all the unwanted scars on your skin. These chemicals, however, focus on the outer skin alone.
The amount of chemical applied depends on their severity. This method, nevertheless, does not guarantee permanent removal. In some instances, new scars from after the old ones are removed.
Use of laser beams
Many dermatologists make use of pulsed dye laser to remove resultant scars. Being hypertrophic in nature, this type of laser treatment can effectively remove them, especially on the outer skin.
This method uses modern technology and it is the surest way of getting rid of scars. Additionally, the side effects associated with the method are insignificant.
Use cocoa butter oil
Some oils, especially cocoa or cacao butter can provide a reliable relief and reduce scar appearance. How does this oil work? Being a moisturizer, cocoa butter oils prevents the skin from developing them when ingrown hair heals.
Did you know that oils extracted from cocoa seeds contain cocoa mass polyphenol? This chemical component inhibits IgE immunoglobulin, the chemical substance that forms scars on the skin.
Use some existing gels
Some gels are also known to provide relief. One of such gels is silicone gel. When regularly used as ointment oil, it completely removes them from the skin.
However, such oils should only be prescribed by a qualified physician. Using the wrong type of gel would worsen the situation.
Use microdermabrasion
Just like chemical peeling, microdermabrasion is a form of exfoliation. The method works by sanding the skin while removing them or any other dead skin cells. Generally, microdermabrasion is effective in:
In some cases, you don’t need to see a dermatologist in order to get rid these scars. You can get rid of them at the comfort of your home. How do you do this?
Some ingredients that are within your reach can provide an effective home remedy for ingrown hair scars fast. These ingredients include but not limited to the following:
