Medication for infected hair follicle

Body hair removal necessary for hygiene needs as well as beauty and aesthetic needs. This is a fairly straightforward process which does not have any adverse effects on skin. But sometimes this seemingly easy and regular practice can lead to a condition, which can be unbecoming as well as uncomfortable.

When hair is cut too close to the skin, the tapered end of the hair gets cut in an uneven fashion. The follicle inside the skin is retained, and the hair continues to grow. But it fails to do so in the normal manner. It grows back into the skin, causing an ingrown hair. This is a condition, which is often seen in body parts where regular hair removal is necessary like the face, arms, legs and the pubic area. Men and women are both prone equally. The affected hair forms a clump or sore, often filled with pus. This clump does not allow the hair surrounding it to grow normally too. Often accompanied by redness, it can be tender on touch and proceed to being actually painful.

While home remedies are many and self removal of ingrown hairs is also advised, if the condition is chronic and the pain is getting worse, a dermatologist should be seen at the earliest.

The most common medication for infected ingrown hair is a topical cream which can be applied on the affected area to cure the ingrown hair and prevent further growth. These creams soften the skin around the ingrown hair and remove the hair from its follicle. When applied regularly, it can be effective in curing as well as preventing ingrown hair. These creams can be bought over the counter, without prescription. But a doctor's word on the usage and effects can be useful.

In addition to ingrown hair creams, there are several specialty products in the beauty line, which aim at caring for the skin after shaving or waxing. These are found in men's as well as women's range. They are available in gels, lotions and lotion pads - as per the convenience of the customer. These can also be bought over-the-counter and nowadays, online too.

Ingrown hair is often accompanied by infection which can cause pain, for which ibuprofen or similar analgesics can be prescribed.

Ingrown hair often look like pimples and can be similarly treated. Salycic acid and benzyol peroxide is often used to treat acne, can be similarly used to treat ingrown hairs too. Neosporin and other anti bacterial creams can be used to avoid spread of infection. Hydrocortisone creams can be applied to help with the swelling. Home remedies can also be used. Aloe Vera, eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil are one of the many remedies that are said to cure ingrown hairs.

Special scrubs and washes can be prescribed to keep the area clean off dirt and oil. Unclean skin can lead to the infection of an ingrown hair and is often the cause of recurrent occurrence of this condition. If skin care basics are thoroughly followed, the chances of ingrown hairs become bleak.

If the treatment and precautionary measures mentioned above are followed but the condition still persists, there might be a need to look at a more permanent solution. Electrolysis and laser hair removal techniques have become quite safe today. They have very few side effects and give the guarantee that hair removal is permanent. With permanent hair removal, there is the full certainty that ingrown hair cannot occur. For the simple reason that these methods ensure that hair is removed from the very root. Without its follicle, hair cannot grow and of there is no hair growth, there will definitely be no ingrown hair.

While all of the above are treatments and medication for ingrown hair, the preventive measures for avoiding ingrown hair is also important. This is because ingrown hair can occur again, even after a full course of medication has been completed. This cycle can go on if steps are not taken to curb it.

The simplest of precaution is the cleanliness of the skin. The skin acts as protective cover to our body and collects dust and dirt from the atmosphere. The skin glands produce oil, which is required for healthy skin. But if this oil does not get removed regularly from the skin, it can be a trap for more dirt to accumulate. In addition, the body maintains skin in its own way. It keeps shedding old skin tissue from the outer layer and makes newer, healthier tissue to take their place. This dead skin can also gather on skin, along with dirt and grime. Sweat can add to the problem, especially areas which are under folds like the underarms and the groin area, which is mostly covered with tight clothing.