Ingrown facial hair

Ingrown hair can occur at any part of the body where there is hair growth. The type of hair which is most prone to ingrown hair is one which is curly and coarse. In men, facial hair is coarse, as well as it is removed regularly - making it the most common place for an ingrown hair to form.

Shaving of facial hair is a regular activity for many men, who prefer a clean-cut look. While cutting, a hair may be cut in a fashion which leaves it with a rough end, but the follicle intact. Because hair grows from its follicle, the hair does not stop growing. But it starts to grow abnormally back into the skin. This is a condition typically called a razor bump or an ingrown hair. It is characterized by redness of the area, a small pimple like boil - which may be filled with pus and tenderness of the area. This growth has a tendency of getting infected, a condition that can be painful. To avoid this, one can take steps while shaving which ensure that the chances of an ingrown hair are minimized.

Cleanliness is imperative to the process of shaving and the razor used should be washed with warm water and wiped carefully before applying to the skin. Also, the blade should be changed frequently, making sure that a rusted blade is never used. A sharp blade is the best for a safe shave.

While shaving, some instructions may come in handy. Always clean the face before shaving. Many beauty experts swear by the use of a warm towel before shaving to reduce the occurrence of ingrown hair in men. This also helps to soften the beard before proceeding to shave. Using a good shaving gel, to lather up before shaving, is also imperative. A gel is also a superior option to shaving foam which may not moisturize the skin s much as the gel would. It also helps to avoid stroking the same area, again and again to achieve that perfect close shave. While it may give you your desired look, it can also open you up to the chances of cutting too close to the skin and causing an ingrown hair to form. Also avoid shaving on taut skin, as it can cause cuts and uneven edges to small hairs. Shave in the relaxed manner as skin lies over the facial structure. Shaving along the direction of the hair growth also ensures a smoother shave, and lesser skin cuts. It also makes sure that hair is not cut too close to skin.

Some men prefer shaving with electric razors which not only give a smoother shave; it also ensures that a very close shave is avoided. This prevents the occurrence of ingrown hairs as well.

After shaving a good antiseptic should be used, to avoid infection in any cuts that might have occurred, however small. Often ingrown hairs, which will otherwise show no symptoms, get infected from shaving cuts.

If an ingrown hair does occur, the best thing is to avoid shaving if possible, till the boils subside. If shaving is absolutely necessary, shave every other day, giving the hair time to grow out. Use a clean, new razor and shave carefully around the ingrown hair. If only a single hair is ingrown, this should not affect the overall look of the shave. This can be a solution for men who are particular about the way their shave turns out, and how it adds on to their appearance.

Also, if only one hair seems to be affected, you can use a pair of clean tweezers to carefully pluck out the offending hair before it can get infected and further complicate the problem at hand. Start by sterilizing the tweezers with a bit of rubbing alcohol. It is best to use fine pointed tweezers, for instance the needle point tweezers for this. Carefully place the tweezers firmly on the base of the hair and pluck it out in one swift move. Make sure that you don't jab the skin, rupture or damage it. The hair should be removed along the direction of its growth. After removing the hair, the area should also be applied with some rubbing alcohol to avoid the spread of infection, if any.

For men, who face a chronic problem of ingrown facial hair, the simplest solution is buying over-the-counter creams which can prevent the growth of ingrown hair and also take care of infection, if any. These creams exfoliate the skin, cleaning it off dead skin cells, dirt and oil. The face is extremely prone to wear and tear of skin, and this will help in its general cleanliness. Most of these creams also have antiseptics or antibiotics which help in case of an infection.