How to get rid of ingrown hair naturally
Hair under the skin is a problem for many people caused mainly by shaving and epilation. We can solve this imperfection by using natural remedies for ingrown hair, such as exfoliating scrubs and cosmetics rich in salicylic or glycolic acid. Let’s find out together how to remove ingrown hair naturally!
Ingrown hair is a problem that occurs when a hair, in its regrowth process, cannot find the right way out of the skin. As a result, the ingrown hair has an obstructed pore and is forced to grow below the epidermis, causing a series of problems that are sometimes painful and difficult to overcome.
The hairs under the skin create micro inflammations that lead to the formation of pimples, pustules, and even cysts, which are very painful. In severe cases, the appearance of folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles due to bacteria and fungi, can leave unsightly scars and, in many cases, involves appropriate treatments with specific local therapies.
The areas of the body most affected by the problem of ingrown hair are the face for men, the groin, the legs, the armpits. But let’s see the causes of hair under the skin and the natural remedies to get rid of it.
Table of Contents
Ingrown Hair: The main causes
The main causes related to the formation of ingrown hair are different. However, here are the main ones:
Razor
The use of the razor for shaving is among the most important causes of ingrown beard hair. The shave cuts the hair creating a tip just under the skin with an unnatural shape, generating inflammation and growth under the skin.
The razor is also the cause of ingrown hair on the legs or in the groin or armpits. Therefore, aside from shaving the beard for men, it would be advisable not to shave the other parts of the body with a razor to avoid pustules, pimples, and painful cysts.
Waxing
Although waxing removes the hair from the root, it is among the causes of ingrown hair, especially in the delicate area of the groin and armpits. In this case, with epilation, the hairs under the skin grow because the pores are blocked by excess sebum and dead cells. Therefore, it is essential to regularly use exfoliating products to remove impurities and prevent this unsightly ailment.
Comedogenic cosmetics
The use of cosmetic products that contain comedogenic substances inside them inevitably causes blockage of the pore with the consequent appearance of ingrown hair. The responsible substances are mainly silicones, fat vegetable oils, paraffin, mineral oils, and waxes.
Too tight clothing
Wearing too-tight clothing can, in the long run, prevent the skin from breathing and cause occlusion of the pores due to contact with fabrics, perhaps synthetic. For example, you may notice the appearance of ingrown hair in the groin. Therefore, we advise you to limit as much as possible the use of clothes that are too tight and that put excessive pressure on the skin for many hours.
Natural remedies to remove ingrown hair
How to remove ingrown hair? There are natural methods that will help you solve this problem. Let’s see them together!
1. Scrub for ingrown hair
Exercising a gentle exfoliation on the skin regularly will help you solve under-skin hair and eliminate ingrown hair because you will remove dead cells and impurities, leaving the hair the opportunity to grow naturally. To make a DIY scrub, you can make this simple recipe:
Ingredients & Materials for 1 application
- Coarse whole sea salt 3 tbsp.
- Olive oil 20 ml.
- Bergamot essential oil 3 drops.
- Tea tree essential oil 3 drops.
Method
- In a glass bowl, put all the ingredients and mix them carefully to create a homogeneous compound that is easy to spread.
- When you are in the shower, massage your legs, groin, armpits, and all body areas that have ingrown hair for a long time.
- Finally, rinse thoroughly.
This scrub is useful to do it twice a week. For the skin of the face, we advise you to replace the salt with raw cane sugar, which has a more delicate action.
2. Horsehair glove
The horsehair glove performs a mechanical action through massage and will remove dead cells allowing the hair under the skin to grow outward. Take a horsehair glove and massage the skin for a few minutes at least twice a week.
Horsehair Gloves are recommended only in areas of the body. Pay close attention to the delicate areas of the face so as not to risk creating irritations.
3. Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a substance that has an effective exfoliating power, which will allow you to remove ingrown hair. Its action is constant over time and will help you to have always smooth and clean skin.
Salicylic acid is found in face and body creams that perform a gentle exfoliating action. On the face, the average percentage of salicylic acid is around 2%. These products are generally found in pharmacies.
4. Glycolic acid
Glycolic acid also performs an exfoliating action and serves above all as an anti-wrinkle because removing the superficial layers of the epidermis eliminates even small lines and imperfections.
Before using glycolic acid on the skin, we advise you to compare yourself with an expert herbalist or pharmacist because it is a substance that can be aggressive on the skin and is included in cosmetics in very different percentages.
5. Using tweezers
The use of tweezers to remove ingrown hair is recommended only if you have been sterilized well and only if the hair can come out with light finger pressure. Do not go too far because you risk creating micro infections and cuts, and you will certainly not solve the problem!
How to prevent ingrown hair
To prevent the appearance of ingrown hair, it is important to follow these beauty tips:
- Proper cleaning of the skin: always keep the skin clean of impurities and excess sebum to create layers of dry skin and clog pores.
- Moisturize and soften: especially after shaving and epilation, soften and moisturize the skin with non-greasy conditioners or moisturizers, which will nourish deeply.
- Shaving in the right way: it is important to shave incorrectly, avoiding going against the hair, or trying to eliminate any residual hair, also to avoid irritation on the skin.
- Regular use of exfoliants: use ingrown hair scrubs and horsehair gloves regularly to prevent and treat hair under the skin.
- Permanent hair removal with laser: in this case, you will solve the problem of ingrown hair definitively or almost, but contact a professional expert in this practice who can give you all the information you need to make an informed choice.