Ingrown hairs are a problem I can personally relate to. I have fair skin, dark hair and suffer from irregular body eczema which makes it tough for those little guys to break through ):
I have spent hours, nay YEARS playing Doctor, consulting the web and self-medicating. I have taken herbal remedies originating from the far corners of the world, from India to China. I tried subtracting sugar from my diet and replacing the void with blitzed vegetable juices. I spoke to my doctor who advised not waxing (no thanks doc); I even met with a dermatologist who diagnosed fragrance-free shower emollients. That last one was the hardest. My beauty products are everything and for me, scent is one of the deciding factors.
Ingrown hairs are a benign skin condition where the sharp tip of the hair grows sideways. This could be the effect of shaving or waxing in a direction slightly too far in the wrong direction, or the result of dead skin build-up in the follicle which leads to irritating red bumps.
For me, nothing does it like a good exfoliator - the scrubbier the better. Chemical exfoliation is the most effective, because highly active ingredients such as retinol, glycolic or lactic acid will eat away dead skin like Pacman. In turn, this method will lift embedded hairs that are trapped beneath inflamed skin.
I'm now in a deep, committed relationship with my skin. I've gotten to know it inside and out, and mostly understand what it's sensitive to. I've tested its patience and reactions, and I've learnt to compromise. I do use heavily fragranced products in the bath and shower, but I follow up with a simple body moisturizer. I respect my skin and I am kind to it, now my skin is kind to me.
I personally recommend the following products if you suffer from ingrown hairs.
If you enjoyed reading this, then you should read our guide to at-home bikini waxing.
Love Skincare? discover our edit of the mandelic acid benefits. |