Ingrown hair in the bikini area: causes and means of removal

Pseudofolliculitis (dermatitis caused by ingrown hairs) is a common inflammatory pathology that is typical for areas of skin where hair is regularly mechanically removed.

Most of the fair sex are ready to make many sacrifices for the sake of an ideal appearance. In all places! Each of them independently makes a choice among the methods of removing useless, in her opinion, hair, including in the intimate area. Any method of removal has its advantages and disadvantages. None of them can guarantee that instead of ideally smooth and soft skin, expected as a result of a very painful procedure, the problem of ingrown hairs will not appear.

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Causes ingrown hairs in the bikini area

Not all women face this problem. Risk factors in this case are genetically determined hair growth rate, skin density and sensitivity. Owners of thick skin, whose hair grows quickly, have a higher chance of encountering this problem.

The main factor causing ingrown hairs is thinning hair due to depilatory products and trauma to the hair follicle due to careless performance of the procedure. During depilation (mechanical hair removal), only the outer part of the hair is removed, the bulb remains in the skin. Depilation includes all types of hair removal, except for the destruction of hair follicles using a laser or electric current. The pathogenesis of ingrown hairs looks like this: the hair becomes thinner from procedure to procedure, the follicle remains in place, and during the procedure it is touched or turned, which changes the direction of hair growth. Now it still grows, but at an angle or horizontally, under the skin, often twisting due to the inability to break through to the outside. The result can be inflammation of the hair follicle, the formation of a pustule, the addition of an infection to which can provoke the development of dermatitis.

The unprofessionalism of the master or your own carelessness often leads to injury to the hair follicles, and depilation done several times with a violation of the technology will most likely puzzle you with the fight against ingrown hairs for the rest of your life.

Owners of thick skin often experience narrowing of the follicular openings or their complete overgrowth with keratinized particles of the surface layer of the skin, which complicates both the hair removal procedure itself and subsequent hair regrowth.

Skin irritation that occurs in the depilation areas as a result of friction against clothing predisposes to ingrown hairs and subsequently to inflammation of the follicle. Tight, constricting clothing and synthetic underwear are risk factors for pathological changes in the direction of hair growth.

Many women first encounter the problem of ingrown hairs during pregnancy. Women who are prone to ingrown hairs experience an increase in the number of ingrown hairs during this period. This is how the female body reacts to changes in hormonal levels.

Sugaring (hair removal by applying a thick sugar mass to them) as a method of depilation appeared much later than wax or instrumental depilation, and was positioned as safe in terms of ingrown hairs. However, time has shown that ingrown hairs after sugaring in the bikini area also occur, although somewhat less frequently than after using other methods.

However, pseudofolliculitis is more common when performing depilation at home. In addition to careless attitude, there are other reasons for this, in particular, the bikini area is poorly visible and it is quite difficult to remove hair in the right direction, especially deep down, on your own. If the removal is performed in a salon by an experienced specialist, then it is much easier for him to carefully observe all the details, ensuring both the direction and the angle of hair removal. However, not all women are ready to entrust the intimate area to strangers. This is also a risk factor for ingrown hairs.

The epidemiology of pseudofolliculitis is considered in general, regardless of gender. And the leaders here are, of course, men who have to shave their stubble every morning. This disease is much more common in men of African descent (approximately 50%). Pseudofolliculitis develops simultaneously with the onset of daily shaving. The provoking factor for ingrown hairs is their removal from any part of the body. It can occur on skin of any color, but in fair-skinned representatives of the European race, the course of the disease is milder. In the female part of the population, this pathology is most often localized in the pubic and armpit areas.

Symptoms ingrown hairs in the bikini area

The first signs of an ingrown hair are the appearance of a small irritation in the form of a red, inflamed pimple that itches and hurts. If ignored, the irritation from an ingrown hair in the bikini area can spread to the surrounding skin, and the pimples will turn into very painful pustules. In addition to the unaesthetic appearance, this causes significant inconvenience - the skin surface, in contact with clothing, itches and stings.

Complications and consequences

The consequences and complications of not paying attention to the first signs of pseudofolliculitis are the formation of abscesses, accompanied by intense pain, and the appearance of pigmentation - dark spots from ingrown hairs in the bikini area, which will remain on the skin for a long time even after the ingrown hairs have been removed.

Bumps may begin to form at the site of ingrown hairs. You shouldn't hope that they will go away on their own when an ingrown hair in the bikini area has become a bump - it's time to consult a surgeon. Otherwise, the process will drag on, the bumps will either decrease in size (giving hope for recovery) or increase. This process can be repeated for quite a long time and spread to surrounding tissues. With secondary infection, which is difficult to avoid in such conditions, an abscess may begin. Its development can be activated by self-squeezing or puncturing the bump.

Of course, it is possible that the abscesses will burst on their own, and hairs will come out with the pus, but even in such a favorable scenario, unsightly scars will remain in the bikini area, and something will have to be done about them too.

Diagnostics ingrown hairs in the bikini area

Diagnosis of pseudofolliculitis usually involves an external examination. Sometimes, to confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy is performed; in cases of infection, bacterial tests are done to identify the pathogen. The symptoms of some dermatitis externally resemble signs of ingrown hair, so differential diagnostics with other infectious and inflammatory processes of the hair follicle (ostiofolliculitis, folliculitis, follicular keratosis, acne, pyoderma) are required. In this case, a characteristic feature is taken into account - the appearance of symptoms of ingrown hair is associated with the beginning of regular depilation, and the disappearance or reduction - with a change in the method of removal or a temporary cessation of depilation.

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Treatment ingrown hairs in the bikini area

At the first signs of ingrown hairs, the question arises: how to remove ingrown hairs in the bikini area? It is necessary to start with simpler methods (non-invasive), gradually moving on to more traumatic ones.

First, you can replace your usual method of getting rid of hair in the bikini area with an alternative one, for example, stop using an electric epilator and master another method, for example, wax depilation, carefully following the rules of preparation and post-procedural care. If this trick works, after a certain time, you can try to act in the usual way again.

Often, when the ingrown hairs process is not too long, to facilitate the growth of hairs outward, it is enough to steam the skin to soften it.

To do this, you can soak a terry or waffle towel in clean warm water or add sea salt, herbal infusions, squeeze it out slightly and apply it to the area with ingrown hairs. Repeat until the pores open and the skin surface becomes loose enough. You can steam the skin by taking a fifteen-minute bath, adding sea salt, essential oils or herbal infusions to it.

You can use ready-made cosmetic products for ingrown hairs in the bikini area, which slow down their growth and prevent the development of inflammation.

Canadian Spray (cream-lotion) Kalo Hair Inhibitor (Nisim International) of plant origin does not damage the skin surface and does not irritate it. It affects the hair follicle, depriving it of ingredients that stimulate hair growth. Regularly used after depilation, it reduces the intensity of hair growth, has a preventive effect against irritation and dry skin.
The spray is simply applied to the skin after depilation, it can be applied daily. When used every day on the area with ingrown hairs, the visual effect of slowing growth is noticeable after half a month, after six months the hair will thin by 50%.

It is used as follows:

• after depilation, the spray is applied to the skin three times with a quarter-hour interval and lightly rubbed in; the procedure is repeated the next day (no more should be applied until the next depilation);
• When shaving, it is recommended to treat the skin every time.

Tend Skin lotion is suitable for sensitive skin. Eliminates irritation, prevents ingrown hairs and skin inflammation in these areas, providing anti-inflammatory, deodorizing and disinfecting effects, tones the skin, removes pigmentation, is additionally active against the herpes virus, can relieve the effects of insect bites, has a hemostatic and resolving effect.

It is used as follows:

• dry skin is treated and left to dry completely;
• for sensitive skin, carry out the treatment at night, and upon waking up, apply a moisturizer;
• treat the bikini area before the procedure – to make depilation easier, and after – to prevent irritation.

Between treatments, regularly treat the skin with lotion to prevent ingrown hairs.

The preparation contains antiseptics - isopropanol and acetylsalicylic acid (the main active component of the cosmetic preparation). It has a keratolytic effect, but can cause allergies.

Cyclomethicone, glycerin and propylene glycol are used as nourishing, softening, moisture-retaining and skin-surface smoothing components.

A very expensive, but according to reviews, good remedy for ingrown hairs is Skin Doctors Ingrow Go lotion. The manufacturer promises to remove inflammatory and pigmented phenomena within 24 hours, which is, of course, too much. Especially if these phenomena are not one day old, but with regular use, the symptoms go away quickly, depending on the stage of neglect, there is a good result in two weeks.

Main active ingredients:

• isopropanol – antiseptic;
• propylene glycol – a humectant;
• acetylsalicylic acid – exfoliating, decongestant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory;
• glycolic acid – provides gentle peeling, improves blood circulation, complements the action of acetylsalicylic acid.

It is used as follows: apply twice a day with a cotton pad to pimples above ingrown hairs, no need to drip. After shaving or depilation, apply as a preventive measure to avoid the problem of ingrown hairs. Immediately after shaving, and after waxing or depilatory cream - 24 hours later.

It will be much cheaper to use the active component of the above lotions - salicylic acid, bought at a pharmacy. It is applied to problem areas. In about five days, or maybe earlier, the hairs should be released. The drug will remove signs of inflammation and prevent the appearance of spots and scars. To avoid overdrying, you need to moisturize the skin in the bikini area, but not with fatty oils and creams, but with light moisturizers.

You can make your own lotion: dissolve two crushed aspirin tablets in ¼ cup of boiled water and mix with a teaspoon of glycerin. Treat the areas of ingrown hairs several times a day – eventually the hairs should break through to the surface.

The use of scrubs may help. They can be used no earlier than three days after depilation. The peeling procedure should be carried out at intervals of at least two days. After peeling, it is necessary to treat the skin with a moisturizing cream.

Anna Lotan Body Care biomineral body scrub with Dead Sea minerals can be used on any part of the body, including the bikini area. It is suitable for any skin type and has a delicate exfoliating effect. The scrub contains: Dead Sea salt, almond and thyme oils, pepper extracts, aloe, grapefruit and other medicinal plants.

Badyaga Forte gel – has anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and disinfectant, cleansing and restorative effects, promotes the resorption of scars and pigment spots, heals and tones. Treat the problem area of the skin with the gel and leave it there for half an hour, rinse with warm water. Contraindicated in case of sensitization to the ingredients of the gel.

You can make a scrub for ingrown hairs in the bikini area yourself. Its advantage is the cost and it will certainly contain natural ingredients. Use homemade scrubs as usual - twice a week.

Sea salt scrubs:

• mix three tablespoons of sea salt with a tablespoon of olive or other vegetable oil;
• add a teaspoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of coffee grounds to the previous mixture;
• mix three tablespoons of sea salt, one tablespoon of orange zest ground in a blender, the same amount of vegetable oil and two drops each of lemon and grapefruit essential oils;
• mix three tablespoons of sea salt, one tablespoon of grapefruit with peel crushed in a blender and one teaspoon of vegetable oil;
• Mix coffee grounds with a tablespoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of shower gel.

Acne lotions or enzyme peeling agents have an exfoliating effect, gently cleansing the skin and slowing down the growth of new hair. Peeling after each depilation prevents ingrown hairs. Peeling is contraindicated in the presence of suppuration!

You can try this method, especially if suppuration has appeared: apply an antibacterial ointment to the problem area to relieve inflammatory symptoms, steam the skin after a couple of days and do a peeling.

If you use salicylic ointment as an antibacterial agent, it itself has keratolytic properties and will eliminate inflammation and the keratinized layer of skin at the same time. Soon, some hairs will begin to grow upward, they can be removed with tweezers. Salicylic ointment also has bleaching properties and will help remove spots from ingrown hairs in the bikini area.

Ichthyol ointment can help with suppuration, pushing out hairs along with pus, inflammation and dark spots. It is applied pointwise to inflamed areas, wrapping the skin with cling film. The treatment is carried out at night for two days, then, after the inflammation has subsided, peeling is done to eliminate dark spots.

You can use ointments with antibiotics, which will remove inflammation and cope with infection.

Erythromycin ointment has a bacteriostatic effect, relieves inflammation. It is prescribed for pustular rashes on the skin. Cleaned areas with suppuration are treated once or twice a day. Simultaneous use with scrubs can cause severe irritation or overdrying of the skin. Before using any other anti-acne medication for external use, at least 1 hour should pass.

The ointment may cause allergies.

Dalacin gel 1% (active ingredient – clindamycin phosphate), prescribed for acne. Not recommended for people sensitized to clindamycin and lincomycin. Erythromycin antagonist. Not recommended for use in patients undergoing therapy with muscle relaxants.

The skin surface is treated with dalacin twice a day.

Tretinoin cream (lotion), which is used in the treatment of acne, effectively removes suppuration. Promotes the maturation and opening of acne, transforming them into cavity-free formations that heal without consequences, prevents recurrence. Promotes the reduction of the keratinized layer of the epidermis and the growth of hairs outward.

The treatment is carried out once a day after taking a bath, leaving the product on the skin for no more than six hours. Owners of light and dry skin are not recommended to leave the product on the skin for more than half an hour the first time, the next day the time can be increased.

In case of severe inflammatory processes and suppurations, complex therapy is prescribed, including oral antibiotics. This may be Cephalexin. A bactericidal drug with a wide range of microorganisms sensitive to it, effective for abscesses, furuncles, phlegmons. The dosage of up to four grams per day is divided into six doses, the duration of treatment is one to two weeks, the treatment regimen is prescribed by a doctor. May cause side effects: dyspeptic disorders, an increase in the eosinophil index, a decrease in leukocytes, hypotension, allergies.

Tetracycline. It has a bactericidal effect against many pathogens of bacterial infections, disrupts the process of protein production in bacterial cells. It is prescribed at 100-200 mg every six hours, the scheme and duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. Contraindicated in case of allergy to tetracycline drugs, people with severe liver dysfunction. Incompatible with alcohol, can cause side effects.

Non-invasive methods did not help, but the problem remained - how to remove an ingrown hair in the bikini area?

It is best to seek help from a cosmetologist, but not everyone is ready for this, and then you will have to act on your own.

Before starting the procedure, you need to carry out some preparatory activities. Steam the skin with a warm compress or bath.

Then – peeling, with its help the skin is cleaned from the dead layer, so that it is easier for the hairs to appear on the surface.
Dry the skin with a towel.

Treat your hands, needle, tweezers and the area to be removed with an antiseptic (alcohol, chlorhexidine, calendula tincture), grab the problematic hair with the needle and pull it out with tweezers. Treat the wound with an antiseptic, you can use an antibiotic ointment. You can only remove superficial hairs without signs of suppuration on your own and never forget about disinfection.

If hairs grow in en masse, you need to stop removing them and consult a doctor. If there is only redness, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, and if there is suppuration, antibiotic therapy is administered.

Physiotherapy treatments may be helpful – hydrodermabrasion with diamond grinding, photodynamic therapy, ELOS therapy.

A radical solution to the periodically arising problem of fighting ingrown hairs will be to contact professionals. The most effective methods are laser hair removal, ELOS hair removal and photoepilation. These methods exclude direct contact of the master's hands with the client's skin, minimize the risk of injury and act destructively on the hair follicles, which leads to their loss and the cessation of the appearance of new ones. They exclude the possibility of ingrown hairs. In addition, they have a beneficial effect on the general condition of the skin.

Folk remedies for ingrown hairs

Traditional medicine recipes (some of which have already been mentioned above) are more suitable for preparatory procedures or for combating minor inflammatory processes.

The simplest recipe: before removing ingrown hairs, apply a compress of regular table or sea salt to the problem area. Soak a terry towel in a warm salt solution (two tablespoons per liter of water) and apply to the skin for ten minutes. This procedure will soften the skin, open the pores and remove minor inflammation.

Badiaga for ingrown hairs in the bikini area - add hydrogen peroxide to the sponge powder, stir until thick sour cream, apply to the bikini area and leave there for a quarter of an hour. Rinse with warm water and apply baby cream or oil to the skin. Repeat for five days. A gruel of peroxide with badiaga is perhaps the most effective home remedy, eliminating not only ingrown hairs, but also microdamage on the skin surface, as well as pigmentation.

Phytotherapeutic agents can draw out suppurations and relieve inflammation at the site of ingrown hair. For example, a baked onion - apply its cut to the inflamed area and secure, after 3.5 hours renew the cut and apply again. Repeat until the abscess opens and the inflammation goes away.

You can make an ointment from a baked onion, a teaspoon of honey and flour, which is applied to the pustules 4-5 times a day.

A compress of two parts onion and one part grated laundry soap, apply to the abscesses and secure.

In the same way, you can use a mixture of equal parts of aloe, almond and olive oils, and flax seed decoction. Dip a piece of gauze into this mixture, apply it to the inflamed area and secure it.

Any medicinal herbs are suitable for treating ingrown hairs with herbs - chamomile, calendula, celandine, compresses and lotions are made with them to soften the skin before procedures and relieve inflammation.

You won't get far with compresses and lotions, you can do them at home when you're not in a hurry. Few modern women can boast of a measured and leisurely lifestyle. In this case, medicinal powder is irreplaceable: grind dried rose petals, aloe leaves and incense into dust. Powder the inflamed skin with this powder at least five times a day.

You can wipe your skin with natural apple cider vinegar (undiluted).

Homeopathy

Homeopathic preparations, in principle, should be prescribed by a homeopathic doctor, then the treatment will be effective. However, there are homeopathic universal ointments and creams with a wide range of action on sale.

Natur 2 GUNA cream is quite expensive, gentle and, judging by the reviews, very effective. It is intended for treating the skin and mucous membranes of the intimate area. It nourishes, maintains the necessary moisture, stimulates blood circulation, improves trophism, restores the health of the epithelium at the site of application. Refers to cosmetics.

Homeopathic cream Arnica has good healing and anti-inflammatory properties, in case of damage to the integrity of the skin before using the cream, the skin is disinfected. The cream has good resorption properties, eliminates scars and spots. The only contraindication to its use is an allergy to the components.

Traumeel S ointment (gel) is prescribed for purulent-inflammatory processes, successfully relieving infection, inflammation, itching, pain and swelling. The treatment is carried out two or three times, in the acute period - up to five times a day. Combined with other drugs, use with caution in persons sensitized to plants from the Asteraceae family.

Surgical treatment

It is recommended to seek help from a surgeon in cases where subcutaneous bumps formed at the site of ingrown hairs do not respond to treatment using folk remedies and local anti-inflammatory drugs. If subcutaneous bumps sometimes increase, sometimes decrease, but do not go away. In such cases, it is not recommended to open them yourself; it is better to seek medical help to avoid more serious suppuration and the spread of inflammation.

If surgery is necessary, it will be performed professionally and the consequences will be minimized.

Prevention

Removing unwanted hair, especially at home, should be approached with full responsibility and all the rules for this procedure should be followed. Salon performance also does not always guarantee getting rid of the problem of ingrown hairs - here a lot depends on the qualifications and integrity of the master, it is advisable to make inquiries about him beforehand.

Simple rules will help you to protect yourself as much as possible from the problem of ingrown hairs.

After depilation (salon or home), you should always use special preparations to slow down hair growth. They are sold in pharmacies. The procedure itself should be carried out no more often than once every two weeks.

Inflamed hair follicles should never be opened or squeezed out, as this can infect the wound and create a whole host of problems that will be much more difficult to get rid of.

3-5 days after depilation, you can start using scrubs, however, only if the skin is not inflamed!

If your preferred method of getting rid of unwanted hair is shaving, then you should use a new razor each time, one that is designed for women, as its design takes into account the intended purpose of the tool.

Before depilation, it is recommended to treat the skin with creams (gels) containing aloe, allantoin, and d-panthenol, which relieve irritation and prevent hair growth.

After depilation, it is essential to moisturize the skin with products containing ingredients that inhibit the hair growth process.

Immediately after depilation, wear natural underwear that is loose enough. Avoid wearing synthetic tights for at least 24 hours, and avoid wearing tight jeans (trousers) for several days.

Immediately after the procedure, do not visit the beach, pool or sauna, take a bath; after taking a shower, apply a disinfectant solution or antiseptic cream to the depilation site.

Until the hyperemia subsides, it is advisable to limit sexual intercourse, the use of scrubs and other cosmetic products.

Forecast

Ingrown hairs in the bikini area are not life-threatening, but they can cause significant discomfort and require treatment.

When ingrown hairs become inflamed, they become a source of infection, leaving behind unsightly spots and scars.

Each person chooses the methods of removing unwanted hair for themselves, but you need to follow the technological process or find your own master to whom you can trust your body.