What Is An Ingrown Hair or Razor Bumps?
Ingrown hair is when a hair follicle grows into the skin and does not come out of it and it irritates the skin and creates bumps. Often shaving incorrectly leads to ingrown hair, which is called razor bumps. When we shave and apply too much pressure, we can cut the hair below the skin level. Once that happens hair can continue growing into the skin, sideways, causing razor bumps.
Ingrown Hair – Risk Factors and Symptoms
Ingrown hair or razor bumps are easy to spot as they are raised from the skin and look red or blackish in colour.
Methods To Get Rid Of Ingrown Hair
Ingrown hair is a non-serious physical problem that can occur in any person, but especially in those who have coarse or curly hair. There are various methods that can be used to treat ingrown hair and there is also preventive care. We will discuss below, the remedies for ingrown hair they were already occurred:
A. Exfoliation To Get The Hair Out Of The Skin
1. Aspirin
There are multiple ways to exfoliate, one of them being aspirin. It contains salicylic acid that helps in exfoliating and removing dead skin cells, which makes the ingrown hair loose. It also has anti-inflammatory properties help in preventing infection and reduces redness and swelling.
- Soak 2 uncoated aspirin tablets in 1/2 tablespoon of warm water to make paste and apply the paste on the affected area and allow it for 30 minutes. Using this daily give better result.
- Use it as a mask for good skin by making a paste of 2 aspirin tablets with half tablespoon warm water and ½ tablespoon of honey. Apply on the skin and leave for one hour and then wash with lukewarm water. Pat the skin dry. Repeat thrice a week.
2. Salt
Salt promotes blood circulation and exfoliates skin. It also promotes healing and reduces swelling.
- Use 2 tablespoons of salt with 1 cup of warm water and rub the solution on the affected area with cotton ball or cloth.
- Leave the mixture overnight and repeat daily or as needed.
- Or alternatively use Epsom salt to exfoliate, rinse and moisturize.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda relieves itching by exfoliating skin and has soothing effect on skin and reduces inflammation and redness.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 cup water to make a thick paste. Apply this on the affected area in circular motion using cotton ball.
- Allow it for 5 min and rinse with cold water
- Repeat this 2-3 times a day
- Alternatively, make homemade scrub by mixing 1 teaspoon each of baking soda, ground oat meal and 1 tablespoon of water. Mix well to make paste and apply on skin for 4-5 min and wash with lukewarm water and pat the skin dry. Follow for twice a day.
4. Olive Oil and Sugar
Although you can exfoliate the skin using any exfoliator, olive oil and sugar seems to get the popular vote. Olive oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties as well.