Ingrown hairs are hairs that grow back into the skin by curving. This phenomenon can occur over all where body hair is located. Ingrown hairs are not dangerous, but they can cause annoying and painful inflammation.
What are ingrown hairs?
The causes of ingrown hairs in a large number of cases are due to previous hair removal by shaving or even plucking, waxing or epilating. By ingrown hair, experts understand the ingrowth of body hair into the skin. In children, ingrown hairs almost never occur; in adults, ingrown hairs affect especially those people who have rather thick and curly hair. This is especially after hair removal predestined for a curved growth, which can lead to ingrowns. Preferably, ingrown hairs occur on the parts of the body where many people remove natural hair. In men, the face and neck area are often affected; in both sexes, the armpits and the genital and anal areas. In addition to irritation of the skin, accompanied by redness and itching, ingrown hairs can result in purulent inflammation.
Causes
In a large number of cases, the causes of ingrown hairs are due to previous hair removal by shaving or even plucking, waxing or epilating. When a hair is removed, the hair that grows back has a sharper edge than the previous one. This fact makes curving and subsequent waxing in the wrong direction easier. If the hair subsequently gets stuck under the skin surface and continues to grow there, the typical irritation occurs. Another possible cause is dead skin cells. These clog the hair root and thus force the hair to grow in a curved manner. Under certain circumstances, ingrown hairs can also be traced back to an overproduction of certain sex hormones. This can bring increased hair growth and therefore a higher risk of some of these hairs growing in.
Diseases with this symptom
- Nasal furuncle
- Ear furuncle
- Furuncle
Diagnosis and course
An ingrown hair can usually already be diagnosed by the affected person himself, as there is redness of the skin, itching, as well as bumps filled with pus. If an affected person with these symptoms visits a doctor, he or she will examine the body region more closely and thus clearly identify the ingrown hair. Further examinations are not necessary in most cases. An inflammation caused by ingrown hairs is harmless, but it can become very unpleasant and may also cause more severe pain. In most cases, it subsides on its own within a short time. If the affected person scratches the inflamed area severely, permanent scarring may result. In dark-skinned individuals, the inflammation often leaves a dark discoloration of the respective area, which is also permanent.
Complications
Ingrown hairs can lead to inflammation, which in most cases is harmless. However, an unpleasant course with mild to severe pain and possibly further risks is also conceivable. Scratching the inflamed area can also lead to unsightly and possibly permanent scarring. The inflammation leaves a dark discoloration in persons with dark skin. This may also be permanent. Pustules, which often form on or around an ingrown hair, usually heal on their own after a short time. More rarely, the hair follicle of the ingrown hair is severely irritated by staphylococcus (type of bacteria). However, the consequence is always a painful inflammation of the surrounding skin/tissue area. This in turn can result in a boil, abscess or even blood poisoning (sepsis). If such a development occurs, the use of antibiotics is indicated to counteract a spread with further health consequences. If the antibiotic treatment does not work, the last alternative is a small incision that allows the pus that has formed under the skin surface to drain away. In order to prevent the subsequent formation of new inflammations, absolute hygiene and correct medical wound care are essential.As harmless as an ingrown hair may initially appear, the health complications can be severe.
When should you go to the doctor?
If ingrown hairs do not disappear by themselves or own measures remain unsuccessful, it is recommended to go to a specialist. In the long run, ingrown hairs are a nuisance. They impair the appearance. In addition, ingrown hairs tend to become inflamed, as the body reacts defensively to the invading hairs, which act as foreign bodies. The inflammation is recognizable by reddened, heated, swollen and painful skin in the area of the ingrown hair. The extent of the inflammation depends strongly on the nature of the skin and hair. Attempts to remove ingrown hairs from the skin should be avoided at the latest if inflammation is already present. The doctor is the only one to be consulted here. The dermatologist, as the specialist in charge, will remove the ingrown hairs using a sterile needle or a scalpel through a fine skin incision. The doctor also decides whether and which medication to prescribe. Experimenting with over-the-counter medications is not recommended. Seeing a doctor is recommended for the sole reason that the possible inflammation caused by ingrown hairs may unexpectedly take a more severe course than usual. With his experience, the doctor can assess what dangers are imminent – for example, a boil, an abscess or even blood poisoning. His timely, expert countermeasures prevent permanent damage such as scars or dark skin discoloration.
Treatment and therapy
If an ingrown hair occurs, it is not necessarily necessary to consult a doctor. Slight redness and inflammation that cause little discomfort do not necessarily need to be treated, as they heal on their own. However, vigorous scratching or “picking” should be avoided in any case to prevent possible scarring. If larger bumps form that contain pus and cause pain, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist. He will try to remove the ingrown hair with the help of a scalpel or tweezers. For this purpose, he may make a small incision, which will also remove the pus. If desired, a light local anesthetic can be used for this. Subsequent cleaning of the skin site prevents any subsequent inflammation. In addition, the physician can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. These include steroids, for example, which are usually applied directly to the skin in the form of creams or ointments and are intended to relieve the swelling. Treatment with antibiotics is also a possibility. These are either also prescribed in ointment form or taken orally and help heal the existing inflammation. As a preventive measure, the doctor may also prescribe so-called retinoids, which remove dead skin cells and can thus prevent possible changes in skin pigmentation.
Outlook and prognosis
If, for example, hair grows back after surgery-related shaving, ingrown hairs may occur. The affected person often does not immediately notice that a hair is growing in. It may develop in a circular pattern under the skin and grow for several weeks before causing discomfort. At some point, the affected person discovers a painless swelling that looks strange. With luck, he or she can make use of tweezers because the encapsulated hair has at some point made it to the surface due to lack of space. In this case, the prognosis is favorable. The small exit wound heals quickly after the ingrown hair is pulled out. Probably, such incidents will not occur again in the same place. A scar does not remain in the affected person. In other cases, ingrown hairs can cause inflammatory skin redness and swelling relatively quickly. This can potentially happen on any part of the body that is covered with hair. If there is a reddened swelling without an identifiable hair in the center, it may be ingrown hairs instead of hair root inflammation. Initially, it is important to suppress the inflammation with medication. If this is not done, boils or painful abscesses may form. This worsens the prognosis for scar-free healing. It is possible that the boils or abscesses will have to be surgically opened by the doctor.
Prevention
Ingrown hairs can be prevented under certain circumstances if shaved or epilated areas of the body are kept very closely in view after hair removal. Since hair grows relatively slowly, it is possible to detect a curvature and thus an impending ingrowth as it arises. In this case, those affected should rub the skin with a warm cloth and some alcohol to widen the pores. With the aid of a sterilized needle or tweezers, a careful attempt can then be made to change the direction of growth of the hair and thus prevent a possible ingrowth. If a hair has already grown in, you should not try to remove it on your own, as this can lead to further inflammation. If in doubt, a doctor should be consulted.
What you can do yourself
Ingrown hairs are often painful and unsightly. Those affected can take a number of steps to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. Those who shave their face, arms and legs or other areas of the body should be sure to use high-quality blades that are not worn out. If the hair is torn off rather than cut off, there is a risk that it will continue to grow under the epidermis rather than straight out of the skin when it grows back. Tearing off the hair can also be prevented by using shaving foam. If body hair is epilated, i.e. removed along with the root, there is also a risk that the hair will grow back crookedly later. If the hair growth channel is blocked by skin scales or sebum, ingrown hairs can also occur. Those affected can prevent this by regular peelings or brush massages, by means of which dead skin scales are removed. Often, these measures already expose the ingrown hairs. If mechanical methods are not enough, ingrown hairs can also be treated with salicylic acid. Patients who constantly suffer from ingrown hairs should refrain from wearing tight-fitting clothing, as this can also hinder hair growth.
