What causes ingrown hair on legs and how do they look like? Here, we will discuss all the answers plus how to get rid of ingrown hair on legs, show infected ingrown hair with pictures, home remedies, and treatments for both men and women.
Ingrown hair as the name suggests is a situation where the hair fails to grow out of the skin surface. The hair in this case either curls backward as it grows into the skin follicle and ends up growing under the skin.
It may also grow sideways and end up lying against the skin causing red bumps which are also known as razor bumps. This happens a lot in people with curly or coarse hair.
Symptoms of Ingrown Hair on Legs
Sometimes, ingrown hairs may have direct symptoms like razor bumps. In some cases, they may have related symptoms like rushes and pain while walking. Below are a few symptoms of detecting ingrown hair on legs.
1. Black spots on the legs
When ingrown hair under the skin is left, they appear as black spots under the skin from a distance. When observed closely you may notice that they are bumps with ingrown hair on them.
2. Hurts to walk
In some cases when infected ingrown hair on legs is not treated, they become very itchy, and scratching them worsens them. This may cause pain and discomfort while walking due to the irritation.
3. Itchy scabbed legs with scars
This results from infected ingrown hair. They become scabbed with permanent black spots due to the peeling and sores formed while scratching on the infected itchy and irritating ingrown hair.
4. Rash
Sometimes the infected ingrown hair may result in tiny pimple-like rushes around the infected skin.
5. Swollen bumps or razor bumps
Ingrown hairs may cause bumpy swollen effects on the legs due to the hair under the skin. They appear like swollen bumps that can be easily spotted in some cases.
6. Pumps filled with pus
This happens when the ingrown hair is infected and the immune system is fighting off the infection. Pus accumulates under the skin on the affected area.
Causes of Ingrown Hair on Legs
Anything that brakes the hair unevenly leaving it with a sharp tip easily causes ingrown hair. Another cause is anything that blocks the pores or prevents the easy natural upward growth of hair also results in ingrown hairs. Below are some causes of ingrown hair on the legs:
1. Dull or blunt Blade
When shaving always avoids using blunt blades since the make you go over the same area over and over. This makes you push hair in the pores. One slide or a maximum of two is the best way and trick to shave and keep ingrown hair away
2. Waxing
Waxing removes hair from the roots thus leaving open any exposed pores. These pores can be easily blocked thus resulting in ingrown hair. It is important to administer good aftercare after waxing.
3. Dead cells on the skin
Dead cells on the skin block hair from growing out of the skin pores. The thick layers of dead skin causing the newly growing hair to curl back into the skin resulting in ingrown hair. Exfoliation helps in removing these dead cells on the skin.
4. Shaving
When shaving, avoid shaving against the grain. Shaving against the grain improves ingrown hair in the legs. Try and shave along the grains to avoid ingrown hair on the legs.
5. After epilating
While epilating, ensure that you use a high-end machine with several numbers of tweezers. Using machines with few tweezers will only cut thin hairs short and not from the root.
This makes you repeat shaving over the area thus promoting ingrown hairs on the leg after epilating. If you cannot get good epilators just use a blade manually.
6. Dry skin
Dry skin simply blocks pores that should allow hair to grow outside the skin. This encourages them to grow back in and so keeping a moist skin by constant re-hydration is important.
7. Tight Pants
Tight pants that make the skin moist and hold tight on the skin blocks the pores, causing them to sweat and easily bend any hair on them. This increases the chances of ingrown hair.
8. Tattoo on legs
Tattoos can cause ingrown hair on the legs due to the scabs discharged from the healing tattoo that cover the pores. Seek the advice of the tattoo artist to deal with ingrown hair on the tattoo.
How to Het Rid of Ingrown Hairs on Legs and cCompletely Avoid Them
Preparations before getting rid of ingrown hairs on the leg are important due to the fact that poor removal techniques can cause ingrown hair or even infection.
Any method used should be applied with caution to avoid cutting the skin or causing more ingrown hair on the legs.
1. Tweezers or needle
Using a pair of tweezers or needle especially before you start shaving helps a lot in easy shaving. Before you start shaving, uses a pair of tweezers or needle to lift underlying hair on the skin. This will make it easier when using your normal method while shaving.
- Get a pair of sterile tweezers or needle
- Identify ingrown hairs and underlying hairs against the skin
- Gently lift them up using the tweezers or needle. The aim is to make them pop out for easy shaving.
2. Exfoliation keeps of ingrown hair
Exfoliation simply means removing dead cells from the skin surface. After shaving the legs, it is important to exfoliate since any dead cells on the skin cause hair to curl back under the skin.
When hair curls back under the skin, it results in ingrown hair that could have been avoided by exfoliation.
3. What to do and not do while shaving to keep of ingrown hair on legs
While shaving, ensure that the blade is sharp and sterilized. It is advisable to shave along the grain. This helps a lot in easy removal of hair both tough and soft with an easy one slide.
- A sharp blade will ensure that there are no several repeats over the same area. Sliding the blade while shaving over and over one are increases the chances of developing ingrown hair.
- A sterilized blade helps to ensure that there are no infections in the area. It is easy to infect the pores and this results in infected ingrown hair on legs.
4. Epilator types can help in avoiding ingrown hair on legs
An epilator is an electric device used in removing hair. It has tweezers that grasp several hairs at a go and pulls them out just like waxing but it does not remove the cells from the epidermis like in the case of waxing.
- Getting a quality epilator with several tweezers reduces the number of slides when shaving compared with using an epilator with a few numbers of tweezers. You can always consult about this while buying one.
- High-end epilators with strong ceramic tweezers are also good since they remove hair from the root. These tips are very handy in avoiding ingrown hair not only on legs but on any other area of the body while shaving.
5. Shaving cream while using blades
Using creams or soap helps in easy shaving and avoids the forcing of any hair into the skin. Shaving creams and gels ensure smooth sliding of the blade along the grains. This is important in men since most tend to have curled hair that is tough.
6. Pressure used to shave
Apply gentle but steady pressure while shaving to avoid pushing any shaved hair in the pores. This will also help in avoiding the clogging of the open pores with the shaving cream. It is the blockage of these pores that cause ingrown hair.
7. After Waxing
Waxing involves the removal of hair from the roots and this leaves the skin exposed and vulnerable. Avoiding ingrown hairs after waxing means proper treatment of the skin and keeping it moisturized after waxing. It is important to have waxing done a professional who is good at aftercare.
Ingrown Hair on Legs Home Remedies, Solutions, and Treatment
After identifying ingrown hair, it is important to know how to remove them safely. Finding a solution and treating them is important in ensuring the do not come back again.
1. Body scrubs
This helps a lot in removing dead skin cells especially after shaving, epilating, or waxing. Dead skin cells block the new soft pores exposed after shaving. This causes any new hair that grows to curl back in causing ingrown hair on the skin.
2. Shower gel for exfoliation at home
Exfoliation can be done right at home with the following very easy and simple steps. All you need to get is a shower gel and salt. If you can get kosher salt, the better due to its larger crystals compared to those of fine salt.
- Wash your legs with warm water to avoid any infections on the pores
- Add some generous amounts of shower gel and salt in a container and mix
- Use your hands to apply on the legs and scrub. Take your time and do it properly
- Once you are done, rinse with warm water and use a clean towel to gently dry
- Apply any moisturizer to keep the legs from drying
3. Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid solution is a good remedy especially after waxing or shaving.
4. Scrubbing using mild soap
Using a mild soap at home to make a gel over the affected area and then scrubbing is a good way if dealing with ingrown hair at home.
- Clean the legs generally with warm water and lather using a mild soap
- Using a brush with soft bristles, gently scrub the affected areas with ingrown hair about 20-30 minutes
- Pat out dry with a clean towel and gently pool the exposed ingrown hair with a pair of tweezers.
5. Soaking in warm water or warm water compress
Warm water will always make the skin tender and increase the blood flow thus helping in reducing any bumps and swelling caused by the ingrown hair. This will also help in leaning the ingrown hairs more exposed on the surface making them easy to pluck off.
- Get some warm water and keep your legs in them to soak.
- You may also compress a washcloth or small towel soaked in warm water over the ingrown hair
- Do this for some time until the skin responds by becoming soft and tender.
- Pat dry with a clean towel and identify and remove the exposed ingrown hair with a pair of tweezers of the needle.
6. Baking soda
Baking soda has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces redness caused by ingrown hair on the legs surface.
- Add one tablespoon in a cup of water and mix to form a solution
- Use cotton but to dub the solution on the affected area for about 15-30 minutes
- Rinse off with warm water and repeat 3 times a day for better results
7. Black tea bags
The tannic acid in black tea bags helps in reducing inflammation and reduces redness while helping in soothing the skin.
- Get some warm water in a mug and soak a black tea bag in it
- Gently rub it over the affected area as often as possible for better results.
- Alternatively after soaking a black tea bag in half a cup of warm water
- Add a teaspoon of coconut water
- Use a cotton bud to apply the solution on the affected area as frequently as possible
How to Permanently Prevent and Avoid Ingrown Hair on Legs
While shaving epilating and waxing remain the most common ways of removing hair from legs, there are ways of permanently removing hair and preventing ingrown hair problems. Those are:
Laser hair removal
Laser involves the use of an intense beam of light for permanent removal of hair. The laser penetrated the skin with the aim of eliminating hair follicles permanently. It is involving and expensive but you will never have to deal with any ingrown hair problems again.
Electrolysis
Here, an electric current is used to burn skin hair right at the roots thus completely and permanently removing hair and any ingrown hair from the skin. This process is also very involving and expensive.