How to stop ingrown hairs on womans face

Put your best face forward. Sure, sure, you’ve heard that phrase before. But hard to do when a dreaded ingrown hair has camped out on your face. It’s annoying, it’s painful and a total mood wrecker. And ladies, don’t think this happens only to men. Ingrown hairs don’t discriminate. And they crop up in places other than, say, the bikini line area. They can easily occur on your face (bummer, we know), growing into your skin instead of toward the surface. These hairs also tend to develop when the buildup of dead skin cells clog hair follicles. (Again, a bummer.)

So how to avoid ingrown hairs, particularly on your face? We have a few recs to try RN.

How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs on Your Face

1. Wash your face daily using a mild cleanser.
2. Take your cleansing routine a step further and exfoliate a few times a week. (Even a gentle scrub will help slough away dry, dead skin cells and help stop ingrown hairs.)
3. Keep face void of any heavy creams/lotions and/or makeup pre-wax appointment.
4. Don’t be shy: Speak to your Wax Specialist about any medications you’re taking or sensitivities-slash-allergies you may have.
5. If you’re truly concerned about inflammation or irritation, apply a warm compress to open pores pre-appointment…
6. …and a cool compress to calm and soothe post-wax.
7. Just as you would to prevent ingrown hairs in other areas of the body, nix anything involving heat and sweat following your wax appointment. Avoid hot baths, showers, workouts, saunas, etc. for 24 hours.
8. Hands off—this could lead to redness or even infection (yikes).
9. You may want to say no to makeup for about a day following a wax, particularly if your skin is sensitive.

xx,

Waxxpot

9) Use the Philips Norelco Shaver series 7000
Co-developed with dermatologists, the series 7000 is designed to provide a fully comfortable, close shave to even sensitive skin. The result of years of research, it’s proven to reduce razor burn, redness, and irritation. So if ingrown hairs are the bane of your life, it’s definitely for you. It can be used for a wet or dry shave, it’s washable, and it’s designed to glide smoothly over your skin – no cuts.

See more below ↓

Shani Francis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair-loss specialist based in Illinois, says chin hairs, for most, tend to be thicker, more mature hairs, and can be more difficult to remove. She says there are many ways to remove chin hairs, and that one or two ingrowns, especially after extensive hair removal, is par for the course.

"Single chin hair removal is possible at home," says Dr. Francis, "If you develop multiple inflamed hairs simultaneously or what a more permanent solution, it would be better to consult a board-certified dermatologist."

Rebecca Baxt, MD, a New Jersey-based board-certified dermatologist, explains that ingrown hairs happen when your hair grows back into your skin and gets stuck, which can cause inflammation, redness, and swelling. This happens more commonly with curly hairs. If you're prone to getting ingrown chin hair, Dr. Francis says you can use a warm towel to open your pores before hair removal, or an ice or cold compress after shaving to close the pores and minimize follicle re-entry. Dr. Baxt says it's best to avoid mechanical forms of hair removal like plucking, waxing, and threading.

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"If you are prone to ingrown chin hair, then laser hair removal usually solves that issue," says Dr. Baxt. "Also, see a board-certified dermatologist to see if there are any prescriptions that would help, such as topical antibiotics or exfoliants. Sometimes an injection is needed, and even oral antibiotics, if it is severe."

Dr. Francis adds that derms can also prescribe prescription-strength creams to slow down growth rate and thin the hairs, or medications that prevent follicle congestion and minimize infection and inflammation post-shaving.

And if you've never gotten chin hairs and now have a lot, you should check in with a doctor. "Severe chin hairs or sudden growth of chin hairs could signal a hormonal imbalance for women," says Dr. Francis. If you experience this, she says you should seek advice from a dermatologist or other medical professional.

Sometimes, dead skin can clog a hair follicle. That forces the hair to grow sideways under your skin, rather than up and out. Or if you cut naturally curly hair too short, the sharpened end of the hair can pierce your skin, causing an ingrown hair.