Avoiding Ingrown Beard Hairs
There’s really nothing like a sudden ingrown hair to ruin your day. Those little bumps under the skin can be excruciatingly painful as they become incredibly inflamed. And, since they appear on your face, they can do quite a bit of damage to your confidence levels as well.
While it’s extremely common to get an ingrown hair from time to time, that doesn’t mean that you should do everything in your power to prevent it from happening. In extreme cases, ingrown hairs can get infected, requiring immediate medical attention. Plus, even mild cases of ingrown hairs are extremely irritating. Fortunately, preventing ingrown hairs isn’t nearly as difficult as you might think.
What’s an Ingrown Hair Exactly?
An ingrown hair is a hair that’s grown into a pore of the skin. Each facial hair is supposed to pop out of the skin and grow away from it. Ingrown hairs peak through the pore for a moment before going back into the skin, allowing it to grow sideways or downward.
When an ingrown hair develops, the surrounding area can get very inflamed. That’s because as the hair continues to grow into the skin, dead skin cells coat the skin, plugging up the pore so that the hair has no way out. This allows bacteria to grow in the pore.
How Do Ingrown Hairs Develop?
Ingrown hairs can develop at any time for no seeming reason, although it’s most common for them to develop as the result of poor beard and skin maintenance. If you’re not committed to a daily beard and skincare routine, your chances of developing an ingrown hair are pretty high.
Now, there are several ways to prevent this from happening to your face when trying to grow and maintain your beard.
Wash and Exfoliate Daily
Keeping your skin clean and exfoliated is the first step to avoiding those dreaded ingrown hairs. Cleaning and exfoliating your skin remove layers of dead skin cells that can clog your pores. This lowers the chances of facial hairs getting trapped beneath the skin’s surface.
Use a Beard Oil Daily
Since hydration is key, a beard oil is crucial. Your skin and facial hair need to be properly hydrated in order to be healthy. Otherwise, the skin can become irritated and flaky, making the chances of developing ingrown hairs more likely.
Use the Right Razor
Never use a razor that requires you to go over the same spot several times. This promotes the development of ingrown hairs by pushing each facial hair back into the skin. Make sure that your razor is sharp and that it’s compatible with your facial hair type.
How Can a Man Treat Ingrown Hairs?
To treat an ingrown hair, simply use a hot compress on the area twice each day for 15 minutes. After a couple of days, the inflammation will go down and the skin will open up, allowing the hair to poke through.
Minimize Your Chances of It Happening
While ingrown hairs can be quite agonizing, these easy tips will minimize your chances of getting them in the first place.