Are the red raised bumps sometimes filled with pus ingrown facial hair? In case they are ingrown facial hair, then what could their cause?
Discover detailed information about what they are, their causes, symptoms, best remedies and preventive measures. You are also going to learn about the infected and deep ones.
Meaning
First, I want you to understand that hair is made up of a protein called keratin, which is obtained from the follicle, and penetrate to the skin surface through pores.
In some cases, it may be forced to grow sideways under the skin surface when the follicles are plugged by body oils or accrual dead skin cells. This way, we will experience an ingrown hair on the part where it has happened.
Another reason is when it curls back into the skin. This usually happens when naturally coarse and curly hair is shaved. You should note that once it is tapped in the skin, it would trigger itching, pain, inflammation as well as irritation.
Not just on the face, ingrown hair normally develop on the chin, pubic area, beard area, neck, and armpits among other body parts.
What causes them?
It should be clear this is a common condition that affects adults of any age, gender or race. However, experts have proved that this problem is more prevalent in people having natural curly and coarse hair especially the African and African Americans.
Besides this, also other factors normally influence the appearance. Scroll below to familiarize yourself with these factors.
1. Bacterial infection on facial skin
Actually, bacterial infections have a lot to do with the ingrown hair on the face. Such infections may make follicles to swell and to be filled with pus. This usually clogs them, a condition that can force hair to grow sideways under the skin.
Staphylococcus aureus causes bacterial infections (folliculitis). The germ enters the body through skin cuts and wounds.
2. Are puberty, pregnancy, and periods linked to this problem?
Many types of research have proved that various causes of acne (especially blackheads and whiteheads) are directly linked to the occurrences of ingrown hair.
This is because various acnes come into being when the follicles are blocked by sebum and dead skin cells. The same blockage can also force it to grow sideways under the skin. Therefore, hormonal variations during pregnancy, puberty and periods have a lot to do with this problem.
In addition, other sex hormones can trigger the excessive growth of hair hence elevating chances of suffering from this problem. “people with high levels of certain sex hormones can have excessive hair growth, which makes it more likely to get ingrown hairs, especially after shaving.” [wemd.com]. Although it can be challenging to control this growth, you can see your doctor for advice.
More factor that can increase occurrence acnes as well as ingrown hair on face:
- Certain medications
- Overproduction of sebum
- Wearing caps and helmets
- Excessive smoking and alcohol consumption
- High rate of pollution
3. Poor hair removal procedures
This is one of the main trigger especially ingrown a beard and in women who have facial hair too. Using wrong tools, for instance, using dull razors while shaving the beard and other facial hairs.
It usually leads to razor bumps. Shaving in the wrong direction also cause this condition. You should always be sure to shave in the direction of the hair growth.
Again, before you could start climbing the ladder of shaving facial hair, you should apply pre-shave creams to prepare adequately the skin. Also, make sure to exfoliate your skin after shaving. In addition, instead of waxing to remove hair, you can apply ingredients such as sugar, lemon, and water. Mix them to form a solution.
Symptoms
Ingrown hair usually, can potentially lead to embarrassment and psychological effects especially when it occurs in areas where they can be easily be noticed like face. Some of the psychological effects may include reduced self-esteem, victims avoiding public places, being ignored by colleagues among others.
Now, apart from the psychological effects, there are also symptoms that will be experienced some few day after shaving, waxing or tweezing to signify their onset. These are:
- Small blisters oozing pus
- Painful and itchy skin
- Inflamed, red and tender skin
- minor, solid and round papules
- Darkening skin
- Razor Bumps (shaving bump)
- Ingrown hair Cyst (for severe infected cases)
- Large Swollen ingrown hair lump
Many of the symptoms mentioned above indicate that infected ingrown hair is developing. All the above symptoms must be dealt immediately they are discovered. This will avoid further scarring.
Infected and deep ingrown hair on face
One can experience a lot of discomfort and pain when this issue happens deep into the skin. The poor facial hair removal methods push strands to grow deep into the skin. Waxing is the major culprit for this problem.
If you have them removal will call for professional intervention. In addition, several best products can be used in the extraction of deep ones.
Healtreatcure.org advises that “creams that contain lactic acid can help in breaking and softening hard skin over the hair to allow it to penetrate out of the skin surface.” Remember such creams will also help to treat ingrown hair scars.
Treatment and home remedies
Naturally, they usually vanish on their own but the opposite is also true especially when a person experiences infected ones. The type of medication to administer will depend on whether they are infected or not, whether they are chronic or note. So, discussed below are some of the effective treatment:
1. Topical medication
For the cases of mild infections, over the counter medications as well as prescription topical therapies can be used in the treatment. Such medication involves the application of corticosteroid creams, topical antibiotic creams or retinoid creams.
These medications, especially corticosteroids help to cool down the inflammations initiated by the facial ingrown hair. Application of topical creams on the affected skin always facilitates the healing process.
On the other hand, retinoid creams help in getting rid of dead skin cells, therefore, encouraging hair to penetrate the skin. Some topical medications may only be available with a prescription.
2. Oral treatment
Oral treatments are very effective especially for severe cases of infection. Severe may demand the use of oral antibiotics.
These medications also help in fighting Staphylococcus, a kind of bacterial infection, which shows up whenever hair follicles are clogged and inflamed. Note that if a prompt response is not bestowed upon these bacteria, they can lead to severe infection such as cellulitis.
3. Changing facial care routine
Another great way to deal with this menace is to changes some of your facial hair care routine. This may include:
- The first step is to stay several weeks before you could shave, wax or tweeze to remove them.
- Also, carry out regular exfoliations (on a weekly basis) to make the inward growing ones to break through.
- Also during shaving, make sure to change the blades and use sharp blades.
- Other tips include shaving in the direction of the hair growth
- Also, be careful when wearing helmets and caps. They too can lead to this problem.
4. Electrolysis and laser treatment
Electrolysis treatment, as well as laser hair removal, can be a very effective way because they stop it growth permanently.
Laser treatment destroys the follicles making hair not to grow back again. This procedure also helps to limit scarring that may result.
On the other hand, electrolysis uses mild electric current that is induced to flow on the follicles thus destroying them.
Best ways to prevent them
Several approaches can be used to prevent their occurrence. Therefore, we have identified top-rated tips to help you drive away from this issue. So these techniques include:
1. Using homes remedies
Ingrown hair home remedies can be used to soften the skin and to get rid of excess body oils and dead skin cells. These home products are sugar scrubs, baking soda, tea tree oil, Aspirin, aloe vera, egg white, black tea bags, salt, etc.
These products make perfect facial scrubs, strip and mask that unclogs pores and kill the related bacteria hence prevent this problem If you want affordable and best product, then opt for home care products.
2. Good hair removal techniques
This is another good approach to preventing this problem. It involves:
- Shaving the right direction i.e. the direction of hair grow
- Shaving using sharp blades and also using few strokes of razor as well as rinsing the blades after each and every stroke
- Not shaving so closely
- Pre-shaving care, for instance, wetting the skin using warm water before you start shaving.
- Sterilizing tools before use
- Not picking an ingrown hair with dirty hands
3. Everyday care
Make sure to rub your face using wet cotton cloth daily. You can also use exfoliating scrubs to enhance the penetration of hair. Use chemical or homemade exfoliation products but, remember over-exfoliation can lead to skin damage!
Summary
To be on the safer side of this road, proper hygiene must be paramount as a way of keeping you off this problem. Again, do not touch your ingrown hair bumps with dirty hands since it can acquire bacterial infections. Seek immediate medical advice from your dermatologist as soon as you suspect the presence of a severe infection.