Many people are familiar with the term ‘ingrown hair’. In fact, many people have been victims of these hairs. However, did you know this condition can get infected? Yes, that is why many people today are concerned about it getting infected.
Generally, this condition occurs when some hair curls back and grows inwards instead of outwards. In short, hair grows back into the skin. This sounds weird, isn’t it?
As a result of curling back, the probability of it getting infected is very high. Normally, your hair is supposed to grow upright and outward through its follicles. What if this hair doesn’t grow to the surface? You can just imagine what happens when it grows back into the skin.
The imagination is obvious; this ingrown hair messes up the follicle. As a result, the hair follicle may get an infection or a cyst.
Yes, an infection that many people won’t like to get. This infection can occur on the head, face, chin, chest, pubic area, thighs, or any other body part. You may have heard people talk about infected pubic one. It happens here too.
Having an infection isn’t a big deal. The condition can be easily treated at home. Yes, there are numerous home remedies can help deal with this infection.
What symptoms or signs to watch for
How can you tell if what you are having a normal ingrown hair or an infected one? According to healthline.com, an infection is easily identifiable. Generally, it manifests the following symptoms:
- You will initially see a small red bump on the skin
- With time, the bump grows bigger
- As it gets bigger, it gets pus-filled
- The skin around the bump reddens and is easily irritable
- The skin may also swell
- There is extreme itching sensation
Causes
According to Wikipedia, an ingrown hair should appear and heal within a short time. The skin around it heals naturally, or with the application of simple home remedies.
In this context, one gets worried when it gets infected. An infected one is a clear indication that all is not well. What causes the infection then?
Accumulation of Dirt and Dead Skin Cells
You may have heard of clogged follicles. A follicle is the origin of every hair in the human body. It opens on the skin’s surface in the form of a pore. This pore can, at times, accumulate dirt and dead skin cells.
If this happens, it is likely to worsen the condition of an existing hair that is ingrown. In short, then it will get irritated and inflamed. When it infected. It starts producing some pus.
The Clothes you wear
Remember that an infected case develops from an existing ingrown hair. Actually, this problem is as bad as an infected one. Both of them are highly irritable.
This means that the type of clothes you wear determine the level of irritation in an existing case. What if you are wearing tight clothes? What if you are wearing nylon or synthetic clothes? These two types of clothes highly irritate an existing it, thus making the chances of it getting infected higher.
Fungal or Bacterial Infection
You may have come across the term folliculitis. This is a skin condition that involves an infection of the follicle. Folliculitis is mainly attributed to bacterial infection on an existing hair that is ingrown.
Every skin surface is prone to having staphylococcus, the bacteria that infects ingrown hairs. When this bacterium gets into an existing one, it gets infected.
Bad shaving techniques
You will agree with me that the best way to get rid of this problem is through prevention. Most cases are attributed to unhealthy shaving techniques. F
Using a shaving blade for a long time is one of the poor shaving techniques. Shaving with a blunt blade can also cause irritation. Some people also fail to sterilize shaving blades. All these factors cause infections in one way or the other.
On how to get the best shave, men-uusa.com highlights that one should always use a sharp blade. The blade should also be regularly changed. Furthermore, you should always master the direction of your hair during shaving i.e. shave in the direction of hair growth. Finally, sterilize the blades during shaving.
The Type of your Skin
Dermatologists note that the existence and infection chances are at times related to one’s skin type. People with oily skin are likely to have excessive production of sebum. This sebum clogs the follicle.
In case one has an existing ingrown hair, clogging of the follicle results in an infection. However, there is cream can help in unclogging these follicles.
Ingrown hair infection cyst
This can happen on the head, chest or armpit can, at times, result in a cyst. According to healtreatcure.org, a cyst occurs when an ingrown hair is not removed on time.
Naturally, hair is meant to continuously grow, irrespective of whether it is growing outwards or inwards. If it is continuously growing inwards, a large of a portion of this hair will be under the skin. This results in a cyst if it gets infected.
What is an infected ingrown hair cyst? This is a form of swelling witnessed on the skin as a result of a continuous growth hair that has ingrown. Given its sensitive nature, the cyst is easily targeted by bacteria, thus getting infected.
To prevent this, one is advised to promptly remove hair that is ingrowing once it is noted. Ignoring it might make it develop a cyst. If this cyst gets infected, then the outcome is undesirable.
How to treat infected ingrown hair
On how to treat infected this condition, bustle.com notes that it is possible to treat the condition. This can be done through the application of simple natural home remedies or using antibiotics.
You can manage it through use of the following techniques:
- Always observe skin hygiene. Like earlier noted, bacteria and fungi play an essential role in causing skin infections. Cleaning your skin with antiseptic soaps is effective in stopping infections.
- Massage the infected area. This can be done by using warm water and a towel. Frequently massage this area. Within a few days, inflammation stops, and the infection starts healing.
- Leave the infection alone. Resist the temptation of popping or picking the pimples around the infected area. If you leave the infection alone, it might naturally heal on its own.
- Get rid of the ingrown hair. Infection occurs if the hair continues to grow inside the skin. This is likely to form a cyst. To avoid this, timely remove anyone that is ingrown noted on your skin. However, ensure you know how to do it to avoid infections.
- Use antibiotics. These, alongside other drugs, are effective in drying and healing any infection on the hair follicle. However, these drugs should only be prescribed by a doctor.
- Use existing home remedies. There are many things that you can use at home to manage infections. Some of these products include Aloe Vera, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda or tea tree oil.
References