Ingrown Hair Symptoms

Ingrown Hair: Introduction

Ingrown hairs are medically termed as psuedofolliculitis barbae. They are also known by other names such as shaving bumps, hair bumps or razor bumps.

While shaving, the hair pinnacle can amputate and the hair follicle can bend inwards instead of outwards and begin to grow within the skin.

What are the Ingrown Hair Symptoms?

Symptoms of ingrown occur when a hair doesn't follow the normal pathway from the hair follicle to the skin surface, but instead the free end of the hair embeds in the skin.

Some signs and symptoms for ingrown hair:

• The crest of the skin may expand due to presence of tiny shallow blood vessels. This makes your skin turn red.
• When hair starts to grow through the pustule it appears unsightly as blackheads, abscesses or whiteheads can develop. This area can also become infected by bacteria.
• Sometimes, signs of ingrown hair may display in the form of puss filled pustules or bumps.
• Raised, red, small and inflamed formations or bumps are the most prominent ingrown hair symptoms. A coiled up hair is often visible in the middle of the red, solid papule (bump). Such a bump may turn red and itchy as well as cause slight discomfort and pain.

Most commonly, ingrown hair occurs on skin that has been waxed or shaved such as beard, hands, legs or pubic area. But ingrown hair can develop in other areas of the body too.

Threading too can cause hair follicle trauma and become a valid reason for causing ingrown hair. The use of steam bath or moisturizers can act as useful measures to release such hair follicles.

Besides the reasons stated so far, ingrown hairs may happen naturally. Sometimes, debris from dead cells can cause a build up that can block hair follicles and lead to inward hair growth.

Though not serious, and generally very responsive to home treatments, ingrown hair signs and symptoms can sometimes turn chronic and require professional care involving laser treatment or electrolysis.