This hair disorder most often occurs in the beard and neck areas of Black men with tightly curled hair who shave. It can also occur in women who shave, especially in the groin area, and anywhere hair is shaved or plucked. Each ingrown hair results in a tiny, mildly painful pimple with a barely visible hair curling into the center. Scarring can result.
Doctors diagnose the disorder by its typical appearance.
Treatment of Ingrown Beard Hairs
Proper shaving technique and warm compresses
For inflammation, creams (corticosteroids, antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, or retinoids) or drugs by mouth
Treatment of the pimples involves initial discontinuation of shaving, and the application of warm compresses several times a day to soothe the area. Ingrown hairs may be released by a healthcare professional with a sterile needle or toothpick.
If inflammation is present but mild, doctors sometimes give low-potency corticosteroid or antibiotic creams that are applied directly to the inflamed area. Benzoyl peroxide creams and retinoid gels, liquids, or creams can be helpful for people with mild or moderate cases but may irritate the skin.
If inflammation is moderate to severe, doctors may give antibiotics taken by mouth.
Some people may need a short course of treatment with corticosteroids taken by mouth.
Proper shaving technique should be followed once shaving is resumed.
Prevention of Ingrown Beard Hairs
The best preventive treatment is to stop shaving and allow the hair to grow. When the hairs are longer, they do not curl back and puncture the skin.
Hair can be removed with a depilatory (a liquid or cream preparation that removes unwanted hair) because removing hairs chemically does not trigger the problem the way shaving does, although the chemicals often irritate the skin. Also, hair can be permanently removed with electrolysis or with laser treatment Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to be abnormally high. Symptoms of diabetes may... read more .
People who must shave should wet the area first and should shave in the same direction in which the hair grows. People should avoid shaving closely with multiple razor strokes.
Applying eflornithine cream may help by slowing hair growth so that shaving can be done less frequently.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
benzoyl peroxide |
Acne Medication, Acne-10, Acneclear, Benprox , Benzac AC, Benzac W, Benzac-10, Benzac-5, Benzagel, Benzagel-10 , Benzagel-5, BenzaShave, BenzEFoam, BenzEFoam Ultra , BenzePrO, Benziq, Benziq LS, BP Cleanser, BP Cleansing Lotion, BP Foaming Wash, BP Gel, BP Topical , BP Wash, BP Wash Kit, BPO, BPO Creamy Wash, BPO Foaming Cloth, Brevoxyl-4, Brevoxyl-8, Clean&Clear Persa-Gel, Clearplex , Clearplex X, Clearskin, Clinac BPO, Del Aqua, Delos, Desquam-E, Desquam-X, EFFACLAR, Enzoclear, EPSOLAY, Ethexderm BPW, Inova Easy Pad, Lavoclen-4 , Lavoclen-8, NeoBenz Micro, NeoBenz Micro Cream Plus Pack, NeoBenz Micro SD, NeoBenz Micro Wash Plus Pack, Neutrogena Acne Cream, OC8, Oscion, Pacnex, Pacnex HP, Pacnex LP, Pacnex MX, PanOxyl, PanOxyl 10 Maximum Strength, PanOxyl 5, PanOxyl AQ, PanOxyl Aqua, PanOxyl-10, PanOxyl-5, PanOxyl-8, Peroderm, RE Benzoyl Peroxide , Riax, SE BPO, Seba, Seba-Gel, Soluclenz Rx , Theroxide, TL BPO MX, Triaz, True Marker Lintera, Zaclir, Zoderm Cleanser , Zoderm Cream, Zoderm Gel, Zoderm Redi-Pads , Zoderm Wash |
eflornithine |
Vaniqa |
