Ingrown hairs are hairs that have either become trapped underneath the skin or have grown back into the skin following hair removal by shaving or waxing. Once trapped underneath the skin, the ingrown hair can lead to soreness, redness, and inflammation. Although common and seemingly innocent, ingrown hairs can harbor many hidden dangers.

If left untreated, ingrown hairs can lead to infections which can quickly turn into a nightmare situation. Infections can lead to major health concerns that could result in a trip the hospital. In fact, there are some people who have almost died from infected ingrown hairs.

Do not let this be you! Here are some of the most common infections caused by ingrown hairs. Talk to a doctor or seek over-the-counter treatment before any of these get out of hand:

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a condition that occurs when bacteria penetrates the deeper layers of the skin and underlying tissue areas. There are many types of bacteria that are already present on the outer layer of skin. These are usually harmless, however, if they have an opportunity to enter the body through an open sore such as a recently removed ingrown hair, the skin could become infected.

While cellulitis typically affects the legs, it can appear on any part of the body. Symptoms of cellulitis include visible redness, swelling, and inflammation. The infected area may also be warm to the touch and it may be tender. Some people may experience fever, chills, and even blisters. An ingrown hair that has become infected with cellulitis can lead to pain and discomfort if it is not treated right away. It is best to seek medical treatment if any of these symptoms appear. A doctor can prescribe antibiotics to remedy this condition which can take anywhere from 5-14 days to completely heal.

Folliculitis

A serious infection that can result from ingrown hairs is folliculitis. Each hair on your body grows out of its own follicle. Shaving, or other grooming activities that irritate the follicles can result in ingrown hairs which further exacerbate the development of folliculitis. When ingrown hairs are present, bacteria can enter the site, causing inflammation and infection. Ingrown hairs may injure the hair follicle, increasing the likelihood of an infection.

By appearance, folliculitis looks like a red bump or pimple that is filled with pus or blood. The infection may also itch or burn. Folliculitis may be superficial or could go much deeper into the skin. Folliculitis can even spread to other surrounding hair follicles even if an ingrown hair is not present at those sites.

A doctor can properly diagnose folliculitis by drawing a sample of the fluid from the infected area. If folliculitis is confirmed, your doctor may recommend putting a halt on grooming activities until the site has properly healed. While most folliculitis will clear up on its own within a week or two, sometimes antibiotics are necessary. If redness, swelling or pain continue or if fever exceeds 101 degrees, contact a physician immediately for further treatment options.

Staphylococcus

Staphylococcus, also known simply as staph, is a bacterial infection that affects the skin. Many healthy people carry this bacteria on the outer layer of their skin without issue. However, when the skin is damaged, this bacteria can quickly enter it and cause a life-threatening infection. An opening like a cut from shaving or even from plucking out an ingrown hair, if left untreated, can lead to a staph infection.

The infected site will turn into a pus-filled cyst or abscess that will continue to grow until it is drained, even to the size of a baseball in many severe instances. These painful infection sites can lead to even more severe infections. If drainage of the site is not done in enough time, the staph infection could lead to a more serious condition known as sepsis.

Sepsis

Sepsis is an infection that goes into the bloodstream. Naturally, the body will release chemicals to fight off any infection. Sepsis will occur when these chemicals lead to inflammation in various other parts of the body. This could ultimately lead to failure of multiple organs and even death. The good news is that if staph is caught early on and the abscess has been properly drained, antibiotics can be administered to treat and cure the infection.

Prevent Ingrown Hairs and Infections

While it is not uncommon for people to develop ingrown hairs, more often than not they never consider the health ramifications of an infected ingrown hair. The first step towards avoiding infection is to practice proper grooming techniques that can prevent ingrown hairs in the first place. Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Prior to shaving, always wash the area with warm water and a mild cleanser.
• Next, properly lubricate the skin and hair with a gel or cream so that both are properly moisturized.
• Never use old, dull razor blades to shave the skin and replace blades often for the smoothest shave.

As long as you follow proper hygiene and safe hair removal techniques, you should be able to significantly lower your chances of developing ingrown hairs.

When to Seek Medical Treatment

Seek medical treatment immediately if any of the following occur:  fever, swelling, redness, pain, chills or raw open sores at the site of the ingrown hair. A doctor can not only safely remove the ingrown hair, but they can properly identify the infection and prescribe the appropriate antibiotics to heal the affected area. It’s better to be safe than sorry; so if you have any question that an infection has gotten out of hand, please seek treatment.

These are just some of the dangers of ingrown hairs. For the safest health outcomes, never ignore the warning signs of a potentially infected ingrown hair. Infections caused by ingrown hairs can spread to other areas of the body and can lead to serious complications if left unchecked.

If you’ve ever used a razor, you’re more likely than not familiar with the dreaded razor burn, which refers to little bumps that develop on your skin after you’ve finished shaving.

While not a serious medical condition, it can nonetheless be very irritating, leading to side effects like tenderness, itchiness, and even a burning sensation. In best case scenarios, razor burn is a temporary condition that will eventually go away on its own, but there are measures you can take to treat razor burn if you want to deal with it quickly or you’re having persistent issues.

So if you’re wondering how to soothe razor burn quickly and easily, we’re letting you know the best methods and ingredients to give you relief.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a great way to treat razor burn as it contains anti-inflammatory agents that can lessen inflammation, tame any itching, and safeguard against infection. In order to make the perfect apple cider vinegar ointment, do the following:

• Dip a cotton ball into some apple cider vinegar and treat the area affected by razor burn
• Permit it to dry and then use water to wash off the apple cider
• Repeat this process two or three times daily until  you get rid of the burning feeling.

If your skin is sensitive, be sure to dilute the apple cider vinegar using water before applying it on your skin.

2. Aspirin

You probably already have a bottle in your medicine cabinet, but you can easily pick some up at your neighborhood drugstore if you don’t have any on hand. With aspirin, you can treat your razor burn fast and effectively due to the anti-inflammatory agents. Follow these steps:

• Place a couple of aspirins into a single teaspoon of warm water and allow them to dissolve into paste.
• Apply the paste to the razor burn area and let it sit there for 10 minutes before using lukewarm water to wash it off.
• Repeat the process a couple of times a day.

  

3. Aloe Vera

You can easily pick up some aloe vera at your neighborhood supermarket. It will help to sooth the irritated area due to the cooling nature of the plant. As well, it will moisturize your skin and facilitate healing. In order to make the most of aloe vera as a treatment, follow these steps:

• Get an aloe vera leaf and obtain aloe vera gel from it.
• Apply the gel to the razor burn area, allow it to dry on, and then use cold water to rinse it away.
• Repeat this process two or three times daily for two or three days.

4. Honey

Honey contains antibacterial agents that can be used to treat your razor burn problem by lessening inflammation and swelling. The process as follows is simple:

• Put some honey on your razor burn area, permit it to dry.
• Use cold water to wash it off.

5. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is great for soothing skin irritation, and there are a couple of ways that you can use lavender essential oil to treat your razor burn. The two methods are:

• First Option: Add 10 drops of lavender essential oil to half a cup of cold water. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture, apply it to the razor burn area, allow it to dry, and repeat this process two times a day.

• Second Option: Put eight drops of lavender essential oil to a quarter of a cup of carrier oil such as almond oil or olive oil, and then rub the mixture on the affected area.

If you’ve been wondering how to soothe razor burn, these home remedy tips will provide you with ways to get the relief you’re looking for. So the next time you encounter this problem, you’ll know exactly what to do to gain the relief you want.

However, if the problem persists–be sure to look for products that can be more effective in treating razor burn.  Sometimes home remedies are just not enough!

Some beauty purists only shop for organic ingredients or vegan-only products. But it’s the cruelty-free mark that is the do or die for many cosmetics enthusiasts. Beauty doesn’t have to come at the cost of an animal’s life or welfare, and more buyers are demanding and actively seeking out the bunny emblem that represents the mark of cruelty free products.

In the past, choices were limited for cruelty-free cosmetics, and the search was often grueling or budget breaking. In today’s ethically-driven market, though, more and more companies are going cruelty-free. Finding the best ethical products on the market can be a matter of opinion, however, because what works for one person might be a miss on another individual’s skin.

Cruelty Free International holds the mark of the Leaping Bunny that is associated with their cruelty free certification. On the organization’s site, buyers can search for brands that are cruelty-free as well as vegan or vegetarian brands. You can narrow your search by product type or just type in a company name to see if it is Leaping Bunny approved.

Besides the Leaping Bunny, buyers may see another bunny on noted cruelty-free brands. The bunny face with heart-shaped ears belongs to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). When buyers see this label, they also can be assured that the item was not tested on animals. PETA allows consumers to download an app to search for all the companies that bear their bunny symbol.

The beauty of cruelty-free products is that many of them are often reasonably priced for the value as well as ethical. Many major brands feature a bunny label denoting cruelty-free. However, many major brands still haven’t made the switch. For more information about cruelty-free products and animal testing in the beauty industry, check out the infographic below:

Ingrown hairs develop when hair becomes trapped underneath the skin or grows back into the skin after shaving.

Did you know that when a hair is under the skin, your body doesn’t see a difference between that hair and a splinter? Your body will fight it like a foreign object, which can lead to infection, resulting in painful and inflamed skin.

If the problem is left untreated, you can even end up with unsightly scar tissue! For those who suffer from ingrown hairs, the experience can cause discomfort and even a decline in self-confidence.

However, there are ways to prevent ingrown hairs and they are related to two very important personal shaving practices: using sharp blades and proper lubrication. Here is the rundown on how to improve your shaving techniques if you want to prevent ingrown hairs.

Avoid Dull Blades While Shaving

If we had to choose the #1 rule for safe shaving to prevent ingrown hairs, we’d say avoid using dull blades at ALL costs. Unfortunately, most blades are not made from good quality steel, which is why so many become dull even after one or two uses. The general rule of thumb is if the blade’s appearance changes and it no longer looks new, it is time to replace it!

If you really want to prevent ingrown hairs, never EVER use a dull blade. Since dull blades take more pressure for the same shave, they drag against the skin, causing irritation, and irritated skin is the perfect environment for ingrown hairs and infection. Indeed, as the skin swells from the irritation, it is more likely to trap individual hairs below its surface.

Dull blades also tend to cut the hairs unevenly, resulting in jagged edges, which poke back into skin and become ingrown.By now it should be clear you need to throw out those dull razors and buy some fresh ones if you want to prevent ingrown hairs!

Properly Lubricate to Prevent Ingrown Hairs

The 2nd most important rule of safe shaving is to lubricate properly!  A lubricating product will soften and moisturize the skin, making it much easier to shave. For the best results, avoid harsh, soap-based lubricants like shaving foams. Often, these soap-based products remove the skin’s natural oils, which results in a more difficult shave as the blade struggles and scrapes against the skin.

For a healthier shaving experience, try a silicone-based lubricant instead. A silicon-based product helps the razor glide smoothly across the skin, working with it and not against it. That way you cut the hair and not your delicate skin!

When it comes to personal shaving practices, using sharp blades in addition to silicone-based products can help to prevent ingrown hairs. Yes, these simple changes will make all the difference!

So, you’ve got an ingrown hair. It’s painful, scratchy, inflamed, and downright annoying. While they can be irritating and at times embarrassing, know that there is always a solution to the problem of how to stop ingrown hairs before they get infected. In fact, this solution should be sought as soon as the ingrown hair is observed, because if you let it linger, the site could become infected and lead to further complications.

Recognizing an infection is quite simple. If you have any of the following symptoms, treat the ingrown hair immediately:

• Red, pimple-like appearance
• Swelling
• Itching
• A bump that grows larger or fills with pus

An infected ingrown hair can be serious business. Besides being unsightly, an infected ingrown hair is a painful experience and can cause permanent scarring. In extreme cases, an ingrown hair may even become a cyst, a white or yellow fluid-filled sac! That’s enough of a reason to take care of ingrown hairs before they get infected.

How to Stop Ingrown Hairs

To avoid ingrown hairs in the first place, reevaluate your shaving routine. Always exfoliate the area to be shaved prior to actually shaving, so that the hairs that might have gotten caught under the skin will be brought to the surface. Use as few strokes as possible to avoid irritation. This will also lower the likelihood of the hair being caught under the skin, or hairs that were already cut working their way back into any miniscule holes or tears in the skin. Be sure to rinse the razor blade after every stroke to minimize this risk.

Most importantly, never shave with a dull blade and remember never to use a quality silicone shave gel, which helps the razor to glide over skin without creating irritation. After shaving, place a cool towel or washcloth on the skin to reduce any immediate inflammation. Due to the temperature difference, this action will also tighten the skin and close the pores, preventing any dirt or bacteria from entering into the skin and infecting it.

Soothe Ingrown Hairs

Even following these tips when shaving, it is still possible to develop ingrown hairs. It’s not your fault, you did your best! But people with coarse or curly hair are more likely to experience this problem, as the hair doesn’t always grow straight out of the follicle. Our tips will help reduce the amount of ingrown hairs, but they may not eliminate them completely.

So when ingrown do appear it’s important to take steps to prevent infections. Keep the area clean and never try to dig out an ingrown hair with tweezers! Doing so may increase the chances of infection and could lead to permanent scarring.

Remember to stop shaving the affected area until the ingrown hair has completely healed. Soak the ingrown hair with a warm, wet cloth daily and be patient. If the ingrown hairs persist, consider investing in a specialty product.

Take care when you shave to prevent ingrown hairs, and if ingrown hairs do occur, take good care of them. If you follow the tips above then you may just stop ingrown hairs before they get infected!

During pregnancy your body goes through many different changes, and your skin is no exception. From weight retention to stretch marks to other changes in appearance, your body responds in many ways as you await the arrival of your new bundle of joy. This is why it is so important for pregnant women to take extra steps when it comes to their skincare routines while pregnant. Here are some of the top ways in which expectant mothers can take care of their skin for the healthiest, most radiant glow throughout the duration of their pregnancy.

#1 Reduce Stress

Stress can leave many damaging effects on the skin including fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet. What’s worse is that stress can even be harmful for the growing baby. One useful way to remedy stress levels is through meditation. Meditation helps to clear your mind and organize your thoughts. Remaining calm will help to relax your facial muscles so that stress-induced skin conditions are halted in their tracks.

#2 Increase Water Intake

Drinking plenty of water during pregnancy is a very important step towards keeping your skin hydrated and supple. Doctors recommended expectant mothers drink at least two liters of water per day. Drinking enough water will not only hydrate the skin, it will remove harmful toxins from the body and keep amniotic fluid levels high for a healthy growing environment for your little one.

#3 Get a Good Night’s Rest

A full night’s sleep will do wonders for your skin. Medical professionals recommend expectant mothers get a full 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Ample sleep will reduce the likelihood of dark circles and bags under your eyes, and it will leave you feeling energized and ready to conquer the day!

#4 Eat Healthy Foods

When you eat the wrong foods, your skin will show it.  Unhealthy foods, junk foods, and fast foods should be avoided whenever possible. The right balance of nutrients and vitamins will leave your skin looking and feeling its best throughout the pregnancy.

#5 Use Sunscreen

Direct sunlight can be detrimental to the skin. This is why pregnant mothers should always use sunscreen before going outside. The sun’s harmful UV rays can result in painful sunburn, which increases the chance of skin cancer. Dermatologists recommend using an SPF of 30 or higher for the best skin protection while outdoors.

#6 Be Careful With Hair Removal

Maintaining the bikini area, with an ever-expanding belly is a big challenge for any mother-to-be. You definitely should not just shave blind, since any activity down there with a sharp razor needs to be supervised! Try using a hand mirror or asking your partner for help. Though in the end, maybe letting it go for nine months isn’t the worst thing in the world. You can always trim it up once the baby’s here!

#7 The Right Soap Matters

Do not underestimate the power of the right soap for your skin. For the best results, avoid harsh soaps that leave your face and body feeling dry. Such soaps are notorious for removing the natural oil secretions your skin produces. Instead, use soaps that have added moisturizing compounds. Such soaps will not only clean your skin, they will also leave it looking and feeling its best.

#8 Use Reputable Beauty Products

Many pregnant mothers do not consider the brands of the products they apply to their skin. Some less than reputable brands are full of harsh chemicals that damage the skin and can even harm the baby. Consider specialty, branded products that have proven results along with a strong reputation to match.

#9 Remove Makeup Before Bedtime

Remember to remove makeup prior to bedtime. Sleeping in makeup can cause skin irritations such as rashes or acne and it can even lead to infections if it gets into your eyes. Always remove makeup prior to falling asleep for the night.

Remember, take care of your skin during pregnancy. By following these simple eight steps, your skin will look and feel radiant and glowing for your entire pregnancy.