Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs are extremely common and can affect anyone. With the right treatment methods and correct hair removal practices, their occurrence can be significantly reduced. Here at Eden Skin Clinic, we provide IPL Laser Hair Removal at our Wimbledon and Kensington clinics as a preventative treatment for ingrown hairs.
What are Ingrown Hairs?
An ingrown hair occurs when a hair removed by shaving, waxing, or plucking starts to grow back inward on itself. Because of this, it cannot break through the skin’s surface and grow outward as normal. When this happens, the hair follicle can close over the hair, causing it to become stuck or ingrown. The skin responds to this by becoming inflamed and treats the curled-back hair as a foreign object.
Due to this inflammation, small, red pimple-like bumps can present on the skin’s surface, forming a visible ingrown hair. If it becomes infected, the bump may get bigger and more painful. Pustules may even occur, causing pus to collect around the inflamed follicle. Over time, the inflammation could lead to scarring if further irritated by picking or friction from clothing.
When you book a consultation with us at our Wimbledon or Kensington clinic, one of our specialists can provide you with more information and advise you on our available treatments.
What Treatments are Available for Ingrown Hairs?
At Eden Skin Clinic, we offer IPL Laser Hair Removal as a treatment for ingrown hairs at both our Kensington and Wimbledon clinics. This treatment can target existing ingrown hairs on the face and body and help to prevent future reoccurrence.
Please note: We do not offer extractions or removals of individual ingrown hairs – our treatments aim to prevent the development of new ingrown hairs. Existing hairs can also be treated with this process as IPL helps to reduce the inflammation and prompt the hairs to shed from beneath the surface.
IPL Laser Hair Removal treatment is suitable for use on the face and body to reduce hair permanently. It is particularly efficient for treating large areas of unwanted or excessive hair growth. All hairs have an individual follicle from which they grow.
IPL Hair Removal works by directing controlled pulses of light into the skin, which are absorbed by the melanin (pigment) in the hair shaft. This energy is then converted into heat which destroys the follicle. Because of this, IPL Hair Removal is not suitable for white, blonde, or red hair and works best on darker hair.
In most cases, clients will need 6-8 sessions to achieve the best results. It is recommended that IPL hair removal is followed up with infrequent maintenance sessions (e.g. a single session every 1-2 years) or electrolysis. Destroying the hair follicle entirely helps prevent hair from growing back and does not give an ingrown hair the opportunity to form.
If you would like to treat and prevent ingrown hairs, please get in touch with us today. Here at Eden Skin Clinic, our IPL Laser Hair Removal treatment is available at both our Kensington and Wimbledon clinics.
What Causes Ingrown Hairs to Form?
The most common cause of ingrown hairs is an improper shaving technique. Cutting or removing hair very close to the skin creates a sharp tip on the end of a hair follicle. Most hairs will be able to grow back without a problem. However, some of these hairs can curl back on themselves, causing them to grow into the skin and become inflamed.
Men often suffer from ingrown hairs on the beard area due to irritation from shaving. Women tend to get ingrown hairs on their legs, bikini areas, and underarms. Those with naturally curly, coarse and thick hair can be particularly prone to this problem.
Aside from shaving, waxing and plucking can also contribute to ingrown hairs. Plucked hair grows back through the follicle. It may not grow back completely straight and up the follicle to the skin’s surface before turning inward.
It is also possible for hair follicles to become clogged by dead skin, dirt and debris. This can be exacerbated when the skin is particularly dry and flaky. When this happens, the hair in the follicle can become stuck or grow sideways into the skin, causing an ingrown hair. In some cases, the hair may even be visible, growing under the skin’s surface.
Friction caused by wearing tight clothing for extended periods can also cause ingrown hairs. The friction caused by body movement throughout the day can continuously rub hairs against the skin. This causes the hairs to turn around and push back into the follicle.
Ingrown Hair Treatment Costs
If you are interested in our IPL Laser Hair Removal treatment to prevent and treat ingrown hairs, please get in touch with Eden Skin Clinic today. We would be happy to assess your skin concern and work with you to create a bespoke treatment plan.
Please fill out our online consultation form if you are ready to get booked in for our treatments. We will get back to you shortly to schedule an appointment.
For more information about our prices, please view our prices in Kensington and Wimbledon respectively.
You may also call us at either our Wimbledon or Kensington London clinics. Our expert team would be happy to answer your questions and help you find a treatment that suits your needs.