Ingrown Hair on Thigh

Are you looking to get rid of ingrown hair on your thighs? In this post, we shall talk about what an ingrown hair looks like, its causes, treatment, removal, and how to prevent it.The problem can be a tough one to handle and you may even want to give up trying especially when your efforts seem not to yield the desired result. But should you just give up like that? No matter the level of the discomfort and the embarrassment it has brought to you, rest assured that Ingrown hair on thigh is curable if you take the right steps.

What does an ingrown hair on thigh looks like?

Picture of ingrown hair on thigh

An ingrown hair on thigh is a condition that occurs when hairs on the thigh curl or grow back into the skin after shaving or tweezing the hair. It brings about a red, little bump that is painful, which can then trigger inflammation of the surrounding area. The different methods employed in removing hairs eventually give rise to this problem. Some of these methods include shaving, waxing and plucking.

People with curly and coarse hairs are mostly prone to the condition, especially if they apply any of the hair removal methods earlier mentioned. Though commoner in teenagers who are still in their puberty stage, anybody can be affected by the condition. Ingrown hair is not only found in the pubic region, any part of the body where there are hairs that you can shave can be affected. These include the legs, face, pubic region, etc.

In women, ingrown hair is mostly found around the bikini areas and also in areas that have the tendency to fold naturally. Ingrown hair does not usually cause any troubles but they can become problematic when there is an infection of the hair. This easily brings about discoloration of the skin, scarring and damage. The severity usually depends on how serious the infection is.

Ingrown hair on thigh can become infected especially if they are not given enough time to heal before the shaving or hair removal is done. When infected, the ingrown hair can form a cyst which is deep into the skin and can progress into boils around the hair follicle or even become abscess, which can be quite painful, red and bumpy.

Causes of Ingrown hair on thighs

Ingrown hair on thigh results from multiple causes amongst which are:

• Coarse and Curly hair: The problem is commoner in people with coarse and curly hair. In such people, it is easy for hair stumps to grow back into the skin after you have shaved, waxed or removed the unwanted hairs. The condition is usually known as razor bump because they result from shaving with razor blades.
• Not exfoliating after hair removal: Your skin will have the opportunity to soak and soften if you exfoliate after shaving. Make use of wash cloth that is resistant to mold and antiseptic body wash which contains ingredients such as tea tree oil and green tea, which are known to soothe the skin. Apply a bikini balm to the bikini area as well as in your underarms to bring about relaxation and closing of the pores.
• Wearing tight clothing: The use of tight clothing can make one prone to ingrown hair on thigh. Whereby there are ingrown hairs already, wearing tight clothing like skinny jeans, polyester underwear, and nylon leggings can make them worse. The continual friction and irritation between the skin and the cloth will cause the hair follicles to be inflamed and eventually get damaged. This subsequently leads to blockade of the follicles.
• Dead skin cells: When dead skin cells clog the hair follicles, this can force the hair to grow sideways. This is commonly seen in coarse and curly hairs which have only recently been shaved.
• Poor shaving technique: It is important to lather in the direction that is assumed by the hair growth when you are shaving the hairs with a pre-shaving cream or gel. This makes softening the stubble easier and minimizes irritation of the skin and then prevents the hair from growing inwards. If you want to wax, it is advisable to employ the services of a professional.
• Chemicals that irritate the skin: Some detergents that are used in washing clothes have irritating chemical substances. If you wear the clothes washed with such detergents after recently shaving your hair, it increases the possibility of getting ingrown hair on thigh.
• Soft layer of skin around the thigh: When the skin around your thighs is soft, it is easy for the sharp edges of the cut hair to pierce them back into the skin. The hairs usually get trapped under the skin and may even be visible in fair complexioned individuals.
• Accumulated sex hormones: Some individuals produce more sex hormones which make them to grow more hairs. In such persons, it is easier to develop ingrown hairs especially when they shave.
• Comedogenic skin products: Some skin care products have allergy-triggering substances that may make your skin to be irritated and lead to itching after shaving. The irritation and itching can also bring about ingrown hair.
• Tugging at the skin with the shaving razor: Holding the razor too close to the skin during shaving can scrape the skin and lead to irritation of the skin. The irritation eventually leads to ingrown hair on thigh.

Treatment

Ingrown hair on thigh can be treated in diverse ways. Some of the treatment methods include:

Treatment for ingrown hair on thigh using home remedies

Aspirin

Aspirin is quite helpful in alleviating inflammation and redness which characterize the condition. Aspirin contains salicylic acid which helps in scrubbing away dead skin and making the offending hair to be loosened. In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory property that helps to minimize inflammation, swelling, and combat unserious infections.

Dissolve two tablets of aspirin in a teaspoon of warm water and allow it to form a paste-like consistency. Include a teaspoon of honey and then add the paste to the skin area that is affected by the inflammation. Let it stay on the skin for up to 10 minutes, and wash off with warm water. Pat the skin gently until it is dry. Try this once or twice weekly until the condition is put under control.

Aloe Vera gel

Aloe Vera gel works very well on razor bumps through its cooling and soothing effects on itching and inflammation. Besides, Aloe Vera moisturizes the skin and hastens the process of healing.

Extract Aloe Vera gel from the leaf and apply it on the irritated skin. Leave it for about half an hour until it dries on its own. Wash it off with the aid of lukewarm water. Repeat the treatment two to three times every day for a few days or until you notice a positive result.

Cucumber

Cucumber has anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties that help to take care of the irritation associated with ingrown hair on thigh. It also has vitamin C which helps to speed up healing and reduce itching.

Cut fresh cucumber into slices and put them in the refrigerator. Allow them to stay for half an hour before gently rubbing them unto the area affected by the inflammation. Repeat it several times a day for several days.

Another way is to make half a cucumber into a puree and add it to one-third cup of milk. Put the mixture in a refrigerator for a few minutes and allow it to get cold. Apply the mixture to the area of irritation with a piece of cloth and let it stay for a few minutes.

Salt

Salt plays a role in helping to exfoliate the skin, improving circulation, hastening healing and minimizing swelling.

Add a half teaspoon of table salt into a cup of lukewarm water. Apply it over the affected skin with the aid of a cotton ball and allow it to stay for a few minutes before rinsing it off with water. Repeat it twice a day until there is healing of the ingrown hair.

Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrub is potent in removing ingrown hair on thigh. It does so by exfoliating the skin and removing cells that are dead. In addition, it assists the ingrown hair to come out of the skin. It also keeps the skin smooth and silky.

Add a cup of white sugar into a half cup of jojoba oil or extra-virgin olive oil. Add 10 drops each of lavender essential oil and tea tree oil and apply a little amount to the skin. Scrub the skin gently for a few minutes, using circular motions. Rinse off with lukewarm water. Do this once or twice weekly until there is positive result.

Honey

It helps to moisturize the skin thereby lessening inflammation and swelling. Besides, honey has antibacterial properties which help to prevent the skin around the place from being infected.

Add a layer of honey to the irritated skin and allow it to dry for about 10 minutes. Rinse it with cold water. Do this three to four times daily until there is an improvement.

Removal

Ingrown hair on thigh can be removed in different ways. Some of the ways include:

Use Needle and Tweezers

• First, apply warm compress to make the hair come to the surface. Avoid digging for the hair if it not close to the surface. If possible, avoid plucking out the hair completely, only try and bring the ingrown end out of the skin.
• You may see a hair loop near the skin surface. It’s an indication that the hair is growing inwards. Tug the loop lightly with a needle to help the end come loose.
• You could also use any of pointy or flat-tipped tweezers to bring out the hair. A pointy-tipped pair of tweezers does not cause much skin damage as the flat-tipped ones. They must always be used with care.

Egg Membrane

This is another way to remove ingrown hair on thigh. Pull out the egg membrane from an egg shell and use the membrane to cover the affected area. Allow it to dry and shrink around the area, and then pull it off. This will pull out the ingrown hair.

Exfoliate the area

Gently scrub the ingrown hair twice daily. Regular scrubbing will assist in removing dirt, oils and dead skin cells that are trapped in the ingrown hair. You can try hitting the ingrown hair from different directions and the tip may eventually be nudged out of the skin

Use acne medication

Since ingrown hairs are akin to pimples, mostly when filled with pus, it is okay to apply salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide several times daily for a few days. If you add daily exfoliation to this, it will remove the ingrown hair faster. The combination will help to reduce swelling and give more room to the hair to grow out. You can also dab it with toothpaste.

Pictures of Ingrown Hair on Thigh

Collection of pictures, photos, images of ingrown hair on thigh:

How to Prevent it

To prevent ingrown hair on thigh, you can do the following:

• Scrub your skin to get rid of dead skin cells. It minimizes the chances of ingrown hair
• Regular exfoliation
• Remove hair in the direction of hair growth
• Use non-irritating hair lotion on your skin each time you remove hair. This helps to prevent getting ingrown hair from shaving
• Always wet skin with water and lubricating gel before you shave
• Use a cooling after-shave lotion each time you shave
• Remember to rinse the blade following every stroke
• Minimize the number of strokes
• Shave with a sharp single blade each time
• Follow the direction of hair growth while shaving

Conclusion

Ingrown hair on thigh can be difficult to manage sometimes. But with the tips we have given you here, that shouldn’t be a problem anymore. Just follow our recommendations and everything would be alright. However, if after you have tried our tips things still fail to change for the better, you should see your doctor for advice and further management.