Ingrown hairs can not only be unsightly but also painful and uncomfortable. The best way to avoid them is through regular daily exfoliation. This is the process of eliminating the buildup of dead skin on the surface of the skin's epidermis, which can block the follicle causing the hair to become ingrown and often infection follows. If we eliminate the dead skin build-up then a blockage is not as likely to occur.

Some great ways to exfoliate are:
Chemically: This would involve some sort of chemical ingredient that will dissolve the dead skin build-up. This includes a variety of acids such as: Glycolic, Alpha Hydroxy, Lactic, Malic...etc. Retinols are also a good form of chemical exfoliation.
Manual: This type of exfoliation is done using something rough to scrub or slough the skin cells off. Many cleansers have grains in them. There are also salt or sugar scrubs that would work as well. Microdermabrasion is a wonderful way to exfoliate and it is a bit more powerful as it exfoliates deeper. Even just using a washcloth or a loofah is a good way to exfoliate as it is brushing the skin abrasively, just don't scrub too much or you will cause irritation and make the situation much worse.

These exfoliation techniques are great ways to avoid ingrown hairs from developing. However, if they are a severe problem for you, laser hair removal is a wonderful alternative. By eliminating the hair all together it will no longer be able to clog the follicle and you will not get any ingrown's. Laser hair removal actually kills the hair at the root, and over time will eliminate all hair growth in the area treated. It does take several treatments which are spread out over a period of time, so just be patient because the end result is worth it.

If you should get some ingrown hairs I have found tea tree oil to be very effective in drying out any infection and healing the lesion quickly. Tend Skin is a lotion made specifically to treat ingrown hairs and it does work very efficiently. Remember to never pick at an ingrown hair as you will cause more infection and that could become quite serious.

Learn more about this author, Liz Lagerstedt.
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