Ingrown hairs, medically known as folliculitis, occur when shaved, waxed, or tweezed hairs curl back into the skin. This common issue affects high-friction areas like the bikini line and legs, leading to red, bumpy, irritated skin year-round. Repeated hair removal traumatizes follicles, causing hairs to grow sideways and skin to thicken, trapping them beneath the surface.
Regardless of your method—waxing, shaving, depilatory creams, or electric epilators—start with a gentle exfoliating scrub to smooth the skin and disinfect the area before and after. For waxing or epilating, apply an AHA cream like Neostrata 10% daily for the following week to promote exfoliation and prevent trapping. Never dig out embedded hairs, as this can lead to abscesses requiring medical intervention. For chronic problems, professional laser hair removal often resolves the issue in just one session.
