Ingrown Hair from Epilators?

Question: Do Epilators Cause Ingrown Hair?

Is ingrown hair more common and caused by the epilator or am I doing something wrong?

Answer: Ingrown hair can be caused from every form of hair removal, but is more common with epilators. However, if the proper procedures are followed, an epilator can be one of your biggest assets and can also save you money in the long run.

Preventing Ingrown Hair from Epilators

• Make sure the epilator is in good condition. If you have dropped it and not taken care of it, then chances are it will cause ingrown hair. If anything is tweaked even a little bit, you may have problems. For example, if the tweezers are bent it may not grasp the hair properly and cause breakage under the skin, causing ingrown hair.

• Keep your unit clean. Make sure your unit is clean before using. Follow the manufacturers' directions for exactly how to clean the epilator because bacteria can easily enter without being seen. Keep in mind anytime you remove hair out of the follicle, you are leaving it open for bacteria to enter. Cleaning your unit regularly will help keep bacteria at bay; thus helping prevent ingrown hair.

• Practice does make perfect. The more you use the epilator, you can get the correct position so it becomes a muscle memory when using the unit.

• Hold skin taut. If skin is taut while you're epilating you'll be more likely to remove the hair root from the follicle, and not just break it under the skin.

• Do this post-epilating. I also have found that using a skin toner after epilating can also aid in preventing ingrown hair because it helps close the pore to the follicle, making it more difficult for bacteria to invade.

• Exfoliate. Regularly ridding dead skin cells helps keep hairs pointing up. If skin isn't inflamed or infected a couple times of week (1 - 3 depending on skin type) use a body scrub or ayate washcloth (compare prices).

Which Epilators Work for Me

I have had a difficult time in deciding which I felt was the best epilator. I have to give a draw between two, The Emjoi Emagine and The Epilady Legend. I like the Emjoi because it is fast and it works. It's corded so it only works if you have an outlet for power. The Epilady is outstanding as well. It's cordless so you can take it with you on the go. They are both great and the breakage was minimal with each one. Again practice makes perfect so give them a chance and learn what works for you.

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Multi-tasking Product -- PFB + Chromabright for Ingrown Hair and Dark Spots

Hyperpigmentation, an excess amount of melanin, is the medical term for what we would call dark skin spots or patches. While it can happen for a variety of reasons, those with darker skin tones are more likely to get these spots and are often a result from an injury, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

It made perfect sense when I saw an ad in a spa magazine for PFB + Chromabright, an ingrown hair and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation fighter it one. Many people with darker skin tones, like those of African, East Indian or Middle-Eastern descent often seem to struggle with ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Even when cleared in certain areas, the trauma to skin leaves the hyperpigmented skin spots.

Of course, it's best to prevent the bumps and the dark skin spots before they happen (see tips for shaving and waxing). But for some people with severe cases, it's a really good idea to keep a product on hand...Just in case.

My assistant tried out the company's ingrown hair fighter alone, PFB Vanish, and it's not one of her favorites of the many she's tested. But we would love to hear what you think of PFB + Chromabright (compare prices). Tell us in the comments below.

More:

• Top Razor Bump Treatments
• Ingrown Hair Home Remedies
• How to Deal with Ingrown Hairs (Video)

Image Courtesy PriceGrabber

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Dry Brushing to Treat and Prevent Ingrown Hairs

If you've read anything about how to treat and prevent ingrown hair, it ultimately comes down to exfoliating the skin. This helps release the trapped hair. Of course some methods are stronger and work better than others. There's using chemicals (think bump-fighting products) and the more mechanical route (like exfoliating salt or sugar scrubs).

Another mechanical means to exfoliating is dry brushing. It's just like it sounds. A dry soft-bristle brush is gently rubbed against skin, most often right before you shower. Not only does it help remove dead skin cells that block the hair follicle, but the force of the brush may physically prevent the hair from turning into skin or remove it.

Even if you don't have issues with ingrown hair, along with a cheap easy way to exfoliate, dry brushing helps improve circulation, aids the lymphatic system and may be a lending hand to combating cellulite. Get the instructions from Skincare Guide, Jen Adkins: How to Dry Brush.

Photo Tooga / Getty Images

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Preventing Ingrown Hairs

Preventing ingrown hair can be done by applying products but also by choosing a hair removal method that will lower your chances. Read more about these methods and say good-bye to redness, bumps and inflammation. Who needs that?

1. Electrolysis

The only method FDA approved for permanent hair removal using a needle to destroy the hair follicle. Results aren’t 100% guaranteed for everyone, but does have the best track record over any other hair ridding method. So if the hair isn’t growing, then you won’t have to deal with the redness, bumps and inflammation.

2. Laser Hair Removal

While it doesn’t have as wonderful of a performance record as electrolysis, it is FDA approved for permanent hair reduction. Although results vary, permanent hair reduction means that it can make hair less noticeable by a combination of reducing the amount and making it hair lighter and finer for long periods of time with multiple treatments.

I haven’t had any ingrown hairs in my bikini line, famous for getting bumps because of the coarse hair, after using Tria laser hair removal at home. About 90% of the hair is presently gone, and some hair is much finer.

3. Sugaring

Waxing often breaks hair above or below the the skin's surface instead of removing the entire hair follicle because it's taken in the opposite direction of growth. Instead of a new follicle growing with the natural beveled edge, the broken hair creates a sharper edge, making it easier for hair to grow back into skin.

The real sugaring technique (using a paste) lifts hair out in the same direction it grows, allowing the entire hair folllicle to be removed easier over breaking. So not only do you have longer lasting results, you have made of world of difference in preventing ingrown hair.

4. Waxing

While waxing can cause ingrown hairs because of the tendency to break hair, it’s still a much better option over shaving. You can be hair-free not dealing with the bumps for weeks at a time, versus a mere day or so for shaving. And if you go to a professional that knows what they’re doing, or wax properly at home, you’ll be on your way to preventing ingrown hairs.

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Ingrown Hair Roll-On Products- Breeding Ground for Bacteria?

Many companies make ingrown hair and razor bump products that come in a roll-on container so it's really easy and convenient to just swipe for a quick application. But using a bump-fighter with a roller ball may be contaminating the product. How so?

The ball touches the skin, and then rolls back into the product- dead skin cells, bacteria and all. Granted if you're the only one using it, it's from your face or body. These alien invaders not only add contaminants that are mixed into the product and then later applied to your skin, but can also break down the ingredients and cause the bump-fighter to be less effective over time. It's one of the reasons so many skincare products are packaged in pump or squeeze containers, or come with spatulas so our hands (or rather, what's on our hands) don't get into the product.

I'm not saying roll-ons are the most disgusting thing that you could ever use in your daily grooming. It's just good to know along with wide range of price points to keep skin bump-free, you have your choice of the application method.

More:

• Best Razor Bump Treatments
• Ingrown Hair after Waxing
• Fight Infected Ingrown Hair

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