One of the most common causes of blotchy, bumpy and irritated skin is ingrown hairs, which can become so inherently frustrating that they require travelling to laser hair removal clinics to fix.
Exactly how frustrating ingrown hairs can be depends on the person, their hair, their grooming habits and how often they occur. In some cases, they can be left alone and will recover normally, but in other cases, they can become a real nuisance.
An ingrown hair is one that grows sideways, so instead of growing out of the skin from the follicle, it circles and curls back into the skin, causing inflammation in the process.
It is very common, and almost everyone will have an ingrown body hair at some point in their life, but there are causes, both genetic and habitual, which can increase the chance of more ingrown hairs.
In terms of the latter, you are far more likely to have ingrown hairs in areas which you regularly pluck out, wax or shave hair, which is why men who shave can sometimes have a regular issue with ingrown hair.
The reason for this is that if the hair ends up with a sharp tip, it is more likely to be able to re-pierce the skin and therefore become ingrown.
Pulling your skin whilst shaving can also cause hair to recoil into the skin, as can a lack of exfoliation, although exfoliating too much can lead to other forms of skin irritation. This is the reason why it is most commonly found in places where you shave.
If you have coarse, wavy or curly hair, that can also increase the chances of hair becoming ingrown is also significantly higher.
Make sure to use enough gel, soap or shaving cream when you shave to ensure you have the right amount of lubrication and consider permanent hair removal if it is a regular issue or you do not want the hassle of shaving.
