Why am I suddenly getting more ingrown hairs?

Author: Prof. Stephon Pfannerstill PhD  |  Last update: Sunday, August 17, 2025

Removing hair makes it more likely to grow back into the skin. Ingrown hairs can also be caused by wearing tight clothes that force hair to grow back into your skin. You are also more likely to get ingrown hairs if you have very curly or coarse hair.

Why am I getting more ingrown hairs than usual?

If you shave often, you're more likely to have ingrown hairs. You're also more likely to have ingrown hair if you have skin of color or thick, coarse or curly hair.

Why do I keep getting ingrown hairs even though I don't shave?

What causes ingrown hair? Sometimes, ingrown hairs can appear without hair removal—tight-fitting clothing along crease lines can push hair inward, for instance. But some of the most common causes are shaving with multi-blade razors, tweezing and waxing, and epilating (electric shaver).

How do you stop recurring ingrown hairs?

Do
  1. wet your skin with warm water and use shaving gel.
  2. shave in the direction the hairs are growing.
  3. use as few strokes of the razor as possible.
  4. rinse the razor after every stroke.
  5. hold a cool, wet cloth to your skin after shaving to reduce irritation.
  6. use an exfoliating scrub to help release any trapped hairs.

Why do I get so many ingrowns even though I exfoliate?

After you exfoliate always moisturise with something really hydrating. There's a period of growth that is more prone to becoming ingrown, esp if you're a bit lax even for one day to exfoliate. You might also need to do it every 1/2 days to start if you've got a build up of skin over the hair.

How To Prevent INGROWN HAIRS After Waxing & Create A Routine

Does drinking water help with ingrown hairs?

MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN DAILY

Regular hydration softens the skin and makes it easier for hairs to come out. Using suitable moisturizers is crucial to prevent redness and ingrown hairs. Internal hydration, by drinking plenty of water, is also essential.

How do you get rid of deep ingrown hairs?

Shave in the direction of hair growth. Rinse the blade after each stroke. Release visible ingrown hairs by inserting a sterile needle under each hair loop and gently lifting the tip that has grown back into the skin. Rinse your skin and apply a cool, wet cloth for a few minutes.

What causes an outbreak of ingrown hairs?

Ingrown hair occurs when a hair that's been removed starts to grow back and curves into the skin. Shaving, tweezing or waxing can cause this to happen. An ingrown hair can cause tiny, swollen bumps on the skin that may hurt. The condition most often affects Black people with curly hair who shave.

What can be mistaken for ingrown hair?

Other possible skin conditions

There are many skin conditions that can easily be mistaken for ingrown hairs. These include: keratosis pilaris ('chicken skin') – a common, harmless condition where the skin becomes rough and bumpy, as if covered in permanent goose pimples. acne.

How to draw out ingrown hair?

Gently using an exfoliating scrub may also help release the trapped hair. Gently massage the area: Gently massaging or rubbing the ingrown hair in a circular motion with light pressure can soften the skin and encourage the hair to pop out, while also helping prevent hairs from curving back into the skin.

Why am I suddenly getting ingrown pubic hairs?

Removing hair from your pubic area by shaving, waxing or plucking may cause ingrown hairs. As your hair grows back, it may not grow straight out of the surface of your skin. Instead, it can curve and get trapped under your skin. The hair in your pubic area tends to be coarser and curlier than other body hair.

Who is prone to ingrown hairs?

An ingrown hair is a hair that curls and grows back into the skin with its tip, causing inflammation. It's also known as pseudofolliculitis. Ingrown hairs are more common among people with very curly hair. Most ingrown hairs happen in the beard area on men and the bikini or groin area on women.

Does not showering cause ingrown hairs?

Another way you can get ingrown hairs is by simply not showering right away after a workout—particularly if you've recently shaved. Other reasons include waxing instead of shaving. That's right. Waxing can cause irritation and creates inflammation when the hair returns.

What is the best thing for ingrown hairs?

How do you treat ingrown hairs? Chemical exfoliators like glycolic or salicylic acid are very useful in treating ingrown hairs in your armpits, around your pubic area, and all over the rest of your body as well.

Can stress cause ingrown hairs?

Tight clothing, broken or uneven, sharp tipped hairs, curly hair that curls back into the pore after shaving can also cause ingrown hairs. Lastly, stress which can cause high hormone production and excessive production of certain sex hormones can cause excessive oil, cell growth, dead cell accumulation and hair growth.

Why do I keep getting cystic ingrown hairs?

Ingrown hair cysts are sacs of fluid or skin cells that form a lump under your skin at the site of an ingrown hair. Removing hair through shaving, tweezing or waxing may lead to these cysts. You may be able to treat some ingrown hair cysts at home.

Is it an ingrown hair or HPV?

Sometimes they can be itchy too, which is why people might mistake them for genital warts. However, genital warts look very different to an ingrown hair. Genital warts are flesh-coloured and normally have a 'cauliflower-like' appearance.

How do I stop getting ingrown hairs?

You might be able to prevent ingrown hairs by:
  1. letting your hair grow longer before shaving.
  2. not shaving too close to your skin.
  3. washing your skin with warm water and a mild facial cleanser.
  4. exfoliating before you shave.
  5. using a single blade or electric razor.
  6. shaving in the direction that the hair grows.

How to get rid of razor bumps on pubic area overnight?

How to Get Rid of Razor Bumps Fast
  1. Apply a cold compress. ...
  2. Moisturize your bikini area. ...
  3. Apply an anti-inflammatory treatment. ...
  4. Best Razor Bump Cream for Bikini Area: Fur Stubble Cream. ...
  5. Best Ingrown Hair Tonic for Bikini Area: Tend Skin Solution. ...
  6. Best Ingrown Hair Pads for Bikini Area: First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads.

What bacteria causes ingrown hairs?

Staphylococcus aureus folliculitis: Infection of the hair follicle with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is one of the most common causes of folliculitis.

Is it bad to pluck pubic hair?

Plucking your pubic hair can be painful and takes a long time. Plucking can cause redness, swelling, itching, irritation, and damage to the skin. It can also result in ingrown hairs (where the hair curls backward or sideways under the skin) and infection.

Why do I keep getting boils and ingrown hairs?

The infections can occur anywhere on the skin where there is hair. They happen most often where there may be rubbing and sweating. This includes the back of the neck, face, armpits, waist, groin, thighs, or buttocks. Bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus (staph) are the most common cause of these infections.

Can I pop my ingrown hair?

Never Try to Pop an Ingrown Hair Cyst

Pushing on or trying to pop the red bump will not free an ingrown hair. Trying to pop it like a pimple may push the hair deeper under the skin, cause more swelling, and raise the risk of an infection and scarring.

Why did my ingrown hair turn into a hard lump?

Some cysts can develop deep under the skin, while others may be near the surface, where they can develop a white or yellow head. When a lump appears in an area with body hair, it may be because a cyst has formed around an ingrown hair.

Do ingrown hair pads work?

Customers find the product effective for removing ingrown hairs and preventing them. It works well for sensitive skin and clears itching and irritation. However, opinions differ on its value for money, pain level, razor burn prevention, skin drying, and scent.

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