Why Waxing Causes Ingrown Hairs [DermTV.com Epi #73]

[Danval1023]

@MsSabaikram I don't know how to help with that but instead of waxing try just getting one of those round sponge things you use in the shower (I think it's called a loofa?) and loading it up with soap, get it really soapy and.. Well Put it on your pubic area then go ahead and shave. I don't think you are actually supposed to use Nair on your pubic area btw, I could be wrong though.

[Sweetpeajolz]

what about darker skins that cannot tolerate laser hair removal???....I agree that this was an advertising ploy

[KawaiiGal1209]

Omg thank you so much doc!

[anukikiluv]

hey i shave my legs and i get ingrowns i have gotten the ingrown hairs out but i dont know how to fade the scars do you have any recomendations?

[osuushiza8]

S***! Why can't he be my dermatologist!?  -___-

[ShAT3yS]

Ugh I wax my back last year and I got ingrown and freaking huge red pimple in my back and it looks horrible I don't know how to get them off :-( i regret waxing my back

[jualkyn]

wow i thought waxing caused less ingrown hairs than shaving does...>< how on earth are we suppose to avoid ingrown hairs then?

[MsSabaikram]

Thanks a many TFWC88 :)

[MsSabaikram]

errrrm.. it might sound weird, but i just waxed my pubic hair! yes it was painful but i was fed up with "nairing" and gettin my skin rashed everytime. anyway, i now have bad burning sensation thats killing me! :( i washed my skin instantly and applied cocoa butter by vaseline and Johnsons baby lotion, right away, but my skin still burns like hell, anyone know why??? :( kindly tell me how to deal with it *_*

[TFWC88]

@MsSabaikram try using 100% aloe vera gel from a natural health food store. Aloe vera gel will cool your skin, stop the irritation, speed healing, and it is hostile to bacteria also.

[andrej1449]

Hi, I'm 17 years old and have old scars that were caused by ingrown hair on my stomach. the hair itself its not ingrown no more but the red scrars are still there. Can you please tell me how to deal with it.

[kyb15TV]

Hello. I have recently found out 2 or 3 eyelashes (on different places), that were aiming towards my eye. They were actually irritating my eye. So I whipped them out. Is it O.K.? Can eyelashes ingrow? Can eyebrows ingrow? Can hair (on head) ingrow? Thanks for answer.

[iRunThisZone]

This Dr. Is very smart lol

[Afsoon2009]

I spent lots of money on laser hair remival but the hair came back after less than 1 year, and they told me I have hormonal problem while I did the test and I do not, huge waste of money. and I have dark hair and white skin they told me that I am a perfect candida for laser.

[Afsoon2009]

The first time I got scars and ingrown hair on my legs were after using braun epilator :(( and then I turned to waxing but my legs are covered with ingrown hairs too deep in to skin that I can hardly find them, I dont recommend waxing,epilating at all.

[bonitabandita]

@Afsoon2009 I've just read your comment and can say that 've got the same problem! Have you found any solution?

I've just stopped epilating waxing or shaving, just trimming. But it's not a decision! Don't know what to do, as laser hair removal is not for my color type.

[Cusicusa08]

Where can I meet the doctor?

[heyammos]

Is laser safe for pregnancy? I am thinking that it might have some risks so leave it for the time I am over 40.

[koskowa]

i think waxing is the main reason for ingrown hair!!! before i have never shaved ever!!! i always waxed and my legs were and still are filled with ingrown hair! i think i will treat it and start shaving instead! ... i just cant wait till i go threw laser oparation!

[rach0babe]

but what exactly IS laser hair removal?

[co0kies123]

is laser hair removal expensive? what is the cost ?

if you wax will it make your hair grow even thicker and longer? or will it stay the same?

is there a way to get rid of hair FOR GOOD at home ? that doesnt cost a lot ?

[irishgummybear]

@co0kies123 Laser hair removal is 150.00$ at the skin center I went to and that was only for a small section of my face. Don't do it because it's not worth the money. It burned my skin and left me red for a month. I tried an emjoi epilator on my face and that pinches your skin. It's too painful . Also I stopped epilating because I heard this story from a friend of mine who said if you pluck a hair 5 more will come to its funeral. Now I just use an electric razor and it works. no niks or redness

[entwinedlullaby]

oh gosh this has freaked me out :(

[TheAnaSofie]

What if you cannot afford it? is there a home remedy that works?

[SerendipitousJ]

I actually disagree with this because I've been monitoring where i get the ingrown hairs each time i wax and they come through different spots/areas each time. Im pretty sure the body repairs the pathway through which the hair grows each time it is ripped out. The body is magnificent in repairing itself without medication or other various techiniques. Anyways i guess this is just a means through which to advertise laser hair removal.

[Nelalipe]

if I would have the money for that...

[LostBleedingSreaming]

i thought hair removal cream causes ingrown hair, so both waxing and hair removal cream cause ingrown hair

[natureslove18]

OMG I am so freaking out right now. I had my eyebrows waxed and now I have ingrown hairs everywhere around my brow... this never happened before and I dont' want it to keep happening.. YIKES.. *tears*

[kurfffa]

this is very helpful. i always thought that ingrown hairs are caused by a hair not being thick enough...

[nianymue]

What are the negative side effects of laser hair removal? Is excessive sweating part of it?

[LittlePinkRoses]

What do you think of lemon juice helping to remove the little after pimple red spots? And What r your recomendations for a moisteriser for sensitve acne prone skin that helps soothe the skin of redness?

[dermTVdotcom]

@LittlePinkRoses: I do not think lemon juice will help remove the "little after pimple red spots," particularly because it has citric acid in it which can in fact be irritating. In regards to recommended products, please visit the DermTV website and visit the "Acne Friendly Products" episode for recommended products.

[sinead4344]

Doctor u gave an excellent explaination

[ScHnitzLLlicious92]

wow that was a very clear and good explanation, thank you

[jessLUVSdave]

My friend had laser hair removal done and her hair still grows back. It's a waste of money.

[dermTVdotcom]

@jessLUVSdave: Unfortunately, some people have hormonal conditions that defy the established efficacy of laser hair removal. In my experience, when patients do not respond to conventionally effective doses and frequency of laser treatments for hair removal, referral to an endocrinologist usually uncovers hormonal abnormality causing unresponsive hair growth. In addition, laser hair removal is only effective is the physical or professional performing it uses effective techniques.

[osuushiza8]

@dermTVdotcom After reading this, speaking of endocrinologists, do people with an underactive thyroid deal with more reacurring ingrown hair? I know a person that has had only a few in her lifetime, even though she's been underactive for years. Lately, she gets them so bad, it causes all these bumps- some that itch and from into a blackhead like substance as well- but on her legs. She's so embarrased by it that she never wears shorts, skirts, or even capris.

Is the thyroid issue to blame?

[lardospanko]

i am a male getting facial hair and i would like to remove my facial hair for good because im sick of shaving and im sick of all the bumps, ingrown hairs and razor burns....would you think that laser hair removal can get rid of my beard hair for good?

[dermTVdotcom]

@lardospanko: It certainly should as long as the color of your hair is darker than the color of your skin. Hence it will not work for blond or gray hair but is very effective for other hair colors.

[Renizzy99]

I'm African American, and it seems like there are many lasers to remove hair for whites but not many at all for blacks. Can you tell me if there's a way for black women to have laser hair removal without getting skin irritations. :)

[dermTVdotcom]

@Renizzy99: The success of laser hair removal is predicated on one simple principle -- if the color of the hair is darker than the skin from which it is growing, then the hair can be treated by a laser successfully. Consult a laser surgeon, which you can find by visiting the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). Also, it's not an issue of how many lasers are available but a function of the skill of the laser surgeon.

[Naturallyhomegrown]

can an ingrown get infected ? and if so how do you know it is?

[dermTVdotcom]

@Naturallyhomegrown: Ingrowns can (and often do) get infected. When infected, you will know because they become swollen, a little painful, reddish and sometimes pus filled.

[SanneMusic]

Is there also a posibility of ingrowing hairs when you're using an epilator? Because it's almost the same system as waxing....

[dermTVdotcom]

@SanneMusic: Definitely yes.

[OasisMuahh]

@dermTVdotcom yes I don't recommend anyone to use an epilator. Last month I bought a Emjoi epilator awesome tool and it works wonderfully. However, I've never ever had ingrown hair but after using Emjoi epilator when the hairs were growing back I was left with ingrown hairs.. worst thing I've ever done was to use this epilator.

[vapren]

@OasisMuahh the same here.... :( never had ingrown hair ever before epilator -

[infraball]

@OasisMuahh ... i'm pretty sure you'd have the same problems if you used waxing, threading, or any other similar methods, too.

i use an epilator and make sure to exfoliate and moisturise my skin and i get very little in grown hairs as a result of maintaining clean, well moisturised legs.

[ccm800]

interesting!

[cooki3crumble]

alot of people say that shaving causes ingrown hairs and waxing is better... im so confused now.. since i understand how waxing causes ingrowns now.. how does shaving cause the ingrowns if its only cutting the hair at the top layer of this skin so shouldnt it be able to find its way up with no problems?? plz help

[dermTVdotcom]

@cooki3crumble: (PART I) While shaving very close (first with the grain and then against the grain) can, in some people with curved hair follicles, cause ingrown hairs, certainly it happens much less often than from waxing. The reason that people with curved hair follicles can get ingrown hair from shaving too close is that the curved hair follicle makes the hair come out at an angle to the skin almost parallel to the skin rather than perpendicular to the skin. (CONTINUED...)

[dermTVdotcom]

(PART II) As a result, when the razor cuts across it, it leaves an actual bevel or edge on the edge of the hair instead of cutting perpendicularly across the hair shaft. That bevel is actually sharp and allows the hair, if it leans against the skin, to actually start poking into the skin and become an ingrown hair. In this case, the hair has emerged from the skin and then gone back into the skin as opposed to ingrown hairs from waxing which then never emerge from the skin at all. (CONTINUED...)

[dermTVdotcom]

(PART III) In terms of the ingrown hair that youve gotten from shaving, the most effective thing you can do without seeing a doctor is to put warm compresses on it to help bring it up to a head and use a glycolic or salicylic exfoliant to help thin the skin above it so the hair can finally break through. I do not believe that people should actually try to pick them out themselves because many people get infections that way.

[cooki3crumble]

oh wow very good explanation thank you for that and the advice! i do unerstand what you are saying because under my skin i could see a long hair going across that just needed to get out.. i actually ended up gettin it out myself though.. luckily without an infection =) but i think im gunna take a break from any shaving or waxing action down there.. because wen the ingrown gets big.. its nothing cute

[bibi14930]

OH! good demo. Now i know. no wonder everytime after i wax, i exfoliate my skin the next few days hoping that the hairs that grown out will come out straight but i still continue to have a bit of ingrown hairs. i guess i killed off some of my 'direction giving linings'.

sigh! back to the doctor to get zapped!

[Joyiliciousness]

tell me is laser really works? Will the ingrown hair problems go away?

if i use Salicylic Acid will it only reduce redness but still the skin still got the bump feeling when you touch it?

[hazizo]

laser causes cancer when the beam goes over nevus, beware

[z3061328]

really informative!

I kept wondering why I kept getting re-occuring ingrowns no matter how vigorously I exfoliated.

[MyGuidesHelp]

:( i got an ingrown hair on my private area :\ im a guy,

so your saying this stupid ingrown hair will not go away? T-T ive never shaved or anything.

[dermTVdotcom]

@MyGuidesHelp: Sorry to cause any alarm. They won't be there forever. It will just take around 6 months or so to go away, unless you're proactive about it with the tips I mentioned in the video.

[cooki3crumble]

i also have just gotten an ingrown on my private area as well. but this is from shaving.. it has gotten a bit big an its very unattractive.. ive been trying to pick it out but i just cant seem to get the hair... could you plz tell me wat to do to get it out... an you say it wont b there forever...well how will it disappear if the hair is still under the skin??

[Lubbcookie]

I guess threading causes ingrown hair...or even removing hair with a cream..

Waxing doesn't!

[LadyBubblePop]

that is soo true

I have one ingrown hair

:(

it always comes back

[dermTVdotcom]

@awhsosweet & @iimimat: Actually, after a few years it will eventually grow out or the hair will die and in fact your problem will go away. As another tip, at some Dermatology teaching hospitals they need volunteers for the new doctors in training to treat. Usually there is no charge for those treatments and the treatments are supervised by senior physicians.

[iimimat]

what do you suggest for those who cannot afford laser? between waxing and epilating that is.

[awhsosweet]

it seems laser is the only way to go, but it's expensive! i don't have money like that so i'm basically screwed huh?

[Kimai1016]

This was very informative. Can lazer hair removal be done on the bikini line area as well? I use the wax method to remove hair from my body but I find that only my bikini area has ingrown hair.