this might be a silly question, but what are ingrown hairs?

Answer 1

exactly what it says on the tin!

A hair that has not emerged fully. They do not always cause pain

Answer 2

ingrown hair, though painful, is not a serious condition. It's basically an inflammation of one or more hair follicles or hair openings and may occur anywhere on the skin (1) in both men and women. The inflammation caused by the ingrown hair follicle occurs most commonly, when the hair damages the skin.


Causes of ingrown hair

The most common cause of ingrown hair is a close shave that leaves the stubble below the surface of the skin. When this hair begins to grow, it may curl up and grow into the surrounding tissue rather than growing out of the follicle (3). That's why ingrown hairs are more common among people with very curly hair, mostly occurring in the beard area (2). Little wonder there are much more instances of ingrown facial hair, than others.

This situation can also occur from the friction of tight clothing that damages the hair or due to the blockage of the hair follicle. Once the skin is damaged, staph or Staphylococcus bacteria steps in to make it an infected ingrown hair (1). Such infection occurring on the face is called barber's itch. However, it can also be caused by a fungus called Tinea barbae (1).


Symptoms of ingrown hair

Although the most common symptom of an ingrown hair is inflammation of the skin, followed by pus formation, it may resemble other skin conditions too. So, it's always better to consult your physician for a diagnosis, before you think of treatment (2). Let's see what the symptoms of this condition are (1):

Rash manifested as reddened skin area.

Swelling and itching of the area.

Pimples or pustules typically occurring on the neck axilla or groin area. They may also appear as genital lesions

Answer 3

An ingrown hair is a hair that does not grow straight out of the follicle opening. Instead, it curls into the side wall of the hair follicle or into the skin surface. This penetration into and through the wall of the hair follicle produces an inflammation, which can result in the development of a pimple (such as a papule or a pustule) or a cyst (nodule). These lesions are usually tender.

Answer 4

They are normal body hairs that don't pierce through the skin. Thus they end up growing just beneath the surface of the skin. They can be easily brought to the surface by scrubbing the skin or using a harsh skin wash.
Sometimes they become a bit septic and cause a cyst but again, removing the hair will cure this.

Answer 5

Ingrown hairs are basically hairs that grow in the wrong direction. They can't find their way out and grow under the skin. That hair will continue to grow under the skin causing inflammation. They are most common in people with naturally curly hair, but people with straight hair can get them too.
In men, the most common place is where the beard grows. In women, it is usually around the nipples.
They usually go away by themselves, but you can remove them in the same way you'd remove a splinter (i.e. by piercing the skin a little with a sterilised needle then using sterilised tweezers to pull the hair out.)

Answer 6

Ingrown hairs are hairs which either fall out,are plucked,shaved,waxed etc that try to grow back in but a layer of skin har formed over your pore making it very uncomfortable and itchty as the hair is trying to pierce its way through your skin!

Answer 7

Hairs have a follicle (opening) to grow out of. When the end of the hair doesn't go out through the follicle, it gets stuck underneath the skin and grows there. Sometimes it can get infected, but not too often because it is so close to the surface of the skin. Hope that helps!

Answer 8

Hairs which grow into the skin instead of outwards. Very painful too. Can come up like a boil on the surface or the skin.

Answer 9

Its a hair that when its growing gets trapped under the skin.

Answer 10

I get them constantly. It's just hair that didn't break through the surface of the skin.

Answer 11

I get them from shaving, they cause spots and itch like mad. I have found a product that seems to have cleared them up though - tend skin solution

i brought it from www.mankind.co.uk - i know its a mens site but the stuff is really good

hope it helps