Laser Treatment for Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs can be painful and irritating. They often go away on their own, but can sometimes remain, causing the affected area to grow. Laser treatment can be an effective way to get rid of ingrown hairs quickly and efficiently.

Normal Ingrown Hairs

• Hair can grow either straight or curled from the hair follicle, which is the pore from which the hair grows. However, when the tip of the hair curls before it emerges from the follicle, the hair can begin to grow into the skin and flesh beside the follicle causing an irritated, red bump.

Problem Ingrown Hairs

• The tip of an ingrown hair can eventually be pulled out naturally by the rest of the hair as it continues to grow out of the follicle, solving the problem and easing the irritation. In some cases, the hair continues to grow sideways into the skin, increasing the affected area as it grows. This continued growth can cause scarring, and may also lead to a permanent skin discoloration.

Treatment

• There are a few options for treatment of ingrown hairs, laser treatment being one. Laser treatment targets the hair itself with lasers that remove it permanently by disabling the follicle. Laser treatment can deal with a large area of hair in a short period of time, making the treatment fast and accessible.

Benefits

• Laser treatment of ingrown hairs means that the area will never be subject to the same problem again, as the treated follicles will never re-grow hair. The treatment is also relatively painless and quick, making it a first choice for many people in need of some form of ingrown hair treatment.

Considerations

• As with any form of surgery, it is important to have a consultation with your doctor before agreeing to anything. Also, while it not generally the case, some people may experience hair re-growth, though the hair tends to be finer and should not become ingrown again. In very rare cases, the skin in the treatment area can be damaged by the procedure, causing red abrasions and swelling.