Hi, I am a 23 year old male and have been shaving my legs now for roughly 5 months. I find that within 2 days of shaving I get the few ingrown hairs, primarily on the upper legs (all close together like a rash) with a few on the lower legs. I exfoliate using a rough exfoliating glove. I understand that ingrown hairs are part of the package when you choose to shave your legs. My problem though, is that once the ingrown hairs have come to the surface, the hair follicle seems to remain inflamed. Also, some of the hair follicles become inflamed, even if the hairs were not ingrown. This only seems to happen after 3 or 4 days though. Any help or tips would be much appreciated! Also…would salon waxing solve this problem?? Thanks a mil!!
I know exactly what you mean! I get those too. And waxing doesn’t help. Infact waxing might even cause more ingrowns. As for the follicles that are just inflammed, I get those too from waxing, shaving or whatever. Basically, ingrown hairs are like pimples, because the pores are clogged up with dirt, oil, and dead skin cells all along with the hair trying to grow out of the follicle. The follicles that are not ingrown and are just inflammed are either like the zits that are just filled with oil (I have one on my thigh that I squeezed out the oil last night, and by the way I do recommend not picking with the ingrowns and inflammed follicles, but sometimes I just can’t help myself not to.), or it’s razor burn. And I’ve tried the exfoliating to help rid them, but sometimes it just doesn’t help. The only thing I can recommend is Tend Skin to help you get rid of them. You can go to <a href=“www.tendskin.com” target="_blank">www.tendskin.com</a>
Yeah, it’s definately not razor burn. I know what razor burn is and it aint pretty, haha. Never get razorburn cos I take my time shaving. I will take a look at that Tend Skin product and see if it helps. First I am going to try getting a natural exfoliating wash, something with microparticles in it, from The Body Shop. I have been told that an exfoliating wash works alot better than the rough glove. Was really hoping that waxing would be the answer to my problems <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Even went and made an appointment for 3 weeks from now. Oh what to do, lol.
Yeah, about 2 weeks after shaving the legs now, using an exfoliating glove every day and my legs look worse than ever. My upper legs have cleared up now but my left lower leg has about 20 little red bumps on it. Some infected and some not. They’re not ingrown’s because the hair is out and as long as all the other hairs. Each day there just seems to be another one or two. The right leg is a little better than the left. I seriously don’t think that this exfoliating thing works for me because my legs have never been this bad. usually just a few small ingrowns and then they grow out. What a mission! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
You’re just using an exfoliating glove!? By just using that, you are really irritating the skin. Try using an exfoliating body scrub like Neutrogena Clear Body Scrub.
Yup, I believe that the glove was the problem… Haven’t used it for 3 days now and the inflamed follicles are beginning to clear up. Also changed my soap just in case. Was using Protex but now using some Tea Tree soap. Seems to be working nicely. There will prolly be a bit of scarring cos I just have to pop em! Haha, sure everyone here knows the feeling. Gonna go buy a body scrub from the Body Shop next time I go to the shops. Bound to be good and ready to go for that wax in 2 and a bit weeks. Happy face goes here Thanks a mil for all the help OhGodWhyMe!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Hi utopia
I have found that sometimes letting the skin dry out a bit soothes bumps. Try taking a light shave with a blade (don’t press to hard) and then maybe take a swim and let the skin dry out in the sun. if you live near the sea an ocean dip is very good for this - salt water is very good for red bumps. Don’t dry off with a towel, just drip dry if you can. When you shwer the salt water off later avoid creams and lots of soap on the legs and try to dry off naturally again. Towel rubbing makes it worst sometimes.
Regards
Stuart
Thanks for the tip Stuart. Actually off to Fish Hoek beach for a bit today. Nice to see a fellow South African on this site <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />