How do I prevent ingrown hairs?

February 10, 2022 5:59 PM

Other questions on Ask mostly dealt with ingrown hairs as a result of shaving, waxing, etc. I’m a mid-30s man who doesn’t remove my body hair but my legs have been getting ingrown hairs lately. They didn’t used to do this. I use the same body wash in the shower that I always have. What do you suggest?
posted by Monochrome to Health & Fitness (14 answers total)

Best answer: Exfoliate. Sugar scrub, shower pouf, Japanese Beauty Skin Towel, loofah, whatever you like for scrubbing off dead skin will keep the follicles clear and free any hairs starting to ingrow because of blockage.

Getting old sucks in the most ridiculous ways.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:13 PM on February 10, 2022 [15 favorites]

Best answer: Exfoliation method of choice, as you get older your skin has a harder tough sloughing off dead skin, it's one of the reasons older skin doesn't look so luminous, and the friction and pressure of your legs pressing on each other doesn't help the issue. So exfoliation is the key. I am partial to a chemical exfoliate like an AHA as I'm older and physical ones are harder on my skin in delicate areas, but as you're a youngish male that may or may not be a problem for you. I use a body brush on my calves to prevent ingrown hairs when shaving but no reason why you have to shave to use one. You may also want to look into the Japanese Skin Towels or other exfoliating cloths out there. Whatever you decide, there are lots of good videos on how to use them out there. Thing to remember is you're not sanding wood so don't go crazy.
posted by wwax at 8:25 PM on February 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

I find exfoliating gloves to be the easiest solution.
posted by Carbolic at 8:34 PM on February 10, 2022 [3 favorites]

You can make a scrub by mixing honey and Epsom salts. I'm not fond of the scrubs with an oil base, they can make the shower very slippery.
I use these Japanese towels in the shower, they are very scrubby: https://www.amazon.com/SALUX-Nylon-Japanese-Beauty-Cloth/dp/B000CSDDDG When I'm done using it, I rinse it thoroughly and hang it up so it can dry.
posted by Lycaste at 10:13 PM on February 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

I use high quality loofah scrubbers (Target, for those in the US, typically sells a dual loofah where one side is made from a coarser material meant for exfoliating, while the other side is more for lathering up) and then every few days I switch up my usual body moisturizer for an AHA body moisturizer. The AHA moisturizer, which contains a skin exfoliating chemical that is standard in the skincare world, is an ideal extra touch if you are either a) still seeing ingrown hairs, or b) are a person who shaves their legs and would prefer a little extra assurance and protection against ingrown hairs.
posted by nightrecordings at 5:29 AM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

Those scrub cloths, which I found and Bed Bath and Beyond, originally, and know as "loofah cloth" are fabulous. I prefer a rough lathering in the shower, and love the long cloth making it easy to get my back. Added bonus, they hold your shower-gel well, then easily rinse.
posted by Goofyy at 5:50 AM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

Every once in a while I use one of those green Scotch Bright things and rather gently do a harsh scrub to exfoliate. I find that easier than the loofah, gloves, scrubs, and such. Second would be the gloves, but I find that they eventually stretch out and need to be replaced or you have to take the off and put them on. A good stiff brush works also but sorta gets unwieldly (but better for your back).
posted by zengargoyle at 6:04 AM on February 11, 2022

I use the same body wash in the shower that I always have. What do you suggest?

Upgrade to using it with a washcloth instead of just hands.

Think about how much easier it is to get greasy films to come unstuck from dishes in the kitchen sink by using a cloth or sponge compared to just fingers and sloshing. Same principle.
posted by flabdablet at 6:04 AM on February 11, 2022

This microdermabrasion bar is pricey, but totally works.
posted by lovableiago at 6:09 AM on February 11, 2022 [2 favorites]

You don't remove your hair, but does something else remove your hair? I know that some men (and perhaps others but I haven't spent much time with others with luxuriant leg hair) have hairless patches on their otherwise hairy legs from friction from pants, riding a bike, carrying a phone in a front pocket, etc. A partner of mine didn't believe he had an ingrown hair because he doesn't remove his hair intentionally until I pointed out the large bald spot on his otherwise very hairy thigh. That's where his jeans were chafing his inner thighs.

I mention this because the mechanism of hair removal isn't super important. There isn't necessarily a different strategy for managing hair removal complications, like ingrown hairs, from waxing versus friction.

There are two strategies, and it's great to use both: prevention and management.

Prevention and some management: What you want is exfoliation or some sort of vigorous cleaning/rubbing of the entire hairless spot (use your judgment; if you have a painful ingrown hair, don't rub it if it hurts!). For prevention purposes, there are little tiny hairs growing back in, and you want them free and breezy before they can get embedded. You can use a washcloth and soap to start or get a loofah or any of the manual or chemical exfoliation approaches people have mentioned here: sugar, loofah, exfoliating gloves, etc. At my waxing salon, the esthetician gives folks one of those exfoliating gloves in a post-wax pack as part of regular maintenance.

Then, for management: there are creams that can help. One available in many drugstores is called Bikini Zone. It has some pain relief and also salicylic acid, which is an exfoliant. It's obviously marketed to women but I don't recall it having any kind of feminine scent. Here's a Strategist round-up of some other products.

Some aggressive exfoliants aren't for everyday use, so, you know, read the label and read up on what you're doing. But if you got one of those exfoliating scrubs and gave the problem area (wherever you are seeing ingrown hairs coming in or wherever you have a spot where hair is getting rubbed off) a good scrub in the shower with some nice body wash twice a week, I bet that would go a long way.
posted by bluedaisy at 11:52 AM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

Exfoliation is key but consider applying a gentle, non-greasy moisturizer after the shower too, especially if your skin seems dry or you spend all day in a climate controlled environment. Dry skin clogs easily and is less flexible. Even absent exfoliation, I get less ingrown hairs when I remember the lotion.
posted by Feyala at 7:47 PM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

Just a heads up if you go the chemical exfoliating route: AHA will make your skin much more sensitive to sun damage, so make extra sure to use sunscreen on areas you apply it. (I believe the photosensitivity lasts for at least a week post-application.)
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 10:36 PM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

You maybe can use Proactive on the ingrown hairs you already have. That has proven to me to get rid of them fast
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 11:58 PM on February 11, 2022 [2 favorites]

Two things worked for me:
Hibicleanse (available at drugstores)
and surprisingly, moisturizing affected areas.
Reducing Omega-3 supplements helped as well.
posted by evilmonk at 10:28 AM on February 12, 2022