Ingrown Hair on Upper Lip
Perhaps you’re tired of the Tom Selleck moustache and wish to display a baby-smooth upper lip. Before you reach for the razor, you should familiarize yourself with some of the reasons why your new hair growth could become a problem. There are a handful of factors that can affect the final outcome of a fresh shave, including the type of equipment you use; pre- and post-care; as well as your shaving techniques – all of which can cause ingrown hairs to develop.
Appearance
When removing hair from the upper lip, keep in mind the threat of inflamed skin, itchiness, and a red rash that comes with an ingrown hair. If you experience new hair growth that has been disrupted by your shaving practices, you could face hairs that curl back into the skin or grow out at an angle. The outcome is hairs that lay flat on the skin (making them hard to remove); localized pain; and in the worst cases – infection that causes pus to collect under the skin [1].
Causes
Before you go blaming your razor or waxing practices solely for your ingrown hair problem, keep in mind that this condition can take place as a natural occurrence. To learn the most common causes of ingrown hairs, consider the following:
a) Irritating Waxing Experience:
Waxing can be rough on the skin, especially when it takes place in a region with heightened levels of sensitivity. Ingrown hairs can attack the upper lip of both men and women when hairs are ripped or pulled at a compromising angle.
b) Excessive Plucking:
In some cases, plucking can actually cause more ingrown hairs to develop on the upper lip.
c) Dead Skin:
The particles left behind from dead skin cells can collect in your pores, which can lead to ingrown hairs.
d) Unsanitary Shaving Tools:
When removing hair from the upper lip, do not use shaving equipment that is dirty, rusty, or old. The irritation alone can trigger ingrown hairs to develop and also increase your chances of suffering an infection to boot.
e) Blunt Blade:
Use a blunt blade to remove your upper lip hair and the extra pressure needed to compensate for the dullness can irritate the skin and cause ingrown hairs to develop.
f) Stiff Whiskers:
Gain better shaving results when you use warm water and lubricants (like shaving creams, gels, and foams) to soften stiff whiskers and keep ingrown hairs away.
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