Ingrown beard hair is a pain – literally. Even though pseudofolliculitis barbae is a true inflammation of the hair follicle, the inflammation occurs due to ‘mechanical irritation’ and not because of a primary microbial infection, according to dermatologist Dr Jonathan Smith.
The condition is genetic, as those who develop it inherit very tough beard hair. Unfortunately you can’t change the nature of your beard hair, so the problem is usually chronic. Dr Smith said the condition did improve as one aged and the hairs become softer.
One solution is to undergo laser hair removal for men who don’t mind not having any beard hair. He recommended systemic (antibiotics, especially tetracyclines) and topical (keratolytics and antimicrobials) therapeutic modalities for a short-term treatment.
The
following shaving tips do bring some relief:
Use
a single blade, preferably a guarded one
Always
ensure that the blade is sharp – use once, maximum twice
Wait
for 5 minutes once the shaving cream has been applied before shaving
Shave
in the direction of beard hair growth
Don’t
pull on the skin while shaving
So,
for men who want to alleviate the suffering, laser hair removal is the one
option. Alternatively, you’ll have to grow a permanent beard.
