What is an ingrown hair?

An ingrown hair is either a hair that fails to grow out of the hair follicle and stays embedded under the surface of the skin or a hair that when it starts to grow changes direction and begins to grow back in on itself. Although they can happen naturally, usually it is waxing or shaving that causes them. Usually you first notice one because they itch or feel uncomfortable and if left untreated can be painful and become infected. Ingrown hairs can look a little like a small pimple in the later stages. If the inflammation extends beyond the immediate area of the ingrown hair or after you have treated the ingrown hair it still persists you should consider getting it checked by a doctor.

What do I do?

Ingrown hairs can be simply treated by following the instructions below and you will need to arm yourself with a clean washcloth and some warm water, a mild antiseptic, pointy nosed tweezers and a small needle you have sterilised in boiling water.

• Gently apply a washcloth to the ingrown hair until it grows cool down and repeat again – this often helps bring the hair closer to the surface and softens the top of the skin covering the hair.

• Use a small needle to pierce any pimple that has formed over the ingrown hair and gently try to remove the ingrown hair by teasing it out.

• If a head has formed gently squeeze with a tissue until it has all gone and you can see the ingrown hair.

• Don’t try to pull the hair out – it may form again – you are trying to release the hair to grow normally.

• Apply an antiseptic to the area with a cotton wool ball to minimise the chance of infection.

How do I minimise ingrown hairs?

• Wear looser clothing if you suffer from ingrown hairs, tight clothing is a big cause of causing ingrown hairs to form, especially on the legs.

• Exfoliating regularly will help ingrown hairs. Exfoliating gloves are easy and quick to use and can be thrown in the washing machine to keep them clean of bacteria.

• Don’t use harsh exfoliators that can strip the skin of oils and dry it out making ingrown hairs more likely to form.

• Don’t use loofahs as they can’t be washed very easily and can harbour bacteria.

• Use cleansers and moisturisers that are non comodegenic, that is they won’t block the pores and make ingrown hairs more common.

• Cleansing the skin morning and night will keep the hair follicles and pores clear and remove grime and dead skin cells allowing the hair to grow more freely.

• Do not use products with alcohol that dry the skin.

• Use a long lasting hydrating moisturiser that will keep the hair soft all day and help prevent it in growing.

• Many men suffer ingrown hairs from shaving. Try leaving the hair fractionally longer by not using a multi blade razor as the hair is less likely to become ingrown if it is not shaved too closely.

• Don’t pull the skin too tight as this also makes the shave closer than you need.

Sensitive skin and Uticaria

What is Uticaria?

The symptoms of Uticaria are most commonly a rash that is very itchy and consists of a number of raised bumpy weals on the surface of the skin. In an acute attack it can last between several hours and a few weeks, uticaria that last longer than six or so weeks is less likely to be caused by an allergy and is called chronic uticaria.  Acute uticaria is caused by an allergy.

He most likely suspects for acute uticaria include allergies to animals such as dogs, cats and horses and common foods such as eggs and dairy particularly milk in children, peanuts, shellfish and dairy for adults. Sometimes people can be allergic to bee stings, wasp stings and even certain medicines such as antibiotics, in particular penicillin and other medications.

What are the symptoms of uticaria?

The rash that develops is very itchy and usually has lumpy, bumpy skin that develops along with a rash. Sometimes the rash can move around the limb or body and be so severely itchy it interferes with the person’s ability to sleep and their quality of life. Uticaria causes super sensitive skin and commonly red lines develop when the skin is itched called dermatographism. There is a relationship between stress and the uticaria reappearing, mental and emotional stress and when the body is challenged by a physical illness. Sometimes acute attacks occur when there is a viral illness and the body’s immune response is lowered.

What can we do?

• Try to avoid stresses we recognise can cause acute attacks such as alcohol, stress, hot weather, tight itchy clothing and harsh laundry detergents.

• Avoid foods we know or may have a reaction to, additives such as salicylate, sodium benzoate, sulphur dioxide, tartrazine and MSG or Mono Sodium Glutamate among others.

• Examination by a doctor is needed to determine the cause if mild symptoms become worse or persist for weeks.

• A doctor may prescribe some medication or run some blood tests to determine if there is an underlying allergy or an auto immune disease.

• A course of antihistamine tablets may settle the symptoms of acute uticaria but if it doesn’t respond or you have some associated health problems then see a doctor.

• A doctor may prescribe a short course of oral steroids if the symptoms are severe.

What is sensitive skin?

Sensitive skin is quite common; hypersensitivity however, is fortunately less common. The main difference is that hypersensitive skin can often react to non-irritating formulations due to an underlying skin condition. Professional medical advice is recommended in such cases.  Seek help if your skin does not respond to care for sensitive skins to make sure you do not have an underlying medical condition that may be causing your sensitive skin. In terms of sensitive skin, however, there are a number of things you can do to help ease the discomfort and frustration of having a sensitive skin.

What can we do?

Sensitive skin is very easily irritated so the first thing we want to do is minimise the chances of it being irritated. If there are any allergens we know that trigger allergic reaction and skin conditions such as eczema we should take great care to avoid. Prevention is much better than cure as flare-ups can take a while to subside and always seem to occur just when you don’t want them. Triggers can range from foods we eat, plants, fur and so on. Skin care products that have been especially formulated to minimise irritation by including no irritating ingredients should be used.

Skinsaviour skin care products have been designed to be gentle and effective with no perfumes or colourings or harmful ingredients to irritate sensitive skins.

Here are some suggestions on how we can look after sensitive skins:

• Avoid cleansers that have sulphates, detergents or soap that will all irritate sensitive skin.

• Avoid cleansers with harsh exfoliating particles or ones high in glycolic acids.

• Gently pat the skin dry after cleansing and avoid rubbing which will further irritate the skin.

• Use lukewarm water to avoid irritating the skin with water that is too hot or too cold.

• Seek moisturisers without perfumes, fragrances, colourings, alcohols, petroleum, preservatives, sulphates mineral oils or lanolin or as these can irritate sensitive skin.

• Apply skin creams while the skin is still damp and warm, after gently patting dry, to lock in moisture and preserve the skin’s natural defence barrier.