Yes, ingrown hairs can be VERY itchy….No, it is not okay to reach into your bikini bottoms to scratch them out in public!! An ingrown hair is one that grows out into surrounding skin instead of directly through the hair follicle. Ingrown hairs irritate the skin, which creates papules (also called razor bumps). Because we want our readers to know how to prevent ingrown hairs and the embarrassing scenario pictured above, we are posting these useful tips: Exfoliate! Ingrown hairs can be easily prevented with regular exfoliation. Exfoliating sloughs off any dead skin cells and opens your pores. This allows the hair to exit the skin cleanly without curling back in. Shave Properly! You should be shaving in the direction your hair grows – not against it. Also, don’t use too much pressure, let the razor do the work. Try not to shave over the same spot repeatedly, either. Lastly, invest in a good razor. Dollar store disposables are no good! Moisturize! Daily moisturizing of the skin is a MUST in order to prevent ingrown hairs. Cleansing and proper moisturizing keep the skin supple and smooth which helps the hair grow in the right direction. Be sure to use a moisturizer that will not clog the pores. For ingrown hairs, Skin Rx recommends the following products for treatment and prevention: Tweeze Kit #4 – Includes pointed tweezers, Brow Fix Gel, and PFB Vanish roll-on gel. Herbal Moisture Crème – An intense moisturizer that lasts all day.

Remember what happened to Chris on Family Guy when he got a huge zit? He had to battle it to the death so that it could no longer control his life. Unless you want your blackheads to get out of control - you have to take action to get rid of them now!