SKIN CONCERN
Ingrown Hairs & Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
Calmer skin. Fewer bumps. Less irritation.
Ingrown hairs and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) occur when hairs grow back into the skin, causing recurring bumps, inflammation and sometimes lingering dark marks. PFB is particularly common with coarse or tightly curled hair and can be aggravated by shaving and other forms of hair removal.
Recommended Treatments
Treatment focuses on reducing the hair growth that drives recurring ingrown hairs, while helping calm inflammation and prevent new bumps from developing.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SKIN
Why do ingrown hairs keep coming back?
Hair normally grows upward through the follicle and exits the skin. With PFB, a freshly cut hair can curve back and penetrate the skin or become trapped and grow beneath the surface.
Once the hair enters the surrounding skin, the body recognizes it as a foreign material and triggers an inflammatory response around the follicle. Repeated inflammation can lead to persistent bumps, tenderness and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly in skin that is more prone to pigment changes.
The cycle can repeat - which is why reducing the underlying hair growth can help address the cause rather than only treating individual bumps.
Why do they develop?
PFB develops when hair growth, hair shape and hair-removal practices make it more likely for newly cut hairs to re-enter or become trapped beneath the skin. Several factors can increase that likelihood.
Coarse or Curled Hair
Curved hairs are more likely to turn back toward the skin as they grow, increasing the risk of re-entry.
Close Shaving
Shaving very close can leave a short, sharp hair that more easily penetrates the surrounding skin as it grows.
Hair Removal
Waxing, plucking and other hair-removal methods can disrupt normal hair growth and contribute to recurring ingrown hairs.
Friction & Occlusion
Tight clothing, helmets and repeated friction can irritate hair-bearing areas and worsen inflammation around affected follicles.
Individual Susceptibility
Hair density, growth pattern and skin response influence how readily ingrown hairs develop and how much inflammation or pigmentation follows.
YOUR TREATMENT JOURNEY
What to expect
Starting treatment
Treatment begins by targeting the hair growth that contributes to recurring ingrown hairs and inflammation.
As treatment progresses
Hair growth may become finer and less dense, with fewer ingrown hairs, bumps and episodes of irritation.
Longer term
A series of treatments can provide progressive hair reduction, helping break the cycle of hair growth, re-entry and inflammation.
