icon to save an article into your beauty book.
icon to delete a product. 
Teeny bikinis leave little to the imagination as it is, but when you're suffering from a less-than-pleasant beauty situation, it can feel like you're under a microscope. Case in point: that ingrown hair plaguing your bikini line. Jamie Ahn, owner of New York's Acqua Beauty Bar, has seen her fair share of swimsuit-related mishaps. "Brazilians and bikini waxes are always more popular in the Summer," she says. "Because of this, there are always more issues with ingrown hairs." To get Ahn's insight on what causes ingrown hairs, how to prevent them, and how to treat them when you find yourself with one, just keep reading.
1. What causes them: When a hair starts to grow, it's not difficult for it to get trapped beneath the skin's surface, causing it to curl under and grow back in, Ahn says. This tends to happen in areas where the skin folds, such as your bikini line. Bacteria accumulates in these high-friction areas, making them places for easy infection.
2. How to prevent them: "Your best friend if you have issues with ingrown hairs is salicylic acid," Ahn says. Using this or a glycolic acid regularly after every wax or shave will keep your skin hair-free. Many anti-acne treatments have salicylic acid, or you could pick up a product like PFB Vanish Skin Treatment ($52), which is delicate enough to use on your bikini line. Keep antibacterial wipes in your beach bag too. Sunscreen is a big culprit when it comes to ingrown hairs because of how heavy it is. Bacteria can breed if your skin can't breathe, so use the wipes to clean your bikini area a couple times a day to help prevent ingrown hairs.
3. What to do if you get them: Aim to free the hair so the follicle can push out, but stay away from loofahs or oil-based body scrub. "Both of those things harbor bacteria," Ahn explains. "You want to stay bacteria-free, so we suggest a gel-type of cleanser with some abrasion." If you're in a pinch, then Ahn suggests mixing some sugar into your body gel. Since the sugar is soluble, it will dissolve in the water when you're done with it. But if you have a stubborn hair that just keeps getting worse, then you do have to see a professional — like an aesthetician or a dermatologist — to extract the hair.
More from BellaSugar
10 Tips For a Nearly Painless Bikini Wax
The Keys to Styling Wet Hair After the Pool
4 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Razor
Post Your Comment