*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs cause bumps, which are often itchy, where a hair has grown back into the skin. There are things you can do to treat and prevent them and in most cases you will not need to a see a GP for treatment.

Check if you have ingrown hair

Ingrown hairs can look like raised, itchy bumps on the skin.

On white skin the bumps may look red. Redness may be harder to see on black or brown skin, but they may look a different colour to the surrounding skin.

Sometimes you can see a hair trapped under the skin.

You may be more likely to get ingrown hairs if you have coarse or curly hair.

Infected ingrown hairs can be painful. You may see pus in the bumps.

You are more likely to get ingrown hairs in areas you shave, such as:

face and neck
legs
armpits
chest
back
your pubic area

Waxing, plucking and threading hair can also lead to ingrown hairs.

Things you can do to treat and prevent ingrown hairs

The best way to prevent ingrown hairs is by not shaving.

If you want to shave, or remove hair in another way, there are things you can do to prevent ingrown hairs and help them get better quicker.

Do

wet your skin with warm water and use shaving gel
shave in the direction the hairs are growing
use as few strokes of the razor as possible
rinse the razor after every stroke
hold a cool, wet cloth to your skin after shaving to reduce irritation
use an exfoliating scrub to help release any trapped hairs
try a different hair removal method, such as hair removal cream
try a long-term way of removing hair, such as laser treatment

Don't

do not shave too close - leaving some stubble can stop bacteria getting in
do not use a blunt razor
shave every other day if possible
do not scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs as this can damage your skin and lead to infection

A pharmacist can help with ingrown hairs

You can ask a pharmacist about:

creams and lotions to help itching
shaving and hair removal products to help prevent irritation
exfoliating products to help prevent ingrown hairs
a mild antiseptic to help prevent infection

Find a pharmacy

See a GP if:

an ingrown hair or area around it is very painful, hot or swollen
you have an ingrown hair and have a high temperature, or you feel hot, shivery or very unwell

Treatment for ingrown hair from a GP

A GP may be able to treat ingrown hairs by:

removing the hair using a sterile needle or blade (scalpel)
giving you a steroid cream to help swelling and irritation
giving you antibiotic cream or tablets to treat an infection

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.