You are not allergic to any ingredient in your deodorant, yet continue to experience painful pimples and bumps in your armpits or elsewhere? The culprit could be ingrown hair.

Ingrown hairs are an annoyance that should not be overlooked. They can become extremely painful if ignored.

The origin story

Hair grows from roots embedded in follicle bulbs beneath the skin's surface. A hair follicle grows through an opening in the skin known as a pore. Dead skin cells or a topical substance you use can clog the pore. When the pore is occluded, the hair follicle curls inward beneath the skin's surface.

Shaving too close can increase the likelihood of ingrown hairs. Curly follicles, in particular, are prone to becoming entangled beneath the surface.

Look and feel

When a hair becomes ingrown, it leaves a hideous pimple-looking red bump on the skin. If the ingrown hair is not removed, it will continue growing inward and cause more irritation and inflammation. The bump will eventually fill with oil from your skin, resulting in a painful pustule.

At this point, it is preferable to treat the pustule before removing the hair. Acne medication and steroid creams will help clear the pustule and reduce swelling. They may also expose the ingrown hair follicle during the process, making extraction easier.

The solution

Not all ingrown hairs are severe. If you want to avoid them entirely, exfoliate your skin regularly.

Exfoliating your skin reduces the amount of dead skin cells that can clog your pores. Consult your dermatologist if you frequently experience painful ingrown hairs.

Even though Super Deodorant does not enter your skin or clog pores, it can build up if you aren't washing regularly. So here is what you can do to avoid the menace of ingrown hair,

• Wash every day and exfoliate once or twice a month.
• Always exfoliate before you shave.
• Don't pull your skin and shave.
• Always shave with the grain using a sharp blade. Use shaving cream or gel and try not to shave too close or over-shave the same spot.
• Splash cold water on the shaved area, towel-dry and apply Super Deodorant to moisture lock.