Distinguishes acne and bumps caused by ingrown hairs

Mistakes in shaving can cause hair to grow into the skin. This condition triggers an infection so that a lump filled with pus appears. The lumps that form are usually similar to pimples. However, the two need to be handled in different ways.

So, how do you distinguish the two?

Different pimples and bumps due to ingrown hair growth

Acne and bumps due to ingrown hairs can be distinguished from several aspects. Among them are the causes, shapes, and when the lumps form. Here are a few things you need to pay attention to:

1. The cause of the appearance of the lump

The skin is filled with sacs called follicles. The follicle functions as a place for hair to grow as well as a channel for removing sebum (oil) and sweat. Sometimes, the follicle can become covered with a build-up of sebum and dead skin cells.

Closed follicles can become infected if bacteria are present in them. The body reacts to infection by sending out the immune system. This reaction triggers inflammation characterized by swelling, pain, and redness, causing pimples to appear.

Bumps caused by ingrown hairs also have a similar formation. The difference is, inflammation is triggered by the body's immune response when hair grows through the skin. The body considers hair as a foreign substance that causes disease.

2. The type of lump

Acne is not always a red, red lump with pus in it. There are various forms and types of acne, including:

• Whitehead (whiteheads): appear as small white dots located inside the inner layers of the skin.
• Blackheads (blackheads): form when clogged follicles are exposed to oxygen.
• Papules: small, pink pimples without pus.
• Pustules: reddish pimples basically with pus in the center.
• Nodules: large, dense, painful pimples that are located inside the skin.
• Cysts: pimples contain fluid that can cause scars.

The bumps caused by ingrown hairs usually appear red or have pus in them. Sometimes, you can see a black line inside the bump. This line represents hair that grows into the skin.

3. When did the bumps appear

Acne can appear at any time, but this problem occurs more often during puberty. During this period, the production of androgen hormones increases dramatically. Androgens trigger the enlargement of the oil glands so that oil production also increases.

There are also other factors that can trigger acne formation. Among others, oily skin, hormonal birth control, stress, high carbohydrate foods, and consumption of steroid drugs. If you have these risk factors, you should be more careful about your skin.

Bumps that appear due to ingrown hairs usually appear after you shave your hair. The wrong shaving technique can change the direction of hair growth. A few days after shaving, the hair actually grows through the skin layers.

Acne and bumps that arise after shaving your hair require different treatment. Acne usually goes away on its own or with medications containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide , and glycolic acid .

Meanwhile, the bumps caused by ingrown hairs can persist if the hair is still trapped. The hair can be removed using tongs, but this method should only be done by medical personnel such as a doctor.