It’s Summer! That means beach weather and bikini season. Worried about those irritated shaving bumps? Have no fear! TDI has some shaving tips that can help keep you worry free this summer.

Treating & Preventing Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs are a common problem for everyone. They are commonly caused by shaving. Shaving bumps can occur as a result of chronic inflammation. Simple treatments are as easy as purchasing an over the counter hydrocortisone cream. If those ingrown are still persistent even after the hydrocortisone you may consider using a prescription topical antibiotic solution that can help reduce the inflammation.

Exfoliation is the key to helping prevent ingrownhairs. This is simple and easy to do. Try some exfoliants like Glytone’s Exfoliating Body Wash, Burt’s Bees Peach and Willow Deep Pore Scrub, SkinLab’s Exfoliating Glycolic Cleanser, and SkinLab’s Glow Pads. You want to be sure to exfoliate your body and those ingrown prone areas about 2 -3 times a week.

If you want a DIY method to try at home, you can use coffee grounds mixed with yogurt. This can be applied as an after shave to exfoliate and soothe your skin. The caffeine in the coffee grounds not only act as a gentle scrub, but also decreases the inflammation from shaving reducing the likelihood of ingrown hairs.

Hair Removal Creams

Hair removal creams like Nair can be used, but be sure to first test a small spot prior to treating a larger area; and make sure your skin is not too sensitive to the product. Hair removal creams are safe, but can also be irritating to the skin. If you use any products that contain glycolic/salicylic acids or retinoids be sure to proceed with caution; using a hair removal cream in combination with these types of products can cause increased sensitivity to your skin.

Other Hair Removal Options

Tired of shaving? Want to try something new? Other hair removal options to consider are laser hair removal. This is a popular treatment method for many people who are looking for a longer term option for hair removal. If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your home you can consider the Tria Hair Removal Laser. It is the first and only FDA approved hair removal laser that can be used at home. This laser targets and eliminates hair growth on the face and body. It was recently featured in InStyle and was selected as a Best Beauty Buy for 2015. You can check out Dr. Chiu’s recommendation on it here.

If you do decide to stay with the traditional method of waxing or threading, be sure to exfoliate and to stop using any retinoid about 5 days prior to treatment.