Ingrown hairs, lots of them. How to get rid?

[YouCanDoItYesYouCan]

Just a few years ago, the skin on my legs was nice and (more or less) smooth. At some point after I gave birth, I started getting masses and masses of ingrown hairs. They make my legs look spotty and I don't know how to stop the hairs growing in.

For the past couple of months I've been exfoliating and moisturising frequently, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I shave my legs about once a week. Most of the ingrown hairs are on my thighs.

Any idea how to stop this? I want to have nice smooth legs for the summer!

The other thing is that I've noticed that when I get spots on other parts of my body or even my face, there's usually a hair in them nowadays. This didn't use to be the case. What's going on? Is there some kind of weird illness that makes all your hairs grow inwards?!

Hum. I was going to suggest exfoliate and moisturise, but you're doing that.

Consult a beautician, maybe?

Stop shaving. Use immac or something instead. Shaving is notorious for giving you ingrowing hairs.

this suggests a few possible causes

I might be mis-remembering but someone told me there is a link between PCOS and ingrown hairs.

Ingrow-go is an excellent product for removing ingrown hairs long term, and you can make a very effective product of your own using crushed up aspirin (I found the recipe online). I used to suffer before I had children,caused by buggering epilating. Never, never again. Don't epilate and don't wax either.

TheProvincial Lady have you got a link, or can you post the recipe?

Try the Paula's choice 10% alpha hydroxy acid body lotion. Its pretty fierce...

Tend Skin is FAB, I had the same problem and it's made a huge difference, esp when combined with Dove's AHA body lotion. I usually buy on Ebay, it's about £10 a bottle.

Good point about stopping shaving. I did think perhaps I've been doing it for such a long time that my skin is now fed up. Will try Immac.

Have been intrigued by things like Tend Skin etc before, but it's so expensive! Does it really work?

Yes it really does And it does last a long time - I use mine two or three times a week and the bottle has lasted a good 4 months. You don't need to use very much.

Use an AHA body lotion too for maximum results.

There are loads of recipes online but here's one

I found tendskin didn't cut it. I think all methods of hair removal cause ingrowns (this thread has people suggesting that waxing/shaving/epilating all do, which just goes to show!). I use a super strong AHA exfoliant, here which rather unhelpfully I purchased at Sephora in the US and have no idea if it's available here. It works.

I also switched to the fancy new Braun epilator with built in razor as the razor exfoliates. That seems to help too but I am considering IPL on my bikini otherwise I will have to return to being Planet of the Apes woman as nothing seems to work on the bikini line.

Thanks for the link TheProvincialLady . Quite interested in those recipes. Think I might try a salt scrub.

Have invested in a giant tube of Veet, but seem to have used up half of it in only one application. Oops. Plus it takes aaages to apply. Seems so much easier just to shave. My ingrown hairs got quite red and angry-looking, but have calmed down a bit now. So far so good.