You’re probably tired of dealing with all those skin bumps that appear after shaving, along with the irritating presence of ingrown hair.
You may have already heard that exfoliating your skin may help with this issue. But which scrub is actually better for ingrown hairs: salt scrub or sugar scrub?
As time passes, your skin tends to accumulate impurities, leading to the buildup of dead skin cells, clogged pores and hair follicles. This results in ingrown hairs.
Using a scrub to exfoliate your skin is one of the solutions you may want to try now.
Skin scrubs are known as exfoliators, resulting in smoother skin and healthier hair follicles, thus reducing the likelihood of ingrown hairs.
You can find different body scrubs in the market, but you can also make your own scrub at home using simple kitchen ingredients like salt and sugar!
Salt is well known for being an excellent body scrub ingredient with its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. But, salt on your skin? Chances are you already know that stinging sensation you feel when you enter the sea right after you’ve shaved your legs.
And what about sugar scrubs? Are they better than salt scrubs?
While they appear similar at first glance, sugar body scrubs are actually way more gentle. But are they sufficient to free those trapped hairs?
Let’s dive deeper into the comparison and see if salt or sugar scrub is better for your skin.
Why Is Exfoliation So Important?
Our skin is always renewing itself, removing dead skin cells to reveal new, soft skin underneath.
However, as we age, this process slows down, causing a buildup of dead cells on the skin’s surface.
This, combined with environmental stress and pollution, can lead to rough, itchy, and dull skin. In this case, we could all use some exfoliation!
When our skin losses its ability to properly regenerate and cleanse the outer layer of cells on its own, exfoliation comes in handy1!
Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells from the outer layer of skin, making it smoother and more radiant.
It also aids in clearing the pores from oil and impurities, reducing blemishes, acne scars, and improving overall texture and skin tone.
Exfoliating helps to smooth out razor bumps and release ingrown hair, while also improving blood circulation which is crucial for skin health2.
It also enhances the effectiveness of other skincare products by allowing them to penetrate deeper into the skin.
By the way, in 5-step Korean body routine exfoliation is one of the important step (between cleanser and moisturizer) that should be done 2-3 times per week.
Do Exfoliating Scrubs Work For Ingrown Hairs?
Yes, exfoliating scrubs work for ingrown hairs and help by removing dead skin cells and releasing trapped hairs.
You can use different types of exfoliants, including physical ones such as body scrubs, loofahs, or brushes that physically remove dead skin cells or chemical exfoliants such as lactic acid, salicylic acid and glycolic acid.
The physical exfoliation that body scrubs provide is helpful in preventing and reducing ingrown hairs by shedding dead skin cells, unclogging pores, and freeing trapped hair for their proper growth.
Some body scrubs also have detoxifying properties that may also help to prevent ingrown hairs3.
This method is great for achieving smooth and healthy skin. However, it may not be the best way to completely eliminate ingrown hairs, especially if they’re deeply rooted and persistent.
If you’re struggling with ingrown hair even after using scrubs, it’s best to see a dermatologist. Ingrown hairs can potentially lead to abscesses4 and other medical issues so seeking medical advise is very important.
Everything You Need To Know About Salt Scrubs
A salt scrub is a body scrub that typically consists of salt granules combined with oils or other moisturizing ingredients.
With its high mineral content and deep exfoliation properties, including it in your skincare routine is a great idea.
There are different types of salts you can use, such as Epsom salt, Himalayan salt, Dead sea salt or regular salt.
You can either buy body scrubs with salt from a beauty store or make your own at home.
If you want to save money, you can make your own body scrub with simple ingredients you already have.
Start with 1 cup of sea salt, which can include options like Black sea salt, Epsom salt, Himalayan salt or Dead sea salt.
Add a quarter cup of nourishing oils, such as almond oil, avocado oil, olive oil, or jojoba oil, and 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Mix these ingredients together and your body scrub is ready to use.
But actually, how to use a salt scrub?
Depending on the area you want to exfoliate, begin by wetting that part of your skin with warm water in the shower or bath.
Take a small amount of scrub and softly massage it using circular motions. Be careful not to scrub too harshly, as this may lead to irritation.
After covering all the desired areas, rinse off the scrub with warm water.
Pat your skin dry with a towel and always apply a body lotion after to keep your skin hydrated.
Benefits Of Salt Scrubs
Salt scrubs that are made of sea salts, are filled with minerals that can effectively eliminate impurities from the skin’s surface.
The big, grainy sea salt particles effectively scrub away dry and dead skin cells.
Salt scrubs offer many other benefits, such as:
Anti-aging properties
By removing dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover, salt scrubs give you a more youthful and radiant skin.
Minerals and nutrients
Salt scrubs contain minerals like sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium that nourish and support the skin.
Salts may also have trace elements such as zinc, copper, and iron for better skin health.
Scrubs containing salt aid in better absorption of other skincare products and allow them to penetrate easier into the skin barrier.
Repair tired skin
The presence of minerals like magnesium and potassium in salt scrub nourishes and replenishes the skin, revitalizing its tired appearance.
Reduced inflammation
Salt aids in detoxification by drawing out toxins from the body and also possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
This is why people who experience muscle soreness from physical activities or simply want to detoxify, find salt scrubs useful.
Magnesium helps with muscle soreness due to its muscle-relaxing properties. One of the salts that is very rich in magnesium is Epsom salt.
Rosy, glowing skin
The exfoliation process stimulates blood circulation and enhances the delivery of nutrients to the skin, promoting a healthy, youthful glow.
Better exfoliation
Salt scrubs are effective in removing tough, dead skin cells from dehydrated areas of your body due to their abrasive and large particle size, making them extremely beneficial for rough skin.
Why Salt Scrubs May Not Be For You
While salt scrubs have their benefits, they may not be suitable for every skin type.
Sensitive skin
Salt scrub is a great exfoliant for a rough skin, but the abrasive nature of salt particles can be too harsh for a delicate skin. That’s why it’s not recommended for sensitive skin types.
Since the skin of your face is more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body, it is also not recommended to use salt scrubs on your face.
If you have ingrown hairs on your bikini area, salt scrub is not a good choice either, as it’s too harsh and abrasive.
Irritated skin
Scrubbing forcefully can irritate the skin, causing redness and inflammation. It’s best to apply with gentle pressure and avoid excessive scrubbing.
Dry skin
Salt scrubs can dry out the skin, particularly when used too often or on already dry skin. Use a salt scrub 1-3 times a week, but if you have sensitive skin, use it less frequently, like once or twice every two weeks.
Always apply a moisturizer after exfoliation – it is very important to restore hydration.
Cuts or open wounds
Using a salt scrub on open wounds, cuts or a sunburned area can result in stinging, discomfort, or even infection. It’s better not to use a salt scrub (or actually any scrub at all) in these cases.
Is Salt Scrub Good For Ingrown Hairs?
Regardless of the exfoliator used, exfoliation is very helpful for ingrown hairs. Salt body scrubs are a great option if you want to treat ingrown hairs. Salt exfoliation can help with ingrown hairs in just a few weeks.
Salt’s coarse texture effectively exfoliates your skin, stimulating cell turnover and preventing trapped hairs.
The natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of salt, help to minimize irritation and reduce inflammation often associated with ingrown hairs.
Using a salt scrub regularly for exfoliation can help prevent ingrown hairs and improve skin texture, resulting in smoother and healthier complexion.
Everything You Need To Know About Sugar Scrubs
A sugar scrub is a body exfoliant that is made using sugar granules as physical exfoliators. These sugar granules provide gentle exfoliation and are less abrasive and less aggressive than salt for a sensitive skin.
Hence, sugar scrub is better for your face and other sensitive areas than salt scrub.
If you want to make your own sugar scrub at home, you can use different types of sugar, like granulated white sugar, brown sugar, unrefined sugar, or cane sugar.
To make a homemade sugar scrub, you will need about a cup of sugar. You can choose your favorite type of sugar or you can mix them all together.
Then you add 2/3 cup of your preferred skin nourishing products, such as shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil, sunflower oil, or jojoba oil. You can also add 5-6 drops of your favorite essential oil for a pleasant scent.
Apply the sugar scrub to wet skin and gently massage it in circular motions. Rinse thoroughly and don’t forget to use moisturizer afterward.
Benefits Of Sugar Scrubs
Sugar scrubs remove dead upper layer of the skin and unclog pores, making them excellent exfoliators.
But that’s not all. Sugar scrubs offer numerous benefits, such as:
- Gentle exfoliation
Due to their round shaped granules, sugar scrubs provide gentler exfoliation and are less abrasive, leaving you with softer skin.
You can safely use a sugar scrub on your face and other parts of your body if you have sensitive skin.
Brown sugar has smaller particles compared to regular sugar, making it even gentler as an exfoliant.
- Improves skin texture
Sugar scrubs improve skin texture by gently exfoliating your skin. They help to remove dead skin cells, promote cell turnover, revealing a fresh, radiant layer of skin.
- Brightening properties
Unrefined cane sugar is rich in glycolic acid, which brightens the skin and aids in achieving an even skin tone.
- Provides moisture to the skin
Sugar scrubs have moisturizing properties due to the inclusion of oils or hydrating ingredients in their formulation.
When applied and massaged onto the skin, these oils present in the scrub are absorbed, resulting in soft, smooth, and moisturized skin.
Besides from removing dead and dry skin, sugar itself has humectant properties, so it draws moisture from the environment and helps to retain it on the skin, enhancing scrub’s moisturizing effect.
- Boosts circulation
When you massage the sugar scrub onto the skin, it stimulates the blood flow in that area. This increased circulation of the blood brings more oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
Why Sugar Scrubs May Not Be For You
- No nutrients
Sugar scrubs provide minimal benefits for the skin aside from manual exfoliation. However, they do it great, compensating for the lack of nutrients and minerals.
- Hygiene concerns
If you don’t store or use sugar scrubs properly with clean hands and utensils, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and cause skin infections.
- Do not overuse it
For most skin types, it is advised to use a sugar scrub 2-3 times a week. If your skin is super sensitive or delicate, use it even less frequently, like once every a week or every other week.
Are Sugar Scrubs Good For Ingrown Hairs?
Regular exfoliation is key to minimizing ingrown hairs. Using a sugar scrub as exfoliator removes dead skin cells that can trap and prevent ingrown hairs from falling out.
However, sugar scrubs alone may not fully eliminate ingrown hairs. To effectively prevent ingrown hairs, combine sugar scrub with proper shaving techniques and proper moisturizing afterward.
Differences Between Salt Vs. Sugar Scrubs
Salt and sugar may look similar, but their effects as body scrubs are quite different.
If you have dry and sensitive skin, sugar scrubs are gentler and provide a more pleasant feeling on the skin.
But if you want to exfoliate and detoxify your skin, salt scrubs are a better option.
But which one is right for you?
Here are the key differences to consider:
Size & Texture
Salt particles have a larger size, making them more abrasive as a body scrub ingredient compared to sugar. In contrast, sugar particles are smaller, resulting in gentler exfoliation.
This makes sugar scrub a better choice for people with sensitive skin or all those gentle areas of your body like face or bikini line.
Benefits
Salt with its mineral content is a natural purifier and nourishing agent for the skin and it also has anti-inflammatory benefits.
On the other hand, sugar scrub primarily exfoliates your skin, but it also helps to retain moisture and serves as a rich source of glycolic acid.
Glycolic acid aids in breaking the bonds between dead skin cells and stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin).
Moisturizing Properties
Sugar scrub is known for its humectant properties and helps to retain moisture in the skin. To enhance its moisturizing effect, try using a sugar scrub with shea butter.
On the other hand, salt scrub may have a harsh and slightly drying effect on the skin.
Skin Type
While it is better to use a salt scrub for an oily or rough skin, sugar scrubs are often preferred for sensitive or dry skin types because they exfoliate your skin without causing irritation or dryness.
A salt scrub can be too harsh and cause breakouts if you have overly scrubbed your skin, but it works well on rough areas like feet, knees, and elbows. Use it lightly on your arms and legs.
Sugar scrub, with its rounder granules, is more gentle and suitable for sensitive areas like the face, chest, and bikini area. It provides gentle exfoliation and leaves your skin smooth and glowing.
Which Scrub Is Good For Ingrown Hair: Salt Or Sugar?
When dealing with ingrown hairs, it is generally recommended to use a sugar scrub rather than a salt scrub – as a safer solution.
With their gentle exfoliating properties, sugar scrubs are a better choice for areas of the skin that are prone to ingrown hair5.
As you may be aware, the bikini area and facial hair, particularly the beard area in man, are commonly more susceptible to ingrown hairs.
So, if you’re unsure whether to use a salt or sugar scrub, for any ingrown or hair removal issues on your body, better go with a sugar scrub!
There is also one more reasons for using sugar rather than salt scrub: after shaving you may have micro cuts. Just imagine putting salt on those tiny wounds. You know what that means – that nasty stinging feeling.
Although sugar scrubs may not have the power to fully deal with ingrown hairs during one exfoliating session, they are simply safer than salt scrubs, especially on delicate skin.
How To Use A Scrub For Ingrown Hair On Your Legs
Using a body scrub on your legs is a simple task and the same can be applied to any area of your skin:
- First wet your legs with warm water to soften the skin and open the pores.
- Take a small amount of the body scrub and gently massage it into the skin area you want.
- Use circular motions to exfoliate your skin, unclog pores, and remove dead skin cells, making it easier for hair to grow properly.
- Rinse off the scrub with warm water.
- Dry your legs with a clean towel and apply a moisturizer for hydration.
- Repeat this process 2-3 times a week for better effect.
You can also consider using a coffee scrub6. It not only exfoliates your skin but also helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite.
Can You Use a Scrub For Ingrown Pubic Hair?
Since the bikini area is particularly susceptible to ingrown hairs, it’s essential to find a body scrub that helps. Opting for sugar scrubs is a great choice as they’re gentle on delicate skin.
Additionally, when choosing a scrub for this purpose, make sure that it is specifically formulated for sensitive areas. Look for scrubs that contain natural ingredients, are pH-balanced, hypoallergenic, and have been dermatologically tested to provide optimal care for private area.
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. Remember: safety first! The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here.
Resources:
- https://weheartthis.com/
- https://www.elle.com/
- https://www.byrdie.com/
- https://www.webmd.com/
- https://theblushingbliss.com/
- https://www.beckleyboutique.com/
- https://gillettevenus.com
