Razors are designed to give you a close shave, eliminating stubble and leaving you with smooth skin. But shaving too closely can put you at risk of ingrown hairs, notes the website Mother Nature. When you shave too closely, either by pulling the skin taut while shaving or by using a multi-blade razor, the remaining hair retreats back into the skin. As the hair grows back, it can become trapped under the skin, causing painful red bumps. According to MayoClinic.com, chronic ingrown hairs can lead to infection or permanent scarring. Use caution when attempting to remove ingrown hairs at home; picking at them may cause infection.
Step 1
Make sure the bump in question is an ingrown hair. You will often be able to see the hair below the surface of the skin. If you have a bump but no visible hair, you may have razor bumps, which are infected hair follicles--a different type of infection.
Step 2
Moisturize the area with a cream containing lactic acid, which will soften the skin so that hairs can emerge, advises Fitness magazine.
Step 3
Apply a warm compress to the area to soften the skin and open your pores. Wet a clean washcloth with warm water and apply it to the area for several minutes or until the hair rises to the surface of the skin. If you still cannot see the hair, don't dig for it. Continue applying the warm compress for several minutes at a time until it becomes visible.
Step 4
Immerse a needle and some tweezers in boiling water to sterilize them, then wipe them off with a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol.
Step 5
Use the needle and the tweezers to gently lift the hair out of the skin. The website Health Expert Advice notes that pointy-tipped tweezers may be more effective and cause less damage to the skin.
Step 6
Wash the area and apply an antiseptic to guard against infection.
Tips and Warnings
- To prevent ingrown hairs, always shave in the direction of hair growth. Avoid multi-blade razors and use shaving gel to soften the hair and skin. Gently exfoliate the area regularly to loosen skin and allow hairs to emerge. Avoid tight clothing, which can create friction in the area and cause hair follicles to become obstructed.
Things You'll Need
- Lactic acid-containing cream
- Clean washcloth
- Needle
- Tweezers
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton pad
- Antiseptic
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