If your bikini line is riddled with big, red bumps, you have ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs are caused by tweezing, shaving, or waxing the bikini line, and occur when the hair curls, growing back underneath the skin and creating an irritated red bump. In most cases, an ingrown hair is no cause for alarm and does not require a doctor's treatment. If your the skin around the ingrown hair becomes very red, irritated or painful, consult a doctor.
Step 1
Wash the skin with a 10 percent benzoyl peroxide soap bar twice a day to reduce inflammation on the skin, recommends Esta Kronberg, M.D., a Houston dermatologist in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies."
Step 2
Apply a small dab of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to the ingrown hair to reduce skin swelling and help the ingrown hair heal faster. Soothing the inflamed skin will allow the hair to emerge from the skin.
Step 3
Rub the ingrown hair bump with a warm washcloth before shaving and before going to bed, says MayoClinic.com. Massage the area in a circular motion for several minutes to exfoliate the skin and help the hair grow out of the skin.
Step 4
Lift the hair out of the skin with a needle sterilized with hydrogen peroxide when the hair emerges. When the hair lies flat against the skin, slide the needle underneath the hair and lift it up to get it out of the skin.
Step 5
Get laser hair removal if the ingrown area is persistent, says MayoClinic.com. Laser hair removal is preformed at a dermatologist's office, and will eliminate the hair follicle so the hair can no longer grow.
Tips and Warnings
- If you don't have a washcloth on hand, you can use a clean toothbrush to stimulate the skin.
- To prevent infection, do not pick or squeeze the ingrown hair.
Things You'll Need
- 10 percent Benzoyl peroxide soap bar
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Washcloth
- Needle
- Hydrogen peroxide
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