An ingrown facial hair is usually caused by shaving the beard area. This condition is also known as pseudofolliculitis barbae or razor bumps. The Mayo Clinic reports it is most common in black males ages 14 to 25 because of the coarse hair and curved hair follicles. When you shave your facial hair close to the skin, the hairs may grow back into the skin or through the hair follicles. Once this happens, the hair is ingrown and the area will become red and inflamed. Because ingrown facial hair may be painful and itch, clearing it up is a priority for most sufferers.
Step 1
Allow your facial hair to grow to as long as the ingrown hair lesions are present. If you must trim your hair, use clippers or scissors. Leave the hair at least 1/8 to ¼ inch above the skin. The University of Mississippi states hair this length isn't likely to curve around and become ingrown.
Step 2
Wash your face daily with a rough washcloth and antibacterial soap. When washing, move the washcloth in circular motions to try to lift hairs away from the skin and prevent more ingrown hairs. Additionally, the circular motion may lift the ingrown hair tip out of the skin.
Step 3
Apply a warm compress to your face to encourage the lesions to drain, according to Medline Plus. Wet a small towel with hot water, wring it out and place it against your skin. If the towel cools, you can wet it again.
Step 4
Reduce inflammation of the bumps by placing 1 to 2.5 percent hydrocortisone cream two to three times daily, recommends the Department of the Navy.
Step 5
Lift the ingrown hair tip using tweezers or a needle if you can see the hair above the surface of the skin. Place the tweezers or needle in isopropyl alcohol to sterilize them and prevent the introduction of bacteria to the area.
Step 6
Rub a topical antibiotic on the lesion according to the manufacturer's directions to prevent infection after you remove the ingrown hair tip.
Step 7
Treat your face with a glycolic acid lotion before bed each night, recommends Skin Sight.
Things You'll Need
- Clippers
- Scissors
- Washcloth
- Antibacterial soap
- Towel
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Tweezers
- Needle
- Alcohol
- Topical antibiotic
- Glycolic acid lotion
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