An infected ingrown hair can be embarrassing, ugly, painful and cause an acne-like eruption. The area surrounding the ingrown hair will itch, become red and inflamed and--if left untreated--can result in a severe infection and scarring. People with thick, coarse hair are more likely to experience infected ingrown hairs.
Inflammation
The first and most common symptom of an infected ingrown hair is inflammation, which is your body's response to an irritant. The inflammation is not an infection; it is simply an immune system response, a natural defense of the body against a foreign particle--in this case, the ingrown hair.
Pustules
After the inflammation, a blister filled with pus, called a pustule, forms around the ingrown hair. These pustules can rupture, oozing blood and pus. An open wound is also more vulnerable to infections,such as Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, so it's important to keep the area clean.
Itching and Tingling
Itchiness and tingling often occur because of the accumulation of dead skin cells. The urge to scratch an itch is the body's way of removing dead skin cells and foreign particles or toxins.
Pain
You may experience painful acne-like whiteheads and swelling around the ingrown hair. Pain is another one of the body's automatic responses to let us know something is wrong and needs our attention. Infected ingrown hairs damage the skin, and it hurts.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your doctor can confirm if your ingrown hair is infected and treat the problem by making a small incision and and removing the hair. Hydrocortisone cream, topical antibiotics or a Retin-A cream may also be prescribed by your dermatologist. In the most severe cases, oral antibiotics may be required when pustules and abscesses indicate secondary infection.
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