The skin on your face, arms and legs contains small hair follicles. Certain hairs may appear so small and fine that you don't even notice them until they become ingrown. Ingrown hairs form when shaved, tweezed or broken hairs cannot easily emerge, causing trapped hairs to coil beneath your skin's surface. Ingrown hairs can cause irritation and make your skin appear bumpy and blemished. While these normally occur in small areas, they also can affect multiple areas of your body simultaneously. Eliminate this condition by removing ingrown hairs and practicing techniques that minimize subsequent occurrences.
Step 1
Wash the areas of your skin that contain ingrown hairs. Apply a gentle cleanser to a washcloth and lather the surface over and around your skin bumps. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub the ingrown hairs in a circular motion. This gentle scrubbing can help exfoliate the skin over the inflamed hair follicles. Rinse with fresh water to remove the cleanser.
Step 2
Sterilize a needle by dipping it in rubbing alcohol. Use the needle to lift ingrown hairs that loop above the surface of your skin. Place the needle point under the hair strand and pull upward so the ingrown tip emerges from the skin. Repeat this procedure on any visible strands of ingrown hairs.
Step 3
Scrub your skin lightly with cleanser before you shave. Rinse the cleanser off and apply shaving cream to help your razor glide over your skin. Use a razor with a sharp blade, shaving your hair in the direction of growth to avoid encouraging new ingrown hairs. Pass the blade lightly over your skin, avoiding heavy pressure that may irritate the hair follicles.
Step 4
Dry your skin gently. Put on loose-fitting clothes that won't rub or create friction against your skin. Irritating fabrics and tight garments can bend and twist healthy hairs, encouraging the formation of ingrown hairs. Apply a thin layer of fine powder or body lotion to the affected areas if you must wear irritating fabrics. This layer may help reduce the friction of the fabric against your skin and hair follicles.
Tips and Warnings
- The appearance of widespread areas of ingrown hairs on shaved skin may indicate improper shaving techniques or dull razor blades.
- Don't use a needle to dig out hairs beneath the surface of your skin. Only use your needle on exposed portions of ingrown hairs.
Things You'll Need
- Cleanser
- Washcloth
- Toothbrush
- Water
- Needle
- Rubbing alcohol
- Shaving cream
- Razor
- Towel
- Powder or lotion
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