An ingrown hair occurs when a cut hair comes back into the hair follicle, aggravating the follicle, according to the MayoClinic.com. This is most common in areas where the skin has been shaved. As a result, your skin may appear red or irritated. You also may experience pain and even an enlarged bump on the skin. Combat these bumps through careful treatment that removes the ingrown hair and relieves irritated skin.
Step 1
Take a shower or bath to soften the skin and hair follicles. Another option is to apply a hot, moistened cloth to the area. The compress can help to bring ingrown hairs to the surface, according to Dr. Rodney Basier, a dermatologist and assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine.
Step 2
Exfoliate the affected area using a loofah, washcloth or exfoliating scrub after softening the skin, according to Go Ask Alice, a health resource website from Columbia University. This exfoliation can help to loosen the ingrown hair from its position in the hair follicle.
Step 3
Sterilize a needle using rubbing alcohol, then insert it into the hair loop where the ingrown hair occurs---not into the hair follicle itself, however. Lift up on the needle to lift the ingrown hair out of the follicle, advises the MayoClinic.com. This helps to prevent the hair from further irritating your skin. Repeat on any additional hairs that may be ingrown.
Step 4
Apply a topical treatment cream to control inflammation after removing an ingrown hair. Over-the-counter medications include corticosteroids or an antibiotic cream, according to the MayoClinic.com. If you experience severe ingrown hairs, your physician may prescribe a retinoid cream, which encourages skin exfoliation and reduce the thickness of your skin. Because skin thickness can contribute to ingrown hair growth, this can be effective in treating ingrown hairs.
Tips and Warnings
- Shaving in the direction of your hair growth can help to prevent the occurrence of future ingrown hairs, according to Go Ask Alice. Always use a sharp razor and a shaving gel or cream, which softens the hairs, making them easier to remove.
- You may wish to stop shaving, tweezing or waxing for a period of time until your skin heals from an ingrown hair or hairs, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Things You'll Need
- Exfoliating scrub or loofah
- Inflammation-fighting treatment cream
- Pin
- Rubbing alcohol
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