About Ingrown Hair Treatments

Ingrown hairs can result in a condition called folliculitis, which is characterized by pus-filled pockets in the skin. These pockets are also referred to as skin abscesses, although not all skin abscesses are caused by ingrown hairs. When facial hair is shaved and the hair is tightly curled and dense, the shaft of the hair that remains after shaving can be pointed downward and consequently grow into the skin. This is known as an ingrown hair and is a cause of folliculitis. This type of folliculitis is called pseudofolliculitis barbae.

Antibiotic Treatment

According to The Merck Manual, folliculitis is treated with antibacterial cleansers or topical antibiotics. A topical antibiotic is a cream or gel that is applied to the surface of the skin. These treatments may be effective because they are designed to kill the bacteria present due to the ingrown hair.

Bacterial Culture

For persistent folliculitis, a physician may take a culture of the pus associated with the ingrown hairs. This may help the physician adjust the antibiotic treatment to more effectively kill the bacteria. The patient may need to stop shaving so ingrowth of hair will be less likely in the future.

Shaving

Allowing facial hair to grow for 30 days will help eliminate ingrown hairs. When shaving is resumed, an electric razor may help in prevention since the shave is not as close as with a blade, according to skinsight.com. Using a razor with a single blade rather than multiple blades will help keep the shave from being too close, which can contribute to ingrowth. There are also razors specifically designed to help eliminate ingrown hairs.

Other Preventive Measures

Reducing the frequency of shaving can also help in prevention. Massaging the face with a warm, moist washcloth before shaving can help moisturize hairs and make cutting easier.

Hair Removal

According to the Mayo Clinic, many ingrown hairs grow out by themselves and do not require treatment. But permanent hair removal is an option in stubborn ingrown hair cases. Hairs can be removed by laser treatment.