Ingrown facial hair is a condition that affects men, particularly those who shave their beard regularly. If you get painful red or pink bumps on the neck or chin after shaving, you may have ingrown hairs. Treatments for ingrown facial hair include home remedies, shaving correctly, antibiotics and in worst-case scenarios, hair removal treatments.
Significance
Ingrown facial hairs with particularly sharp edges may become trapped under the skin, creating a red, inflamed bump on the neck or chin. Some ingrown hairs may curl underneath the skin, creating a larger bump that may be filled with pus. Ingrown facial hair may be due to improper shaving technique, or the coarseness of the hair. In particular, African Americans with thick hair may have problems with ingrown facial hair.
Remedies
Home remedies for ingrown facial hair include shaving with a sharp razor in the direction of hair growth, using a moisturizer to soften facial hair, allowing hair to grow slightly longer than usual before shaving, and placing a hot washcloth over the face before shaving to open pores. Additionally, aspirin dissolved in water and placed on the skin can prevent swelling due to ingrown hairs.
Professional Help
Home remedies may help mild to moderate cases of ingrown hair, but more difficult cases may require the care of a dermatologist. The Mayo Clinic suggests seeing a dermatologist if the patient gets ingrown hairs constantly or the pain from one ingrown hair occurs for more than a few days. A dermatologist can prescribe antibacterial medication to help reduce swelling or perform laser hair removal surgery in the most extreme cases.
Considerations
David Feingold, M.D., chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Tufts University School of Medicine, suggests looking for ingrown hairs with a magnifying mirror, then removing them with tweezers sterilized in alcohol to prevent ingrown hairs from growing under the skin and causing infection. Otherwise, people shouldn't pick or squeeze at the ingrown hairs. They should allow them to emerge from the skin on their own.
Expert Insight
According to Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D., dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic, ingrown facial hair isn't a serious condition. Usually, an ingrown hair will go away on its own without medical treatment. In the rare cases of some people who have very painful or constant ingrown hairs, medical treatment from a dermatologist may be needed. Additionally, Gibson suggests that people with curly hair may have more difficulty with ingrown hairs than those with straight hair.
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