When you develop an ingrown hair, a hair has curled back and grown into the skin. Close shaves are the most common cause of ingrown hairs, but they also develop from waxing, plucking and chafing to the skin. While there are products that help treat these razor bumps, there are things you can do to get rid of the hairs on your own.
Step 1
Use a needle to remove the tip from the skin. An ingrown hair can be freed by hooking the hair with a sterile needle and gently pulling the embedded tip from the skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Tweezers can also be effective, but avoid yanking the root of the hair out of the skin.
Step 2
Scrub the ingrown hair with a toothbrush. The Mayo Clinic recommends gently rubbing the bristles of a toothbrush over the red bump of an ingrown. The friction can help free the embedded tip from the skin. It may take several minutes to dislodge the hair.
Step 3
Wrap the skin with a warm, wet washcloth. This method encourages drainage of any fluid that may have accumulated within the follicle, advises the National Institutes of Health. By drawing out pus or oil, the inflammation associated with ingrown hairs can subside.
Step 4
Cease hair removal. If you stop removing your hair and allow it to grow, those hairs that are ingrown will resolve themselves, asserts the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. The college claims it's 100 percent effective in ridding the skin of ingrown hairs. However, it can take as long as a month to see an improvement in the skin.
Tips and Warnings
- If self-care methods fail to provide results, consult a doctor or dermatologist. Topical medications are available to correct this problem. Your doctor can recommend the most appropriate treatment for you. Moistening the skin with water and lubricating the skin with gel can help to prevent ingrown hairs from forming, according to the Mayo Clinic. Always shaving in the direction of hair growth can also prevent razor bumps from forming. Consider limiting the number of times you run a razor along the skin. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology advises a single stroke per area of skin to remove hair.
Things You'll Need
- Needle
- Tweezers
- Toothbrush
- Washcloth
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