Ingrown hairs create infected bumps on the surface of the skin. These bumps occur when a hair is shaved or tweezed, then grows underneath the skin instead of emerging. Individuals with curly, coarse hair may have frequent ingrown hairs, because the hair does not always grow straight. In most cases, ingrown hairs can be removed at home. In severe cases, however, ingrown hairs may require the care of a dermatologist, who can prescribe creams, laser treatments or medications to remove the hair and prevent infection.
Step 1
Leave them alone. Some ingrown hairs will emerge on their own if they are allowed to continue growing. If you notice the hair emerging from the skin, wait several days. If the ingrown hair appears to be getting worse, move on to another treatment option.
Step 2
Gently scrub your face, neck and chin with a washcloth soaked in warm water before shaving and before bed. This will gently release some ingrown facial hairs from the skin, states the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Place a warm washcloth over the afflicted area for several minutes, until you can see the ingrown hair under the skin, suggests dermatologist Rodney Basler. Then, sterilize a needle or tweezers with alcohol and gently pull the hair out of the skin.
Step 4
Treat the ingrown hair with a prescription facial cream. Your dermatologist may recommend retinoids to help soften the skin, or corticosteroids to help reduce swelling that may be causing infection.
Step 5
Consult a doctor about laser hair removal. If an ingrown hair is persistent and particularly stubborn, your dermatologist can remove the ingrown hair with a laser. Laser hair removal attacks the hair at the follicle, permanently preventing it from growing back.
Tips and Warnings
- African-American men between the ages of 14 through 25 are most likely to get ingrown hairs, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- To prevent infection, avoid squeezing or picking at the ingrown hair.
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