Most ingrown hairs are a result of shaving, which is why they're often called razor bumps. However, you can also develop these little, red papules from regular waxing or plucking. Even continual friction along the skin can cause ingrown hairs. Regardless of how they develop, removing ingrown hairs is tricky but not impossible. It takes time, patience and a steady hand to dislodge hairs that have curled back and grown into the skin.
Step 1
Wait for ingrown hairs to remedy themselves. This is the least invasive method of removing ingrown hairs and oftentimes the most effective, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Simply stop shaving, waxing or plucking and allow the hair to grow. As it gets to a certain length, the hair starts growing out of the skin, clearing the face of the papules.
Step 2
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Running the bristles over the ingrown hair can create enough friction to free the embedded tip, thereby removing the ingrown hair from facial skin, says the Mayo Clinic. Papules should subside in a day or two.
Step 3
Pull out the tip with a needle or tweezers. This method isn't advisable if you can't actually see the hair. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests guiding the needle or tweezers under the bent shaft of the ingrown hair--without breaking the skin--and gently pulling the tip from the skin. Much like with a toothbrush, papules should subside in a couple of days.
Step 4
Wipe the papule with an alcohol swab. After dislodging the tip, wipe down the papule and surrounding skin to avert infection.
Step 5
Press a hot, wet washcloth over the papule. The National Institutes of Health state that this should prompt drainage of fluid collecting around the follicle. Follow up with an antibiotic if the area has become infected.
Things You'll Need
- Mirror
- Toothbrush
- Needle
- Tweezers
- Alcohol
- Cotton swab
- Washcloth
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