Ingrown hairs occur on the chin and neck when hair grows back underneath the skin instead of emerging from it. Ingrown hairs occur most often in men who have a coarse, curly beard. Additionally, African-American males between the ages of 14 and 25 are the most likely to get ingrown beard hairs, according to the Mayo Clinic. Ingrown hairs can be prevented by using home remedies and in severe cases, dermatology procedures.
Step 1
Grow a beard. Growing a beard, and leaving ingrown hairs alone will cause the hairs to eventually emerge from the skin. As long as you don't shave, ingrown hairs will be a thing of the past.
Step 2
Wash your face with soap and water before shaving. Dermatologist Jerome Z. Litt, M.D. states that washing the face and beard area with soap and water for two minutes will help soften the whiskers, making them less likely to poke back through the skin as they are growing.
Step 3
Remove all ingrown hairs from the skin with a sterilized needle. If you can see an ingrown hair starting to form, sterilize a needle by soaking it in hydrogen peroxide, then gently pull the ingrown hair out of the skin, suggests the experts at the Mayo Clinic.
Step 4
Apply a retinoid or corticosteroid prescription medication to the chin. Your doctor can prescribe a retinoid medication to exfoliate your skin, preventing ingrown hairs. If you have swollen, red bumps on your chin due to ingrown hairs, your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid medication to reduce swelling.
Step 5
Consult your dermatologist about laser hair removal. If ingrown hairs are so stubborn on some areas of your chin that no medication or home remedy will work, a dermatologist can perform laser hair removal on small areas of your chin to remove the hair follicle, preventing the hair from growing.
Tips and Warnings
- If you get ingrown hairs using an electric razor, try a blade razor. If you get ingrown hairs with a blade razor, try an electric razor.
- Do not scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Needle
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Retinoid medication
- Corticosteroid medication
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