An ingrown hair is a painful condition in which a hair curves around and reenters the skin. The area around an ingrown hair becomes red and swollen. The only way to ensure that you won't develop an ingrown hair is to not use any hair removal methods, including shaving, tweezing, depilatory creams or waxing. Often, ingrown hairs will heal on their own within two weeks. During the healing process, you should wear loose clothing over the area. Ingrown hairs that occur in the same area repeatedly should be evaluated by a doctor.
Step 1
Apply cortisone cream to the ingrown hair as soon as you notice the ingrown hair. This will reduce the irritation and stop any itching that will aggravate the area.
Step 2
Exfoliate the affected area gently using a small brush, such as a soft-bristle toothbrush twice per day. This will help to release the ingrown hair, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Soak the area in hot water three to four times per day for approximately 10 to 15 minutes per day. This will help the area to heal.
Step 4
Use a needle that has been soaked in rubbing alcohol to gently pull the ingrown end of the hair out of your skin. This will only work if you can see a loop of hair between the hair follicle and the ingrown end of the hair. If you can't see the loop of hair, don't try to pick at the area to find the hair, as this may lead to an infection and scarring.
Step 5
Put triple antibiotic ointment on the area to minimize the risk of the area of the ingrown hair becoming infected.
Things You'll Need
- Cortisone cream
- Toothbrush
- Alcohol
- Needle
- Triple antibiotic ointment
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