Instead of growing out of the skin, ingrown hairs breach the epidermis and grow into the surface of your skin. Shaving, waxing and tweezing can all cause hairs to curl back and grow in this fashion, resulting in the formation of papules or pustules. Almost anyone who shaves, waxes or tweezes can develop these little bumps, but it's most often seen in individuals with curlier hair. While there are a number of ways to prevent ingrown hairs, there are far fewer methods of treating them. Treatment usually involves self-care and prescription medication.
Step 1
Stop removing the hair in areas prone to ingrown hair growth. Though this may not sound like a true treatment for ingrown hair, the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology claims that this is the most effective way in which you can remedy the papules or pustules associated with this condition. Three to fours weeks should provide enough time for the hair to correct itself.
Step 2
Loosen the buried tip of the ingrown hair with a toothbrush. Circulating the soft bristles of a toothbrush over the ingrown hair can loosen the buried tip, according to the Mayo Clinic, causing the papule or pustule to disappear.
Step 3
Work the embedded tip of the hair free by using a needle or tweezers. Gently lifting the arched shaft of the hair can free the embedded tip from the skin. The papule or pustule should vanish when the tip is dislodged. However, wipe the area clean with alcohol to avoid any infection.
Step 4
Try a prescription medication. If the other methods fail to provide results, get a topical prescription of antibiotics, retinol, tretinoin, corticosteroid or glycolic acid. These prescriptions can help to improve ingrown hairs by killing bacteria, sloughing dead skin and reducing inflammation.
Tips and Warnings
- Preventing ingrown hairs can be as easy as moistening the skin and lubricating the hair with hot water and a pre-shave gel prior to shaving. You may also lessen the chances of ingrown hairs by shaving in the direction of hair growth as well as regularly changing the blades of your razor. Electric razors and depilatories are less likely to cause ingrown hairs than blade razors and waxing. Consider changing the way you remove hair to prohibit ingrown hairs.
- Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive shouldn't use topical medications containing retinol or tretinoin.
Things You'll Need
- Mirror
- Needle
- Tweezers
- Alcohol
- Cotton swab
- Toothbrush
- Topical medication
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