When you develop an ingrown hair along the underarm, it simply means a hair has curved back and grown into the skin. It's most likely a result of shaving or waxing, but these little red papules can also develop from repeatedly plucking or tweezing the hair. Luckily, there are a few ways to effectively get rid of an ingrown hair once it's developed in the armpit region.
Step 1
Stop shaving or waxing your underarms. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology and the Mayo Clinic agree that one of the most successful ways to get rid of ingrown hairs is to just let the hair grow. The ingrown hair should dislodge itself from the skin in approximately three to four weeks.
Step 2
Try loosening the ingrown hair with a toothbrush. Simply move the bristles of the toothbrush in a circular motion over the papule in the armpit, suggests the American Academy of Dermatology. It'll take a day or two for the papule to fade away to know if the tip is no longer growing into the skin.
Step 3
Release the ingrown tip of the hair from the skin. Either a needle or tweezers can be used to grab the hair and gently lift the tip out of the skin, advises the Mayo Clinic. Take care not to break the skin or uproot the hair itself. Much like with the toothbrush, it may take upward of two days for the papule to fade away.
Step 4
Consult a doctor or dermatologist. For more persistent ingrown hairs in the armpit region, you may need a prescription cream to improve the condition of the skin. Doctors often prescribe corticosteroids, retinoids, antibiotics and glycolic acid, according to the Mayo Clinic and the Osteopathic College of Dermatology, to treat ingrown hairs. Daily application is necessary to remove dead skin, reduce inflammation and kill bacteria, which should reduce the papules associated with ingrown hairs.
Tips and Warnings
- Consider wiping the underarm with alcohol after removing the tip of the ingrown hair from the skin. This can help avoid infection if you accidentally break the skin with the needle or tweezers.
- The National Institutes of Health warn that retinoids, both topical and oral, shouldn't be used by women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. These prescription drugs have been linked to birth defects.
Things You'll Need
- Toothbrush
- Needle
- Tweezers
- Alcohol
- Cotton swab
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