African-American men, particularly those from ages 14 to 25, are susceptible to razor bumps, a condition also known as pseudofolliculitis barbae or ingrown hairs according to the Mayo Clinic. This happens when hair that has been shaved curves around and grows back into the skin. Symptoms include pain, itching and a red bump that may contain pus near the ingrown hair. Removing these bumps takes great care because of the risk of keloid scarring on African-American skin.
Step 1
Place a heat compress on your skin as soon as you notice the bump forming. This helps to speed the healing time. You can do this up to three times per day for five minutes per session.
Step 2
Inspect the ingrown hair area to see if you can see the hair loop that goes from the ingrown end of the hair to the root end of the hair. If you can see the hair, proceed to the next step. If you can't see the hair loop, that means the hair is embedded and you must not try to remove the hair yet. If this is the case, continue the heat compresses until the hair becomes visible.
Step 3
Sanitize a needle by placing it in alcohol for five minutes. Slip the needle under the hair loop, taking care not to pierce the skin. Gently pull up on the hair until the ingrown end comes out of the skin.
Step 4
Apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to the area where you removed the ingrown hair.
Tips and Warnings
- If the razor bump itches, you can apply hydrocortisone cream to the ingrown hair before pulling the hair out of the ingrown end of the skin.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you have signs of infection such as severe pain, foul discharge coming from the ingrown hair or if it feels hot to the touch. Additionally, if you have severely ingrown hairs, visit your doctor because you may need prescription medications to control the condition.
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