To remove an ingrown hair, gently exfoliate your skin. Exfoliating your skin removes a dead layer of skin cells and helps release ingrown hairs. Use warm — not hot — water and small, circular motions to wash your affected areas with a washcloth, exfoliating brush or exfoliating gel or scrub.
Apply warm compresses to the cyst for 10–15 minutes several times a day. These might bring the cyst closer to the surface, allowing it to drain. If the hair is trapped under the skin, warm compresses may help it grow out. Apply an antiseptic solution, such as tea tree oil, to the cyst to prevent infection.
Start by applying a warm compress to the area, since the heat will soften the skin, says Dr. Solomon. Then, very gently, exfoliate the skin trapping the hair. “Move a washcloth or clean, soft-bristled toothbrush over the area in a circular motion for several minutes,” she suggests.
Ingrown hair occurs when a hair that's been removed starts to grow back and curves into the skin. Shaving, tweezing or waxing can cause this to happen. An ingrown hair can cause tiny, swollen bumps on the skin that may hurt. The condition most often affects Black people with curly hair who shave.
To treat ingrown hair, stop shaving, tweezing or waxing until the condition improves — usually 1 to 6 months.
Ingrown hairs can look like raised, red, itchy spots on the skin. Sometimes you can see a hair trapped under the skin. You may be more likely to get ingrown hairs if you have coarse or curly hair. Infected ingrown hairs can be painful.
Ingrown hair cysts occur when a hair follicle gets blocked and the hair grows into your skin instead of outward. You should never pop an ingrown hair cyst because it can cause infection and scarring. They may go away on their own, but if they hurt, become red, or ooze pus, see a healthcare provider.
One ingrown hair may form a cyst — a red, yellow, or whitish lump beneath the skin. These cysts are usually no cause for concern, and they may resolve on their own. A doctor may only recommend treatment if a cyst causes pain or other symptoms, or if it becomes infected or inflamed.
Ingrown hair and ingrown hair cysts can appear anywhere the hair removal process happens, often in the pelvic region. Cysts are painful and unfortunately won't go away on their own due to the fluid trapped under them. Once an ingrown hair cyst reaches this stage, it's wise to refer your client to a dermatologist.
Never pop an ingrown hair cyst, as this can increase your risk for infection and scarring. You also shouldn't try to lift the hair out with tweezers like you might with a normal ingrown hair.
When to see your doctor. Mild ingrown hair infections often clear up on their own without treatment. However, you should see your doctor if the infection worsens or doesn't improve within a few days. Your doctor can identify an infected ingrown hair through a physical examination of the skin.
Ingrown hairs that do not resolve on their own may require treatment by a dermatologist. This includes depilatories for hair removal, topical antibiotics, topical creams, laser therapy and/or medical removal of the ingrown hair.
PFB Vanish + Chromabright should be used after showering, and with ingredients including salicylic acid and glycolic acid, the roll-on product works to unclog pores and brighten areas of scarring caused by previous ingrown hairs or nicks from shaving.
“Once the skin opens, if the ingrown hair is visible, it can be grasped carefully with clean angled tweezers and the hair pulled out,” advises Dr. Bullard. “Help the skin heal quickly by keeping the area clean and applying antibiotic ointment.”
A dab of antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) can also help. But if redness forms around the ingrown hair or it starts to ooze with pus and becomes tender, visit your dermatologist, stat.
Get into the habit of applying cold water or witch hazel to your face immediately after shaving or waxing. Both can reduce irritation, tighten pores, moisturize, and help treat ingrown hairs. Witch hazel also stops bacteria from growing in hair follicles.
If you can see an ingrown hair beneath the skin, apply a warm, damp compress for a couple of minutes to soften the skin, says Rodney Basler, MD. Then sterilize a needle or tweezers and pluck the hair. Follow with an antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
Exfoliate
'Using a naturally grainy exfoliant is one of the best treatments for removing ingrown hairs. Exfoliation helps improve cell turnover and removal of dead skin cells whilst at the same time cleansing the affected area,' says Dr Liakas.
For starters, ingrown hairs often appear in clusters of raised red bumps. They also often cause fluid-filled cysts to appear which may feature a white or yellow head (much like an infected pimple), plus they can become itchy and sore. Skin cancer lesions, on the other hand, tend to appear as single moles or bumps.
avoid squeezing the spots because it can damage the skin and lead to infection. if an ingrown hair is near the surface of your skin, you can use a sterile needle or tweezers to gently tease it out - don't dig for the hair if it lies deep below the skin's surface.
Vaginal folliculitis looks like a pimple on the inner thighs, labia, or pubic mound area. You can tell the difference between an acne pimple and vaginal folliculitis by looking for a hair. If there's a hair in the middle of the bump, it's genital folliculitis or an infected hair follicle.
Blocked hair follicles range in severity from mild to severe. They start out looking like small and irritated red pimples. Over time, they may look like pus-filled lumps, cysts, or boils. They may abscess and drain pus and blood.
If you already have ingrown hairs, massage the area gently with the washcloth or a soft toothbrush. Rinse the area with water. Massage the area with your shaving cream of choice, using a moderate amount of lather. Avoid shaving on dry areas—reapply lather as often as you need to.