Digging into the skin to pull the hair out can cause an infection. It is also important not to pluck the hair out, as this increases the chance that the hair will be ingrown again as it grows back. The inflamed area surrounding the hair needs time to heal completely before removing the hair again.
Don't tweeze ingrown hairs. Before shaving wash the affected area using a warm washcloth or soft-bristled toothbrush. Use a circular motion for a few minutes. Apply a warm, damp cloth for a few more minutes.
Removing Ingrown Hair
Wet a clean washcloth with warm water and hold it against the area for 2 minutes to soften the hair. Then, rub the washcloth in a circular motion to bring it to the surface. As a last resort, you can use sterilized tweezers or a needle to gently work out the embedded end of the hair.
If the ingrown hair becomes infected, the bumps may continue to grow and fill with more pus. They may be more painful, red, and irritated than ever before. People who experience ingrown hair over large areas may require medical treatment as well.
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.
Keratin, as well as air and skin cells, can collect in these sac formations and result in large bumps under the skin. The build-up of these sacs is the biggest difference between regular ingrown hairs and a cyst.
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. At this point, the hair is embedded far too deep underneath the bump or cyst for you to pull it out.
“Just like you might with a deep or painful pimple, use a warm compress to help soften the skin and bring the infection closer to the surface,” says Dr. Yadav. “Then cleanse the area and use a sterile pointed tweezer to carefully expose the hair and remove it.
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.
There's a chance an ingrown hair could heal on its own in as quickly as a week or two, Dr. Hayag says, but it may take longer if it gets infected. Sometimes it takes around a month, according to the Mayo Clinic, but it can take up to six months for hairs that are really stuck in there.
Ingrown hair that doesn't clear up can lead to: Bacterial infection (from scratching) Patches of skin that are darker than usual (postinflammatory hyperpigmentation) Raised scars that are darker than surrounding skin (keloids)
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.
Washing the affected area with soap and warm water.
Rubbing the ingrown hair in a circular motion for 10 to 15 seconds with light pressure can soften skin and encourage the hair to pop out.
Oftentimes, an infection of an ingrown hair can start off as a red bump. As the infection progresses, you may see pus and the bump may grow larger. The area around the infected ingrown hair may also: appear red and irritated.
If you get an ingrown, it's best to leave it alone until the bump and redness disappear. Dr. Gross recommends using a warm compress, and eventually the hair will grow out on its own. You should also hold off on grooming the area (that means waxing, shaving, and plucking) until the ingrown has cleared up.
Ingrown hair that doesn't clear up can lead to: Bacterial infection (from scratching) Patches of skin that are darker than usual (postinflammatory hyperpigmentation) Raised scars that are darker than surrounding skin (keloids)
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.
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.
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.
Ingrown hair cysts will often go away on their own in a week or so. 3 If you can, stop shaving the area while it heals, and keep the area clean and moisturized.
Oftentimes, an infection of an ingrown hair can start off as a red bump. As the infection progresses, you may see pus and the bump may grow larger. The area around the infected ingrown hair may also: appear red and irritated.
The most common symptom of an ingrown hair is redness and inflammation of the skin. This is followed by pus formation. If left untreated, or allowed to happen repeatedly, permanent scarring can occur. But each person may experience symptoms differently.