Ingrown hair occurs when a hair that's been removed starts to grow back and curves into the skin. This usually happens after shaving, tweezing or waxing. Hair structure and direction of growth play a role in ingrown hair.
Ingrown hair is very common. Anyone who shaves, tweezes or waxes their hair can develop ingrown hairs. If you shave often, you're more likely to have ingrown hairs. You're also more likely to have ingrown hair if you have skin of color or thick, coarse or curly hair.
Causes of an infected ingrown hair
Some ingrown hairs occur when there are too many dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. These cells can inadvertently clog up hair follicles. Ingrown hairs are most common in areas of hair removal, such as the face, legs, armpits, and pubic region.
Anyone can get an ingrown hair. But the problem is more common in people who have very curly or coarse hair. Curly hair is more likely to bend back and re-enter your skin, especially after it's been shaved or cut.
But, even if you don't remove the hair, the pressure from underwear or other clothing can push it down, causing an ingrown hair. This is why ingrown hairs can also be common around the pubic area or upper thighs. You'll often get ingrown hairs around areas that you shave or wax.
So what if you still get ingrown hairs even if you do prioritize exfoliation? Genetics might be to blame. "You may be perfectly following the exfoliating steps of your wax studio, but ingrown hairs are much more likely with coarse, curly hair," explains Dr. Palm.
“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.”
'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.
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.
*Use products that contain azulene, allantoin and witch hazel to reduce the redness and swelling caused by the ingrown hair.
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.
Share on Pinterest Ingrown hairs are not dangerous, but they can be painful. When a hair grows into the skin, a fluid-filled lump can develop, which may become a cyst. When a cyst forms, the area becomes swollen. A cyst may be hard, soft, large, or smaller than a pea.
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.
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.
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.
Most types of cyst look very similar. An ingrown hair cyst starts out as a small, red bump. Many people call these bumps razor bumps or razor burn, and their medical name is pseudofolliculitis. Over time, a bump, usually just one, may get bigger and form a cyst.
Moisturize liberally.
Moisturize your skin, even if it doesn't feel dry, to help soothe irritation and make ingrown hairs go away faster.. Doing so will keep your skin soft so your hairs can push out of your skin and your skin can heal.
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.
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.
If you develop ingrown hairs, Delaney recommends applying warm water compresses for 10 minutes, three times a day. “These compresses can help soothe irritated spots, remove any crust and reduce drainage,” she said. They also soften the top layer of the skin to help release the ingrown hairs.