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.
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.
Picking or popping the ingrown hair will only increase your risk of infection because it exposes the follicle to bacteria. Picking the skin can also cause scars. Although ingrown hairs can be uncomfortable at times, they're best left alone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 hairs are not usually dangerous, but they can be intensely painful. If an infection is left untreated, it may worsen or travel to the blood.
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)
Over time — if the ingrown hair doesn't go away — the small bump can transform into a much larger one. The resulting bump can be red, white, or yellow. It may also be painful to the touch.
not picking or scratching an ingrown hair as bacteria can enter the small wound created, increasing your risk of infection and can cause scarring. avoid squeezing the spots because it can damage the skin and lead to infection.
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.
Scars can result from ingrown hairs that become infected. The appearance of these scars or excess melanin can often be improved with at-home treatments. It's easiest to treat a scar that's newly formed, once the underlying infection has healed completely. Older scars are harder to remove completely.
To help expedite the process, you can also apply a warm, steamy cloth over the affected area. If you notice a loop of hair at the surface, you can use sterilized tweezers to gently pull the trapped hair out, but don't dig around for it. Follow up with rubbing alcohol to help prevent any infection.
Apply aftershave moisturizer
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.
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.
Parissa Ingrown Rescue Soap treats and prevents ingrown hair. This gentle cleanser is formulated with tea tree oil to purify pores and soothe inflamed skin caused by waxing and shaving or other types of hair removal.
“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.
To reduce your risk of ingrown hairs, exfoliate your legs before shaving with a body scrub. This process doesn't take too much time and can leave your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated. Body scrubs can clean your pores, remove dirt, and expose healthier layers of skin.
You could also use a loofah or invest in a brush with soft bristles; both feel great against your skin. With a small amount of gentle soap, rub the loofah or brush against the skin in a circular manner. This helps to dislodge embedded hairs and discard dead skin cells.