Ingrown hairs are annoying, and they often seem to come at random. Ingrown hairs can be a result of shaving, waxing or even a hair growing the wrong way. People with thick hair are often more prone to ingrown hairs, but everyone can get these irritating, painful bumps. So how do you get rid of them? Here are five ways to fight those pesky ingrown hairs.
- Exfoliate.
Gently scrub the area twice a day with an exfoliating glove or a hairbrush made specifically for ingrown hairs. This is important because it removes dead skin cells, dirt and oil that build up on the hair follicle and trap the hair inside. Exfoliation may also allow the hair to pop through the skin. Don’t scrub too hard, though, or you risk irritating the skin around the ingrown hair, which can cause bleeding or an infection. - Use over-the-counter products.
An over-the-counter astringent can help reduce swelling and make it easier to get that pesky hair out. Also try a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide, which can help clear the area of possible infection that may have caused the ingrown to begin with. It can also help prevent ingrown hair in the future. - Consider acne medicine.
Talk to your dermatologist or start with something over-the-counter from any drugstore. Apply a dab of acne medication to the ingrown hair. Using the medicine along with exfoliation is often effective at removing ingrown hairs. It reduces swelling and allows the hair to grow outward, instead of inward. - Draw out ingrown hairs with a warm compress.
Wet a washcloth with warm water and press it against the ingrown hair. Repeat as the washcloth cools down. If you can see the hair, a warm compress can soften the hair and bring it closer to the surface. If you cannot see the hair, leave the compress on until the hair becomes visible. Leave the compress on for 10 minutes, re-wetting the cloth as needed, and if the hair does not rise to the surface, try another method or see your doctor to make sure it is an ingrown hair and not another issue. - Pull out the ingrown like a splinter.
Just like when you have a splinter, a needle or tweezers can gently pull an ingrown hair out from under the skin. Be careful not to cut your skin though, as it may cause infection.
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