Home » Ingrown Hair » How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs, Pubic, on Legs, Face, Neck, Bumps, Cysts, Scars, Treatment & Home Remedies

How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs, Pubic, on Legs, Face, Neck, Bumps, Cysts, Scars, Treatment & Home Remedies

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This page details how to get rid of ingrown hairs, bumps, cysts or scars. Although medically harmless, an ingrown hair on leg, face or neck can be cosmetically disfiguring. Besides, it may cause severe discomfort, itchiness, and pain. The discomfort affects more the ingrown pubic hair, ingrown hair in the armpit, on groin, labia or at the base of the penis and other hidden areas.

What Are Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hair refers to the hair shafts that are trapped and grow back into the skin instead of upward. Various factors can lead to the development of ingrown hairs. They can affect almost any part of the body that grows hair.

How ingrown hair develops
How ingrown hairs develops

The typical symptoms of ingrown hairs include severe itchiness and irritation and pain. Usually, the embedded hair shaft is also visible under the skin.

When they get infected, they may form painful pustules or pus-filled blisters or even boils. Often, they are also accompanied by other conditions such as hard bumps, cysts, scars.

What Causes Ingrown Hairs

Definitely, you will know how to manage ingrown hairs better when you understand how they develop and what causes them.

Basically, ingrown hairs develop when the hair follicle gets blocked or clogged. They might also appear when a sharp-tip hair curls and grows back into the adjacent skin. The causes and risk factors for ingrown hairs include:

  • Having a blocked or clogged hair follicles due to various reasons. This constricts the hair within the hair follicle.
  • Irritation of the skin due to poor shaving practices and techniques. This leads to irritated skin, which may block growing hair.
  • Shaving too close to the skin. The hair may retract into the skin and grow sideways instead of upward.
  • Inadequate natural exfoliation and lack of artificial exfoliation. This leads to blocked or clogged hair follicles
  • Wearing tight clothes, especially after hair removal, which may restrict the upward growth of the hair.
  • Having thick, coarse and curly hair, which tends to grow sideways or coil and poke the adjacent skin.
  • Hormonal changes, especially due to stress, periods or pregnancy, which lead to excessive skin secretions or hair growth.
  • Having a sensitive skin, which easily gets Similarly, having an oily skin, which produces excessive natural body oils (sebum)

How to Get Rid of an Ingrown Hairs

In most cases, you do not need to remove ingrown hairs because they usually clear up on their own. However, if the ingrown hair is deeply or firmly embedded and is unable to grow upward, you may need to get rid of it. Similarly, treatment is necessary if it gets infected or causes severe symptoms such as itching, pain, pus, blisters, and bumps.

As a general rule, do not scratch, pick at, squeeze, pull or pluck an ingrown hair, especially with your dirty hands. This might cause further irritation and possibly some scarring. What’s more, it may cause an infection on the affected hair.

There are general ways of getting rid of ingrown hairs anywhere on your body. However, a few adjustments may be necessary when dealing with ingrown hairs depending on the sensitivity of the skin in the area.

You need to be careful when removing ingrown hair from sensitive areas such as the genitals, pubic area, armpits and the face. On the other hand, ingrown hairs on legs and arms are far easier to treat.  Below are the common home remedies and medical treatments.

Home Remedies for Ingrown Hairs

Most of the following home remedies may be used to particularly remove mild ingrown hairs. Be careful not to use acidic substances on sensitive areas such as on genitals. If you are unable to remove the ingrown hair or it is deep and complicated, visit your GP for advice and treatment.

1. Apply a Warm Compress

Clean the affected area and apply a warm compress together with some antiseptic for a while. The idea is to soften the area help reduce the inflammation and swelling. This may clear the way for the trapped hair and let it grow upward from the skin. Perhaps this procedure is practical, especially for shallow ingrown hairs.

2. Milk and Bread Compress

This procedure is basically similar to that of a warm compress. Dip a piece of bread in hot milk. Remove it from the milk and when it cools down to a tolerable temperature, place on the ingrown hair for about 2 minutes. Repeat this procedure several times until the loop of hair shaft can be seen. Now coax the loop with a needle to set it free.

3. Exfoliate the Affected Area

In case a warm compress alone cannot dislodge the ingrown hair, try exfoliating the area. Using a washcloth or a fine tooth brush or a facial scrub, repeatedly rub the affected area in circular motion. Do this in different directions with the aim of trying to nudge the ingrown hair and set it free.

4. Apply a Raw Egg

Get a little raw egg white and apply it over the ingrown hair. Let it stay on until it dries and shrinks on the affected skin. Pull it off. It should come out with the loose end of the ingrown hair and thereby set it free.

5. Use Acne Medication

In case the ingrown hair is infected and there is pus, use acne over-the-counter medication. An infected ingrown hair normally has pustules or puss-filled blisters. You can use either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of aspirin and honey.

Apply the medication to the ingrown hair many times a day, each after exfoliation. Repeat this for two to three days. The pus will dry off and the inflammation and swelling will come down. This will clear the way for the trapped to grow out of the skin.

6. Apply Herbs and Other Substances

The following home remedies can help you get rid of ingrown hairs. In general, reduce inflammation and bring down the swelling and hence clear the way for the trapped hair shaft.  Furthermore, they can help relieve irritation and eliminate pathogens such as bacteria in case the ingrown hair is infected.

  • Lavender: It kills bacteria and reduces redness and inflammation in the affected area. Apply a few drops of lavender oil 2-3 times a day.
  • Turmeric: You can apply turmeric to the affected skin or take it orally. It helps reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. Apply 2-3 times per day
  • Fenugreek: It primarily reduces inflammation and brings the swelling. Make a paste from its seeds and apply it 2-3 time per day.
  • Tea Tree Oil: It eliminates bacteria, reduces redness and inflammation. Apply the oil to the affected area. 2-3 times per day.
  • Evening Primrose Oil: It predominantly reduces inflammation in the affected area. Apply 2-3 time per day.
  • Sugar Scrub: Make a sugar paste with some olive oil and apply it to the affected skin. Sugar helps to exfoliate the skin and release the trapped ingrown hair. On the other hand, olive oil kills bacteria and reduce swelling and inflammation.
  • Baking Soda: It exfoliates the skin and soothes the inflammation. Apply to the affected area 2-3 times per day.

7. Dislodge it with a Sterile Tweezers or Needle

You can use a pair of tweezers or a needle to tease out an ingrown hair. This may be especially necessary if the hair is embedded under the skin such that warm compress or exfoliation alone can get it out.

Prepare for the removal by first Sterilizing your needle or pair of tweezers using rubbing alcohol. In case you go for tweezers, chose pointed tweezer because they will not damage your skin as much as flat ones. Now follow this procedure:

  1. Wash the affected area with a mild antiseptic cleanser and clean water. This is to ensure that the area is free from dirt as well as pathogens, especially bacteria. In case there is a scab over the ingrown hair, carefully peel it and gently push out any pus in the area.
  2. Apply a warm compress using a towel or a piece of cloth dipped in warm water for about 10 minutes. This will reduce inflammation and further soften the affected skin area.
  3. Exfoliate the affected area with a wash a cloth, a sponge or a skin scrub. Do this in circular motions and in different directions to bring the hair closer to the surface of the skin. You may need to do this for a while in cases the ingrown hair is deep into the skin.
  4. Carefully tug the loop of the ingrown hair shaft and with the sterile pair of tweezers or a needle. Gently pull it out such that the free end comes out of the skin. Do not dig into your skin too much. In case you ant see the loop of the ingrown hair, give it time and try later after further exfoliation.
  5. In case the dislodged ingrown hair is too long, you may trim it. However, do not pluck it out of the skin after you have released it. This will only cause further irritation.
  6. Lastly, clean the area and treat it. Wash it with warm water and a moisturizing soap. Dry the area and apply an anti-inflammatory cream such as Aloe Vera, which also has antiseptic properties. You can also apply a topical antibiotic in case there was an infection.
How to remove an ingrown hair with tweezers or needle
How to remove an ingrown hair with tweezers or needle

Medical Treatment for Ingrown Hairs

These medications will generally bring down inflammation and swelling and treat any infection. As a result, the ingrown hair will be released and grow upwards from the skin. If this does not free the hair, your doctor may remove it with tweezers or a needle.

1. Over-the-Counter Medications

You may use the following over-the-counter medications according to instructions to treat your ingrown hairs.

  • Benzoyl peroxide cream to reduce redness and inflammation and dry up the lesion
  • A non-greasy moisturizer can help remove dead skin cells and body oil clogging the hair follicles.
  • Salicylic Acid to help get rid of dead skin cells and body oils on the skin.
  • Fading creams such as 2% hydroquinone to help improve any residual discoloration.

2. Prescription Medications

Your doctor may prescribe the following medications depending on the severity of your ingrown hairs. Steroids creams to bring down inflammation

  • Retinoids such as tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A) to clear dead skin cells and body oils clogging the hair follicles. (pregnant women should not us retinoids because they may affect the fetus and lead to birth defects)
  • Topical antibiotics such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ilosone) and clindamycin (Cleocin), may be prescribed to cure a mild infection.
  • Oral antibiotics such as tetracycline (Sumycin) or cephalexin (Keflex, Keftabs), to treat severe infection characterized by pustules or abscess.
  • Fading Creams such as hydroquinone 4% (Eldoquin), kojic acid, azelaic acid 15%-20% creams, to restore skin color in case of skin discoloration.

3. Removal with a Tweezer or Needle

Your ingrown hair might be complicated because it is deep under the skin. In such cases, our doctor may decide to remove the ingrown hair using sterile tweezers or a needle.

Pubic Ingrown Hairs

Use mild medications that will not irritate the sensitive pubic are. You may want to avoid acidic medications, which may worsen the itching caused by the ingrown hairs.

Ingrown Hair on Face

Choose a method that will cause the least irritation. In case of removal, do it gently to avoid causing further disfiguring your face further. You may want to visit your doctor to do the removal for you.

Ingrown hair on Legs and arms

You may use any appropriate solution discussed above to get rid of ingrown hairs on your legs or arms. Visit your doctor in case you are unable to remove them.

Ingrown Hair on Genitals (Penis or Vagina)

The genial area has a sensitive skin. Therefore, be careful which medications you use in order not to cause irritation. You may need to non-acidic medications or ensure that they are dilute enough not to cause any harm to you.

How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair Bumps

You do not need to treat uninfected ingrown hair bumps, especially after dislodging the trapped hair shaft. Normally, they will gradually dissolve and disappear. However, you may need to apply antibiotics in case they are infected.

How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair Cyst

Like ingrown hair bumps, you do not need to treat ingrown hair cysts. They will dissolve and disappear on their own with time. However, if they are infected, you may need to apply topical antibiotics. In case they are causing discomfort or are unsightly, your doctor may carry out a minor surgical procedure and drain them.

How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair Scars

Ingrown hair scars (keloidal scars) are harmless and do not need treatment. However, in case they are disfiguring your skin your doctor may remove them using the following treatments:

  • Laser scar treatment
  • Chemical peels
  • Punch technique
  • Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion

Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe the following creams, gels, and lotions to fade away the scars.

  • Retin A cream
  • Glycolic acid lotion
  • Melarase creams
  • AMBI Fade Cream
  • Bio oil – for mild fresh scars
  • Mederma Advanced Scar Gel
  • Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Gel
  • Philosophy “Miracle Worker” Dark Spot Corrector

What is the Healing Time after Removal?

Ingrown hairs will completely heal about one week or two after removal and treatment. However, complications like bumps, cysts or scars may take longer to disappear completely.

When to see a doctor

You may need to  visit your doctor in case of the following:

  • The ingrown hairs are causing severe pain and itching even after using some home remedies
  • You are unable to remove the embedded hair, probably because it is a deep one or it is just complicated.
  • Bumps or pus-filled blisters persist for more than a week despite applying home remedies
  • You suspect that it might be a different condition rather than an ingrown hair.

After successful treatment, you definitely do not want to have them again.  So how do you prevent ingrown hairs from occurring or recurring? Follow the link for useful details and advice.

References
  1. How to Remove an Ingrown Hair: https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-an-Ingrown-Hair
  2. Can Herbs Help You Get Rid of Ingrown Hair? https://www.livestrong.com/article/96563-herbs-ridding-yourself-ingrown-hair/
  3. How to Remove Deep Ingrown Hairs: https://www.livestrong.com/article/216360-how-to-remove-deep-ingrown-hairs/
  4. Treating and Preventing Ingrown Pubic Hair: https://www.healthline.com/health/treating-preventing-ingrown-vaginal-hair
  5. Home Remedies for Ingrown Hair: https://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-ingrown-hair.html
  6. How to Remove an Ingrown Hair Quickly: https://www.bustle.com/articles/57123-how-to-remove-an-ingrown-hair-quickly-easily-and-without-any-lasers-whatsoever

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