It is not uncommon to have an ingrown hair on your penis, especially at the base of your penile shaft. Ingrown hairs on penis are usually associated with hair removal because they tend to appear after shaving. However, they may develop due to other factors such as having curly hair. When infected, they may be painful and hurting. Explore facts, pictures, causes, signs and symptoms of ingrown hair on penis. Also, learn how to get rid of them with medical treatments and home remedies.
Signs and Symptoms of Ingrown Hair on Penis or Penile Shaft
You may experience the following signs and symptoms when you have ingrown hairs on your penis or penile shaft. These changes take place when your body responds to the foreign material under the skin (the ingrown hair). However, be careful because these signs and symptoms may be an indication of other health conditions on your penis.
- Hard painful bumps around or at the base of the penis
- Cysts around the affected hair
- Itchy skin around or at the base of the penis
- Pain and Swelling
- Redness around the affected hair
- Fluid-filled blisters on the affected area
Causes of Ingrown Hair on Penis or Penile Shaft
Various factors encourage the development of ingrown hair on penis. Basically, the causes revolve around the nature of your skin, your hair and hair removal procedures.
1. Cutting the Hair Beneath the Skin
Cutting the hair too close or beneath the skin leaves a smooths skin. However, when the hair starts to regrow, it might curl and be trapped under the skin. The hair growing under the skin will irritate the surrounding skin. This may also lead to the formation of ingrown hair bumps or cysts.
2. Poor Shaving Techniques
Poor shaving techniques include tugging and pulling the hair while shaving or pulling the shaver at the skin. Such techniques may irritate the skin around the hair follicle on the penile shaft at the base of the penis. Normally, this encourages the development of ingrown hairs.
3. Hard and Curly Hair
In case you have hard and curly hair around or at the base of your penis, you are likely to develop ingrown hair. Curly hair will easily get trapped and coil under the skin. Similarly, course hair easily penetrates the skin and may be trapped under the skin as it grows.
4. Skin Sensitivity
If your skin around your private parts is sensitive, you are more likely to develop ingrown hair on your penis. Sensitive skin is easily irritated while shaving, especially around the hair. As the hair starts growing back, it may be easily trapped by the swollen skin.
5. Other causes
- Using regular soap to take a bath. Such soaps are likely to clog hair follicles which in turn encourage ingrown hairs.
- Wearing too tight clothes: Studies show that wearing too tight clothes may affect the skin in such a way that ingrown hairs show up. Coincidentally this is a trending fashion for both men and women nowadays.
Pictures of Ingrown Hairs on Penis or Penile Shaft
We have inserted pictures of ingrown hair on penis in various sections of this post. The images show the typical appearance of ingrown hairs on penis. You can use them to get a hint of your health problem. However, you should not use the pictures for self-diagnosis. Instead, visit your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Infected Ingrown Hair on Penis
Occasionally, ingrown hair on penis or penile shaft gets infected. This happens because an ingrown hair causes irritation on the penile skin. The irritated delicate skin makes it easy for bacteria or fungus to enter through the irritated skin and cause an infection.
Infected ingrown hair is characterized by painful bumps or pus-filled blisters. The risk of your ingrown hairs getting infected is increased by poor hygiene, In addition, scratching the affected area due to itchiness, especially with dirty hands puts you in the danger of an infection.
How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair on Penis or Penile Shaft
Ingrown hairs on penis should not be a cause for concern, especially when they are not infected. Usually, they go away naturally when the hair eventually grows out of the skin. However, this might take up to a few weeks depending on the seriousness pf the hair condition.
Nevertheless, you can help get rid of ingrown hair on penis faster using various treatments and home remedies. Sometimes, you may want to physically remove it for even faster relief. Here are some of the common solutions to ingrown hairs on penis.
Treatments for Ingrown hair on Penis
A number of over-the-counter creams can help get rid of ingrown hairs. They also sooth burning and itchiness and also cure infections in case of any.
1. Salicylic Acid
Apply salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These products keep your hair follicles open, and hence reduce chances of hair getting trapped in the hair follicle.
2. Benzoyl Peroxide Cream
Benzoyl peroxide creams can help dry up the affected area and reduce redness as the ingrown hair heals.
4. Appropriate Moisturizers
Apply a non-greasy moisturizer to remove dead skin cells. These often block the follicles and lead to ingrown hairs.
Home Remedies for Ingrown Hair on Penis
The common home remedies for ingrown hair on penis help relieve pain and itchiness. Besides, they can help prevent infection or cure the ingrown hair faster in case it is infected.
1. Hot Compress
A hot compress will get rid of swelling bumps due to the ingrown hair on your penis. It will also help soothe the pickling and itchiness.
Dip a face towel in fairly hot water for a few seconds and ring out all the excess water. Rub the hot towel on the affected area gently while applying a little pressure. Repeat this twice a day.
2. Cold Compress
A cold compress will particularly soothe irritation and itchiness on the ingrown hair. It provides a quick relief to the discomfort by temporarily numbing the affected area.
Gently apply a cold compress to the affected skin for a few minutes and remove it alternately. Repeat this a number of times to get relieved.
3.Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps relieve redness, swelling and itching. It also cures and prevents infections.
Apply dilute tea tree oil on the ingrown hair for about 10 minutes. Repeat this procedure twice a day to get rid of the ingrown hair.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe and prevents irritation. It also helps exfoliates the skin in the affected area.
Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda into 1 cup of water. Use a cotton ball to apply it to your skin, and then rinse with cold water. Repeat this procedure twice a day.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has anti-microbial properties that cure and prevent infections, bumps and cysts due to ingrown hair. It also helps soothe the burning or itching sensation that normally accompanies ingrown hairs.
Extract and apply Aloe Vera gel to the affected area and let it dry on it. Repeat this twice a day for a few days.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid that cures and prevents infections. Also, it is a natural anti-inflammatory and hence will help relieve swelling and redness on the irritated skin. In addition, it soothes burning and itchiness on the affected skin.
Apply apple cider vinegar on the affected area using a cotton ball for about 10 minutes. Repeat this twice a day to get relief.
How to Remove Ingrown Hair on Penis or Penile Shaft
Use the following procedure to remove ingrown hairs on your penis or penile shaft. Be careful not to pluck out the hair completely: only remove the embedded end from the skin.
- Apply a warm compress to soften the skin around the ingrown hair to prevent irritation during removal.
- Use sterilized tweezers or a needle to gently pull out the embedded end of the ingrown hairs, one by one.
How to Prevent Ingrown Hair on Penis or penile shaft
You can take various measures to prevent, stop or avoid ingrown hairs on your penis or penile shaft. Observe the following to keep ingrown penile hairs at bay:
1. Treat the Affected Area before Shaving
You can minimize the risk of ingrown hair on penis by treating the affected area before hair removal. Begin with washing the area with some soap and dry the area. Then apply a lubricating shave cream or gel, or any appropriate specially tailored for the affected area. Wait for a while and begin shaving.
2. Soak the Hair in Warm Water before Shaving
In case you have really coarse hair on the base of your penile shaft, you may want to first apply soak it. Wash the area with warm water for a while to give it time to soak. Let it dry before rubbing on the lubricating shave cream or gel. After a while begin shaving.
3. Use Proper Shaving Techniques
When shaving, observe the following measures. They will reduce tugging and pulling as well as irritation of the skin around the penis or at the base of your penile shaft. This will minimize chances of developing ingrown hair.
- Always shave along the grain. Don’t ever dry-shave
- Always shave with sharp blades
- Do not shave too rapidly
- Do not pull at the skin while shaving
- Do not apply too much pressure while shaving
- Do not cut the hair too close to the skin or beneath the skin
- After shaving moisturize the skin with appropriate after-shave
2. Exfoliate Before and After Shaving
Exfoliation gets rid of dead skin on your private parts. The presence of dead skin may clog the hair follicles leading to ingrown hairs.
5. Avoid Multiple Blade Razors for Hair Removal
A single-bladed razor will minimize chances of tagging and pulling hair while shaving. This is not the case with multiple blade razors (double, triple e.t.c razors) in which hair may entangle as you shave.
6. Use Special Razor Blades for Hair Removal
There are razors that are specially designed to reduce the chances of ingrown hairs in various ways. You can acquire and use these special razor blades to prevent ingrown hair on penis.
7. Use Non-Razor Hair Removal Methods
Opt for non-razor hair removal methods such as by chemical depilatory. This is the use of chemicals to remove hair. Chemical depilatories are available in different forms: cream, gel lotion, aerosol, roll-on and powder. Common ones include Veet, Nair and Magic Shave, which are available over-the-counter
8. Use Long Term Hair Removal Techniques
You can avoid ingrown hairs by using semi-permanent hair removal techniques that decrease the frequency shaving. Sometimes, some prescription creams are used after these hair removal procedures to further reduce hair regrowth. Some of the common permanent hair removal techniques include:
- Waxing: This is a technique that removes hair from the root. It takes up to 6 months for hair removed by this method to regrow. Although may experience some skin irritation after waxing, ingrown hairs are not likely to develop.
- Laser Hair Removal: In this procedure, unwanted hair is removed by destroying hair follicles with pulses of laser light. It takes up to 6 months for hair removed by laser treatment to regrow.
- Hair removal by Electrolysis: This procedure employs an electrode to destroy the hair root. More than one treatment over a few weeks is required for complete hair removal.
When to See a Doctor
Check the progress of the ingrown hairs on your penis from time to time. In case they don’t get better, it might be a sign that they are infected or they are different penile health conditions. See your doctor in case the following happens
- The ingrown hairs develop swollen and painful bumps or blisters that that won’t heal. Your doctor will find a helpful solution for your condition
- The ingrown hairs do not get better even after trying the suggested home remedies. This might be an indication of an infection which your doctor will treat.
Sources and References
[showhide type=”links” more_text=”Show Sources and References” less_text=”Hide Sources and References”]
- Ingrown Hair on Penis: Facts on Ingrown Hairs & How to Remove Them: https://natadviser.com/ingrown-hair-on-penis/
- How to remove ingrown hair on penis: https://ask.metafilter.com/51737/How-to-remove-ingrown-hair-IN-penis
- How long does it take for an ingrown hair on penis to go away? https://answers.webmd.com/answers/5086566/how-long-does-it-take-for-an-ingrown-hair-on-penis-to-go-away
- Ingrown Hair/Lump On Shaft Of Penis: https://www.steadyhealth.com/topics/ingrown-hair-lump-on-shaft-of-penis [/showhide]