How to Remove Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs occur when hairs curl down and grow back into the skin, or when pores become clogged because of dead skin and the hairs are forced to grow horizontally. Ingrown hairs often cause mild itching and pain, look like small red spots on the skin about the size of a pimple, and can become infected. Usually ingrown hairs will go away on their own, but if there’s a strand that’s too stubborn, try loosening it up by exfoliating and applying warm compresses, then using sterilized tweezers to pull it out.

Table of Contents

Facilitates ingrown hairs to heal on their own

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Wait about a week for the hair to grow back to normal. In most cases, ingrown hairs will go away on their own without any intervention. Usually, the ingrown hair will find a way to penetrate the skin barrier above. In the meantime, don’t pick or scratch the ingrown hairs. ^{[1] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

During this time, you should avoid shaving above the nodule. If you accidentally cut the skin, you run the risk of infection or the ingrown hairs will get worse.

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Apply acne medication to the ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs are quite similar to pimples, especially when accompanied by pus. You can apply benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid several times per day for several days. Combined with a daily exfoliation step, this is usually enough to treat ingrown hairs because it helps reduce swelling, giving the hairs more room to poke out instead of back into the skin. . ^{[2] X Research Source}

You can buy acne medication at drugstores.

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Apply a steroid cream to the infected ingrown hair site. If the ingrown hair site starts to ooze white or yellow pus, it’s infected. In this case, you must treat the infection before handling the hair. Do this by applying a bit of steroid cream to the infected area. Steroid creams will help reduce swelling and treat infections. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Some steroid creams such as cortisone are available without a prescription. If you need a stronger steroid concentration, see your doctor for a prescription for a steroid cream.

Pull ingrown hairs away from the surface of the skin

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Exfoliate dead skin cells to remove the layer of skin above the hair. Use an over-the-counter exfoliator or use an exfoliating glove to gently scrub the ingrown hairs twice a day. This step will remove dead skin cells, dirt, and oil that may be trapped underneath the ingrown hair, and can also help push the tip of the hair out from the skin. ^{[4] X Research Source} Try to work on the hair from different directions to loosen the surrounding skin as much as possible.

You can buy scrubs or loofah gloves at the supermarket or drugstore.

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Don’t hurt the surrounding skin when exfoliating. You need to exfoliate enough to peel off the skin above the hair, but avoid scrubbing too much, which can damage the skin. If the skin around the ingrown hair starts to burn, become red, or bleed, you need to stop immediately.

If you’re not sure, you can scrub more gently but longer, say 10 minutes.

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Apply a warm, damp washcloth to the ingrown hairs for a few minutes. Dip a towel in hot water, wring it out, and press on the ingrown hairs for 3-4 minutes. Continue dipping in hot water as the towel cools. This step will soften the skin and push the hairs up to the surface of the skin, making it easier to pull out. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If you can see the hair hidden in the skin, this can soften the hair and push it closer to the surface of the skin. If you can’t see the hair, keep applying it until it comes out.

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Pull the hairs up from the surface of the skin with a sterile needle and tweezers. It may take a while to pull the hairs out, so be patient and don’t cut the skin. After using the needle to expose the tip of the hair, you can use the pointed tweezers to pull it up. If possible, don’t pull out the hair completely; Just make sure the tip of the hair rises above the surface of the skin. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Sometimes you’ll find that the hair has a “hook”: the tip of the hair, instead of piercing through the skin, loops down or crosses. That means it starts to penetrate the skin. Try to get the needle through the loop and pull gently. Usually the tip of the hair will come out.
If you can’t see the loop after exfoliating and applying a warm washcloth, don’t poke a needle into your skin to find the hairs. You could injure your skin or cause bleeding if you do.
You can disinfect tools by boiling or wiping with rubbing alcohol, or by heating them until they are bright red. If you use heat to disinfect, be sure to wait for the tool to cool completely before using it.
Wash your hands before handling ingrown hairs and consider wearing nitrile gloves to prevent bacteria.

Prevent ingrown hairs

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Wash normally shaved areas with warm water and moisturizing soap. Hair in areas of your skin that you regularly shave are at the highest risk of ingrown. So keep these areas clean by washing them regularly. If ingrown hairs are common, you can apply an antiseptic solution to create an extra layer of protection against infection. ^{[7] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

You can also apply a topical cream daily to prevent ingrown hairs.

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Wash the area to be shaved with warm water. If you shave when your skin is dry, there is a high risk that you will have ingrown hairs and skin irritation. So wash your skin with warm water 2-3 minutes before shaving. You can also use a mild cleanser when washing. When applying shaving cream, you should let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes for the skin to soften before you start shaving. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Apply warm compresses to the ingrown hairs or take a warm bath to stimulate blood flow there.
Before shaving, you can lather up with soap or cleanser and massage your skin in circular motions. This step helps push the hair out of the hair follicle and reduces the risk of curling into an ingrown hair.

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Shave in the direction of hair growth. Although shaving against the direction of hair growth may be closer, there is less risk of ingrown hairs if you shave in the direction of hair growth. You should also not try to shave too closely. Hairs that are shaved too close often grow back under the skin and become ingrown hairs. ^{[9] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

The longer and straighter the hair, the less likely it is to curl down and back into the skin. Try using a single blade razor or shaver instead of a dual blade razor. In addition, you need to use a sharp, new blade. Dull and overused razor blades will spread bacteria and leave jagged edges on the hairs and cause more ingrown hairs.
Try applying cold compresses to your skin after shaving to constrict blood vessels and soothe the skin.

Advice

Sometimes, the ingrown hairs have penetrated deep into the skin without changing. If the above methods do not treat the hairs, see a general practitioner or dermatologist for a prescription for treatment. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Although ingrown hairs are common in people with curly hair, most people have ingrown hairs at some point in their lives.
Always make sure the razor is clean before use. You should also buy a good quality shaving cream, as some are even claimed to help prevent ingrown hairs.
Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer on areas prone to ingrown hairs. These products will not clog pores.

Warning

If the inflammation spreads beyond the site of the ingrown hair follicle or persists beyond a few days after the hair has been treated, you should see a dermatologist or general practitioner.
Try not to squeeze ingrown hairs or break them like you do with acne. You can damage or tear your skin and lead to a hair follicle infection.

Things you need

Clean towels and warm water
Sterile pointed tweezers
Small needle
Moisturizing cream or moisturizing lotion
Exfoliating Cream
Exfoliating loofah gloves
Antiseptics applied to the skin
Cleaning alcohol

Steps