How to Remove Ingrown Hairs
An ingrown hair occurs when a piece of hair folds and grows back into a hair follicle. Often times, ingrown hairs go unnoticed and cause little discomfort. However, the hair follicle may become infected, in which the ingrown hair causes a painful lump. But, there are ways to quickly remove an ingrown hair and ease discomfort.
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Instructions
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Identify the ingrown hair. Ingrown hairs typically occur in the pubic area and the armpits. However, not every bump found in these areas are ingrown hairs. Before attempting to remove an ingrown hair, you need to make a distinction between an ingrown hair and a cyst. Examine the area closely. If the problem is an ingrown hair, you'll see where the hair re-entered the follicle. On the other hand, a cyst will feature a small fluid-like sac.
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2
Grab a pair of tweezers. To remove an ingrown hair, you'll need tweezers. Once you have the tweezers, disinfect them with alcohol. Disinfecting is important because it removes all germs and bacteria, and it lowers the risk of infection.
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Apply a warm compress. Prior to pulling out the ingrown hair, grab a wash cloth and soak it in warm or hot water. Next, apply the cloth to the ingrown hair for 10 minutes. The warm compress softens the skin and loosens the ingrown hair. Keep applying the compress until the ingrown hair comes to the skin's surface.
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Remove the ingrown hair. Once the ingrown hair is loose, take the tweezers and gently pull out the hair. Work slowly. This way, you don't cut your skin or push the ingrown hair back into the skin.
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Use a topical antibiotic. After you've safely removed the ingrown hair, apply a topical antibiotic or rubbing alcohol to the spot. This prevents infection.
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