How to Relieve Ingrown Hairs
An ingrown hair results from having a hair break off just beneath the surface of the skin, or very close to the skin. When the hair grows back into the hair follicle, it becomes an ingrown hair. The irritating red bump can often cause discomfort. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help ease the irritation of an ingrown hair and even remove it.
Things You'll Need
- Warm compress
- Tweezers with rubber tips
- Peroxide
- Loofah sponge or exfoliating mask
- Witch hazel
- Sensitive skin shaving lotion
- Single-blade razor
- Medicated aftershave (optional)
Instructions
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Place a warm compress on the ingrown hair area to relieve inflammation. This can also soothe the pain and pressure of an ingrown hair.
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Clean the ends of a good quality pair of tweezers with rubber tips by swabbing them with peroxide.
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3
If the hair protrudes enough, use the tweezers to grasp and pull the hair beyond the skin surface.
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Exfoliate the area with a loofah sponge or an exfoliating mud mask. This can remove much of the skin which is trapping the hair under the surface, allowing you to remove the hair.
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Treat the ingrown hair area with witch hazel to help ease any stinging and/or irritation.
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Skip a few days of shaving, if possible, to give the hair time to grow out. If you have to shave, shaving in the direction of the hair growth with a moisturizing or sensitive skin shaving lotion can help. Using a single-blade razor and only crossing the area once can also help limit irritation, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
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Avoid the use of aftershave or cologne, unless it is a medicated aftershave. Cologne and standard aftershave can irritate the skin, causing more pain in the area of the ingrown hair.
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Tips & Warnings
Some ingrown hairs will require a doctor's treatment to prevent infection. If the irritation persists, contact your doctor.
