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An ingrown hair can become infected and treatment may require topical or even oral antibiotics. If the ingrown hair is causing significant irritation or pain, you can apply a topical corticosteroid once or twice a day for three to four weeks to reduce the inflammation. If the bump is very inflamed and large in size, a healthcare provider may recommend a corticosteroid injection.
A pharmacist can help with ingrown hairs
Hence, it can be useful as long-term therapy in individuals with excessive facial hair or patients who have pseudofolliculitis barbae. The diagnosis of ingrown hair is typically very straightforward and based on the skin's appearance. In some cases, a small skin biopsy may be used to help the doctor confirm the diagnosis. Other times, a skin bacterial culture may be taken by a cotton-tip applicator to assist in determining an infectious cause. In the meantime, it is best to avoid shaving until your symptoms have improved; it can take anywhere between one to six months for razor bumps to get better. Other notes from the experts include using as few strokes as possible to avoid shaving too closely and shaving in the direction of hair growth.
How to prevent ingrown hairs
These methods can include intense pulse light therapy or prescription creams to reduce hair growth. Such preventive measure can help decrease the risk of deeper infections and scarring. If your ingrown hair has looped or curled back into your skin, you can remove it by gently pulling it out with a sterile needle, pin, or tweezers. Thread the sterile needle, pin, or tweezers through the exposed hair loop.
Management and Treatment
As we mentioned, ingrown hairs can get infected and become even peskier than they already are. This happens when bacteria from the skin’s surface get into the follicle; it could be from an accidental tear in the skin or from poking at an ingrown hair with unclean hands or tweezers, Dr. Clay explains. An infected ingrown hair will likely be painful, red, swollen, and may have a yellowish green fluid draining from it, she adds. After applying the warm compress, you can very gently exfoliate the skin that’s trapping the hair. This helps remove dead skin cells so the hair is more likely to emerge, Dr. Goldenberg says.
This could cause scarring, hyperpigmentation, serious health complications and more severe inflammation. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. As important as it is to get rid of an ingrown hair, it’s also crucial to start thinking about how to prevent the next one from cropping up. Many reviewers say that this popular razor provides a "close shave," is "great for sensitive skin" and doesn't cause razor burn. While shaving can be a rather mundane task, your razor doesn't have to be!

Wearing clothing like this over an area where you have an ingrown hair can only make the situation worse. So, opt for loose fitting, cotton clothing that won’t rub against the problem area. Simply apply a drop or two of pure tea tree oil to ingrown hairs once a day to discourage infection and inflammation while promoting healing.

If you shave, tweeze, or wax your hair, you can develop ingrown hairs. If you shave often, you're more likely to have ingrown hairs. You're also more likely to have them if you have skin of color or your hair is thick, coarse, or curly. Curly hair is more likely to bend back and reenter your skin, especially after it's been shaved or cut. Hair removal is the root cause of ingrown hairs, since they occur when hair starts to grow back and curves to burrow into the skin. Shaving is a big culprit because pulling on your skin as the razor glides can draw hair back into the skin, and shaving also gives hair strands a sharp edge that makes piercing the skin easier.
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Make sure you are shaving in the direction the hair is growing. Shaving against the grain can increase your chance of developing an ingrown hair since this can cause the sharp tip of the hair to retract into the skin. The most effective way to prevent ingrown hairs is to stop shaving. If you allow your hair to grow out fully, there won’t be an opportunity for the hair to become ingrown. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe oral antibiotics to treat infection. In severe cases, you might need chemical peels, photodynamic therapy (light therapy), or laser therapy.
The more often you replace the blade, the less likely you are to experience cuts and irritations like ingrown hairs. Some experts also recommend using a single blade razor to discourage ingrown hairs, especially on the face. Always rinse your face (or other area of your body) and apply a natural moisturizer when you’re done shaving.
"I apply this stuff about two times a day and I swear my skin is softer, basically no chafing or ingrown hairs!" raved one five-star Target reviewer. Or, you can use a topical antibiotic lotion or a short course of topical steroid cream to reduce inflammation. Shave in the direction your hair naturally grows and rinse off the blade following each stroke.
The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Ingrown hairs are irritating, but most of the time they can easily be treated in the home. There will be a painful bump and swelling, and you may notice pus. Don’t dig for the hair, as this increases the risk of causing or spreading an infection.
It can be tempting to pop an ingrown hair, especially if you can see a pustule around the hair follicle. Applying a warm compress to the area can calm any inflammation and itchiness, as well as soften the top layer of your skin, making it easier for the ingrown hair to break free, Dr. Goldenberg explains. You might be able to see an ingrown hair as a tiny loop with both ends stuck in your skin.
Ingrown hairs are hair follicles that grow in the wrong direction. Getting rid of them can be even more challenging than getting rid of pimples, but there are some great natural remedies you can try. If you have an ingrown hair on your scalp, we recommend gently washing your hair — and making sure to massage your scalp — with tea tree shampoo (try Paul Mitchell’s)! Tea tree oil is nature’s salicylic acid and has antiseptic properties, so it will gently exfoliate the ingrown and prevent it from getting infected. If ingrown hairs on your scalp don't clear up in about a week, Sadick suggests seeing a dermatologist.
Shaving creates a sharp edge on hair, making it easier to pierce the skin. It's not common, but you can develop a staph infection from ingrown hairs if they're not treated. Symptoms include a pimple at your ingrown hair's follicle, warmth or swelling around your ingrown hair, fever, or a general feeling of illness.