Ingrown Hair: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

ingrown hair treatments

Picking at the hair can increase the risk of an infection spreading or worsening. If the infection becomes severe, a doctor may recommend antibiotics or other treatment. If you continue having infected ingrown hairs in the same area, such as your face, you might consider other methods of hair removal, such as laser treatment.

Best Drugstore Ingrown-Hair Treatment

"If an ingrown hair persists after about two weeks or begins to worsen in appearance, I recommend seeing a dermatologist for help," Engelman says. One very useful product is adapalene gel, an over-the-counter retinoid medication. This medication can be applied to areas with ingrown hairs to help gently exfoliate until the ingrown hair appears at the surface of your skin.

Best Ingrown Hair Treatments to Heal and Prevent (Tested and Reviewed for

It's especially helpful to reduce redness after waxing or shaving. We especially love that it's cruelty-free and is made in the U.S.. We should note, however, that this product contains alcohol, which could sting if you have cuts, open sores, or pustules. We love this exfoliant as a final step in the shower since it's designed to keep razor burn at bay. After shaving, apply a thin layer of Jack Black Bump Fix with a cotton pad, and continue using it as often as every day to prevent razor burn and bumps.

Derm-Approved Home Remedies for Treating Ingrown Hairs

Within just two days of use, the red bumps that had plagued me for years were significantly reduced. No, you should not try to pop or squeeze the affected area because not only can this damage your skin, but it can also result in an infection. If your infection is mild or infrequent, you may be able to use home remedies. If infections recur or are severe, you may need medical treatment. "Ingrown hairs often occur after shaving, tweezing, or waxing, and can be found in any area where hair grows, such as the face, legs, armpits, and pubic area," Engelman says.

Ingrown Hair Removal: How to Get Rid of an Ingrown Hair SELF - Self

Ingrown Hair Removal: How to Get Rid of an Ingrown Hair SELF.

Posted: Fri, 19 Aug 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

How we reviewed this article:

"It’s possible to remove visible ingrown hairs with the help of a sterile needle and tweezers," Palm says. This method will only work if you have one or two ingrown hairs and no other symptoms. If you have more severe symptoms or widespread razor bumps, it’s better to wait for the condition to resolve on its own or reach out to a healthcare provider. Use gentle soaps to clean areas around the ingrown hair and prevent infection.

How do you treat infected ingrown hair?

Fwiw, I love this one because it’s so gentle on my skin—shout out to aloe vera and vitamin E—and the gel texture easily comes off in the shower. I smooth this on once or twice a week at night, and that’s it—a one-and-done step. Formulated by the hair removal device company, nood, to be used in conjunction with their at-home IPL(Intense Pulsed Light tool for hair removal), this cleanser is gentle enough to use every day. It's also got antioxidants in it to help brighten and rejuvenate skin.

How we picked the best products to prevent ingrown hair

ingrown hair treatments

We recommend that you use it as an aftershave and it shouldn’t be worn outside in direct sunlight without sunscreen. This pre-shave bar is also super soothing, thanks to its use of skin-nourishing shea butter, jojoba, and aloe. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies.

While experts told us manual exfoliants can irritate ingrown hairs, you can use them on non-irritated skin between shaves, so long as you don’t have dry or sensitive skin. Selfmade (one of our favorite AAPI-owned brands) sent me its True Grit Resilience Scrub to try, and it has a gentle yet gritty feel that leaves my skin feeling soft after I massage it in. The scrub is made with chemical exfoliants like ascorbic acid, an AHA that is the most powerful form of vitamin C, experts told us in our guide to dermatologist skin care routines. It also has tea tree oil to unclog hair follicles, according to the brand. I use this scrub on my legs and underarms once or twice a week, but you can use it daily if your skin tolerates it, according to Selfmade.

5 Ingrown Hair Treatments That Keep Bumps At Bay - Refinery29

5 Ingrown Hair Treatments That Keep Bumps At Bay.

Posted: Thu, 11 Aug 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Exfoliation should be approached carefully, as it causes inflammation, which leads to hyperpigmentation and may not be very helpful in resolving ingrown hairs. These products range from serums to lotions, toners and pads that are gentle exfoliants. You can also try to release the trapped hair at home if you can see the hair shaft just under the skin surface.

"I encourage patients not to pick at ingrown hairs on their own because it can cause damage, scarring, or infection, especially if sharp tools are used," says Engleman. Ingrown hairs are common among people who shave, especially those with curly hair. If that’s not an option, try different shaving techniques to see if they help. Give yourself a good rubdown with this body scrub from Nubian Heritage.

This AHA-BHA combo claims to remove dead skin cells to expose trapped hairs before they have a chance to grow inward. The strong smell might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it doesn't contain any potentially irritating synthetic fragrances. After shaving, it’s best to apply the oil with the included dropper and rub into clean, dry skin to start the hydration process. While we picked this as a great treatment for your legs, it can be used all over the body to help prevent ingrown hairs. How to prevent ingrown hairs mainly revolves around proper hair removal techniques.

Most ingrown hairs will subside fairly quickly if you leave them alone. However, if an ingrown hair is really bothering you or lasts more than a couple of weeks, make an appointment to see your primary care doctor or a dermatologist. What you probably don't want to do is remove the deep ingrown hair yourself. This puts you at risk of damaging your skin or causing an infection, which often isn't worth the risk considering that a large percentage of ingrown hairs go away on their own. Deep ingrown hairs frequently arise when a hair has been removed and then starts growing back and curves into the skin. Properly preparing for hair removal can also help prevent ingrown hairs.

We talked to experts about how to treat ingrown hair at home and how to know when you should see a dermatologist. Experts also shared tips about how to prevent ingrowns, who may be more prone to them and why popping them is the worst thing you can do. If you shave, tweeze, or wax your hair, you can develop ingrown hairs.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Awasome Women's Opal Wedding Rings Ideas

Hippo Home Insurance Review 2022 Buy Coverage Online Today

Refresh Your Summer Wardrobe With These Fashion Brands