Remove an Ingrown Hair

An ingrown hair is a hair that curls back on itself. While ingrown hairs more commonly occur in individuals with curly hair, almost everybody will develop one at some point in their life. If you shave regularly, you may have to deal with ingrown hairs more commonly than the average person. Got one now? Follow these instructions to treat the issue and keep it from coming back.

Steps

Sharp device

  1. Use a sterile needle, tweezers or a rotable medical device for ingrown hairs to gently tease the hair out of the skin. Use the warm compress first––this should bring the hair to the surface––don't dig for the hair if you can't easily get at it. Don't pluck the hair out completely if you can avoid doing so; just make sure that the ingrown end is out of the skin. It may take a little time to coax the hair out, so persevere and do not cut the skin.
    • Sometimes you'll see a loop of the hair close to the surface of the skin. This means that the tip of the hair has begun growing down into the skin. If you get a needle in the loop and tug lightly, the end will often come loose.
    • If you choose to use tweezers, remember that tweezers can be bought either pointy or flat-tipped. A pointy-tipped pair may cause less damage to the skin around the hair if used carefully. Another choice might be to use a rotable medical device for ingrown hairs which does not damage the follicle or the surrounding skin.

Keeping the skin clear of ingrown hairs

  1. Wash the area around the (formerly) ingrown hair with warm water and moisturizing soap. Apply an antiseptic to provide extra protection against infection. Avoid wearing tight clothing on that area, and exfoliate regularly to prevent new ingrown hairs. You may wish to apply a daily topical solution to prevent any further ingrown hairs from developing.
    • Sometimes, the ingrown hairs may not budge at all because they may be placed in very deep. If these methods do not work, talk to your doctor or dermatologist to get a prescription medication.

Compress

  1. Apply a warm, moist compress to the area for a few minutes. This will soften the skin.
    • Just wet a washcloth with hot water, wring it out, and press it against the ingrown hair. When the washcloth cools down, run it under hot water again.
    • If you can see the ingrown hair embedded in the skin, this treatment will soften the hair and bring it closer to the surface. If you can't initially see the hair, leave the warm compress on until it rises to the skin's surface.
    • If you apply the compress for ten minutes, and you still can't see any sign of hair, you're not going to be able to remove it yourself, or it might be something else altogether. And while you're fretting over your skin, this might be a good time to Check for Skin Cancer.

Egg membrane

  1. Remove the membrane from inside an eggshell.
  2. Cover the problem area with the membrane.
  3. Let it dry and shrink around the area.
  4. Pull it off once dry. The ingrown hair should come out with it.

Acne medication

  1. Apply a dab of acne medication. Ingrown hairs are pretty similar to pimples, especially when the ingrown hair is accompanied by pus. Apply benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid several times a day for a few days. This, combined with daily exfoliation, is often enough to remove the ingrown hair, since swelling will be reduced, giving the hair more room to grow out (rather than in). If you don't have acne medication on hand, you can try using the aspirin method or adding a dab of toothpaste.

Warm milk and bread compress

  1. Warm up a small amount of milk. Don't make it too hot.
  2. Dip a piece of bread into the milk.
  3. Place the bread on an ingrown hair/or boil. It may feel too hot, but it won't be (unless you made the milk too hot).
  4. Leave the dipped bread on. Remove when it feels cool; this will be about 2 minutes.
  5. Repeat the dip and hold during about 10 minutes.
  6. Check for an opening of the pore. Use a needle to pull up the loop of hair and free it.
    • If you cannot see the opening, repeat the dip and hold. If it fails to open, see your health professional for advice.

Exfoliating

  1. Exfoliate the area. Twice a day, scrub the ingrown hair gently. This will help to remove any dead skin cells, dirt, and oils that might be trapping the ingrown hair. It may also physically nudge the tip of the hair out of your skin. Try to hit the ingrown hair from a variety of directions. Use an exfoliating glove or ingrown hair brush, and try one of the following exfoliating techniques:
  2. Be gentle. You'll need to exfoliate enough to achieve this effect, but not so much that the area surrounding the ingrown hair starts to bleed.
    • When in doubt, exfoliate more gently but for a longer period.
    • Note! It's very difficult to remove an ingrown hair from under a scab. In this case, it might be best to use a different method, or consult your doctor.

Tips

  • Always make sure razor is clean before use. Invest in a good quality shaving cream too, as some kinds even say they prevent ingrown hairs.
  • Try not to squeeze the ingrown hair as this can either damage the skin, making it raw or break through the skin, which can get it infected and/or harder to heal.
  • Make sure to keep the area very clean. Washing the specific area very thoroughly every time you take a shower will help.
  • You can (almost) sterilize your tools by boiling in water or by cleaning with alcohol (contrary to popular belief, alcohol does not kill everything under the sun, but is better than leaving the tool untreated).
  • If you can't see the hair initially, leave the warm, moist compress in place for a while longer.
  • If it burns or has reddish bumps after, use a moisturizing cream to spot away redness. Vaseline works very well too.
  • Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer on any area prone to ingrown hairs. Non-comedogenic products don't clog pores.
  • The longer the hair, the less likely it is to curl back into the skin, so try shaving less closely by using a single-blade razor or electric shaver instead of a multi-blade razor.
  • A company called "Razoraid" makes a tool that looks like a needle with a slightly curved end (not quite a hook, but almost). This tool can get under, and lift, ingrown hairs easily. Of course, you could make your own by bending the tip of a sewing needle or hat pin if you were frugal.
  • Don't shave unless necessary. If you shave every day most of your hair grows quicker, but not all of it. That is where an ingrown hair comes from.

Warnings

  • If the inflammation extends beyond the immediate area of the hair follicle or persists for more than a few days after the hair has been freed, consider visiting a dermatologist or your primary care physician.

Things You'll Need

  • Clean washcloth and warm water
  • Sterile needle-nose tweezers or a small needle
  • Topical antiseptic
  • Moisturizer or moisturizing lotion
  • Ingrown hair

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