Ingrown hairs are normal hairs that grow under the skin layer rather than outside. A similar and more serious problem is beard folliculitis, which affects some men who shave their faces. The disorder is more common in people with frizzy hair, because the natural curl tends to direct the hair towards the skin. They become more often in the areas of the body where they are removed, especially after shaving, using tweezers or waxing. Learn how to safely remove an ingrown hair to reduce the risk of scarring or infection.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Hot Pack
Step 1. Apply a warm compress
Dip a cloth in very hot water and place it on the affected area; leave it in place for three to five minutes, until it cools down.
Repeat at least three to four times before trying any other remedies
Step 2. Tease the skin surface
After applying the heat several times, you can attempt to pull the hair out. Proceed very carefully, use a pair of tweezers or poke it gently; try to straighten it so that it grows properly again.
- Find the free end of the fur with the tweezers and carefully pull it out of the skin. You do not have to tear it completely, it is enough to free only the final part and make it come out of the epidermis; if you take it off, another grows in its place.
- Don't try to extract it at all costs; if you can't grab it with tweezers, wait until the next day and try again.
- Be sure to use properly sterilized alcohol tweezers.
Step 3. Leave it undisturbed when you soak it
Once the tip is free and taken outside, do not do anything for 24 hours; leave the skin to rest by continuing to apply the very hot compress every two or three hours. Check it every now and then to make sure the end remains free.
- The warm compress helps to keep the coat and skin soft;
- Do not pluck the hair, otherwise it may grow even deeper and reincarnate.
Method 2 of 4: Home Remedies
Step 1. Try exfoliation
It may be a useful method for this purpose. Remember to proceed with great caution in the affected area; make gentle circular motions to try to remove the hair. Make a homemade natural exfoliating product and avoid commercial ones.
- Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda, sea salt, or sugar with one or two tablespoons of olive oil. use a cotton swab or cotton swab to apply the resulting mixture to the infected ingrown hair.
- Use one or two fingertips to gently scrub the mixture in circular motions; initially, do three to five rotations clockwise and then proceed in reverse.
- When finished, rinse with warm water and pat dry.
Step 2. Moisturize your skin with honey
It can be an effective solution to this problem. This nutrient not only moisturizes the skin, but also acts as an antibacterial, helping to prevent infections; it also allows you to loosen and extract the free end of the hair.
- Take a cotton swab and apply a small amount of honey on the area to be treated; let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes or until it dries.
- After this time, rinse with hot water and pat dry; repeat twice a day.
Step 3. Apply a moisturizer
One thing that you must avoid is precisely that of drying the skin too much, otherwise it becomes more difficult to be able to extract the ingrown hair. When you try to remove it, you have to make sure that the epidermis is well hydrated; apply a little product on the infected hair after each treatment.
This feature allows you to soften the affected area, as well as reduce the risk of skin damage and scars
Method 3 of 4: Avoid Permanent Damage when Removing an Ingrown Hair
Step 1. Avoid "torturing" him too much
Ingrown hairs are annoying, especially when they form on the face; you may feel embarrassed or in pain. However, you should never try to intervene invasively by using tweezers, needles, pins or other similar items to force the hair out, otherwise you could increase the risk of infection or scarring.
- Do not break the surface of the skin by digging it, scratching it, cutting it and in any other way; you could trigger an infection, irritation, or leave scars.
- You can also think about leaving the hair undisturbed and waiting for the situation to resolve spontaneously.
Step 2. Do not remove the surrounding ones
If you have an ingrown hair, you shouldn't try to remove others in the same area. As soon as you notice its presence, you must immediately stop any shaving or hair removal process; Also avoid using tweezers or doing any other similar surgery until you have removed the ingrown one.
- Once you have extracted it under the skin, try not to disturb the area for a few days. If you are a man and the ingrown hair is in the area you shave every day, consider not shaving for a while.
- You can consider other hair removal methods, such as electric razors or hair removal creams.
Step 3. Be aware of the dangers of ingrown hairs
Their presence is irritating to the skin and can cause itchy or painful pimples to develop; the area may also become infected and filled with white or greenish-yellow pus.
- Sometimes, the pimple becomes darker than the surrounding skin, leaving a permanent blemish or scar.
- Ingrown hairs can lead to scarring, especially if you use a needle, pin, or other similar object to pull it out;
- In most cases, it is not necessary to see a doctor; however, if you are concerned that the hair is too deep or it hurts a lot, go to the doctor.
Method 4 of 4: Preventing Ingrown Hair on the Face
Step 1. Do not use products that contain alcohol
Ingrown facial hair is more common in men after shaving; to prevent this from happening, do not apply alcoholic aftershave.
- Alcohol dries up and irritates the skin, favoring the development of these annoying complications.
- Use moisturizing shaving products that contain vegetable oils or other hypoallergenic substances; this small detail helps reduce the chances of irritating the skin and worsening acne.
Step 2. Apply a warm compress before shaving
This is another remedy to prevent hair from growing under the skin; place a very hot or almost hot cloth on your face to moisturize the epidermis before shaving; the water softens the hair and skin, facilitating subsequent procedures. If you can shave smoothly, there is less risk of irritating your face, as well as the fact that a clean cut reduces the chances of ingrown hair.
- Keep the warm washcloth on your face for 3-4 minutes and don't hesitate to add more hot water to maintain the correct temperature.
- Alternatively, you can shave after a very hot shower.
Step 3. Massage your face with an oil or cream in circular motions
By applying the shaving product correctly, you soften the hair and prepare it for cutting. You should proceed with circular movements against the hair, to ensure that the oil or cream reaches the base of the beard; after applying, wait a few minutes before shaving.
- Slide the razor gently and without exerting excessive pressure, especially near the areas affected by acne;
- Check that the razor is well sharpened; often replace the blade or the entire razor as needed;
- After shaving, moisturize your face with a natural product, avoiding potentially irritating chemicals.
Step 4. Talk to your doctor about taking medications
Topical retinoids and antimicrobials, low-dose corticosteroids, and alpha hydroxy acids reduce the chances of ingrown hair. Ask your dermatologist for more information about eflornithine, an active ingredient to be applied locally and which slows the growth of facial hair.
Step 5. Consider laser removal
If you want to get rid of them permanently or have a chronic ingrown hair problem, you can consider laser treatments. It is a quick solution that acts on short hair leading to permanent results; however, it can be expensive, painful and requires several sessions, with the risk of scarring or blistering. Discuss this option with your doctor or dermatologist.
