Ingrown hairs can be treated at home using a variety of methods. Here are some tips and ingredients that can help:
Home remedies:
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Warm compresses: Apply a warm, moist washcloth for 10 to 15 minutes, three or four times a day. Warm compresses soften your skin and may help ease inflammation and discomfort by allowing your skin to open and drain if there’s any pus present. Once the skin opens, if the ingrown hair is visible, it can be grasped carefully with clean angled tweezers and the hair pulled out. Help the skin heal quickly by keeping the area clean and applying antibiotic ointment.
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Over-the-counter ingrown hair products: The market has exploded with skin care products with different ingredients to help with ingrown hairs. Major online beauty and drug stores carry these products. Look for products made with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which are chemical exfoliants that get rid of dead skin around and on top of the ingrown hair. Avoid harsh, irritating ingredients while treating ingrown hairs, which can worsen irritation and inflammation. This includes products with heavy fragrances and strong alcohols like rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, as well as physical exfoliants and abrasive scrubs.
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Gentle exfoliation: Exfoliation should be approached carefully, as it causes inflammation, which leads to hyperpigmentation and may not be very helpful in resolving ingrown hairs. Use a non-comedogenic oil or a chemical exfoliant like lactic, glycolic, or salicylic acid to help surface ingrown hairs. After a shower or cleanse, apply the acid for 30 seconds to a minute to let it start working on unclogging those pores. Apply a non-comedogenic oil.
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DIY treatments: Some DIY ingredients like oatmeal can help reduce inflammation after ingrown hairs occur. Mix 1 tablespoon of oatmeal with enough water to make a paste. Apply the paste to the affected area and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Products:
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Fur Ingrown Concentrate: This product contains tea tree oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties and helps prevent the ingrown hair from getting infected. It also has chamomile extract to minimize redness and coconut, tamanu, and grape seed oils to hydrate and soften skin. Before applying the concentrate, exfoliate with the included finger mit in the shower.
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PFB Vanish + Chromabright: This product contains salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which are chemical exfoliants that get rid of dead skin around and on top of the ingrown hair. It also contains Chromabright to brighten skin. Apply after showering.
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European Wax Center Ingrown Hair Serum: This serum contains glycolic acid, tea tree oil, and lavender oil to prevent and treat ingrown hairs. It also has a version that tackles discoloration.
Its important to note that if the hair is completely under your skin, avoid the temptation to poke the area with a sharp object and dig out the hair. This can lead to infection and scarring. Please see a healthcare professional for help in this situation.
