How to remove ingrown hair

Hair that curl back and grow inside the skin surface instead of growing out of the skin are known as ingrown hair. Also known as razor bumps and pseudofolliculitis barbae, ingrown hair appear as small red spots and are often associated with itching.

Most often ingrown hair goes away on their own; however, they are highly prone to microbial growth and recurrent cases may lead to folliculitis. Folliculitis barbae is a condition caused due to infection of an ingrown hair with the common pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Fungal infections and viral infection in the ingrown hair follicle may also cause folliculitis barbae. This condition is characterised by inflammation and formation of pus-filled bumps on the shaved areas, which are usually painful.

Most commonly an ingrown hair appears due to improper shaving, tweezing or waxing, however, just getting through with all of these procedures doesn’t mean you are safe from an ingrown hair. Also, people with coarse or curly hair, have a tendency to develop ingrown hair. It occurs most commonly in areas where you shave frequently such as:

• Beard area (cheek and chin)
• Armpits
• Legs
• Pubic area

Hair growing in these areas have a sharper edge. Because of this, they can easily penetrate back into the skin. While not much can be done about naturally curly hair, you can certainly take extra care of your skin to prevent ingrown hair. Mentioned below are some easy ways you can keep ingrown hair at bay.

Follow a good skin care routine

Accumulation of dirt, debris and dead cells do not leave enough space for new hair to grow. So, instead of growing outside, the hair curls back and re-enters the skin or grow sideways (lateral direction). Wash your face with a mild skincare product of your choice twice a day and then exfoliate.

Exfoliation removes dead cells and debris from skin, leaving it clean soft and supple. Exfoliation also reduces the chances of ingrown hair after shaving. A wide variety of exfoliators are available in the market. You may choose a natural or chemical exfoliator as per your choice. Another alternative is to use an exfoliating sponge for clearing the skin.

Good shaving technique
If you cut your hair very close to the skin, leaving an extremely sharp edge. Some of them might penetrate the skin back resulting in an ingrown hair.

So a proper shaving technique would ascertain that your hair doesn’t get to curl or grow inside the skin. Here are some easy pointers that may guide you to the right way of shaving so as to prevent ingrown hair.

• Use a sharp, single bladed razor for shaving
• Always wet the skin with lukewarm water and use a gel or foaming cream before shaving
• Your shaving direction should be the same as the direction of hair growth
• Use lesser strokes
• Wash the shaving instrument after every stroke to remove all the debridement.
• Try not to shave too closely to the skin. Leaving a few millimeters of hair will ensure that infectious bacteria do not have any space to grow.

Wear comfortable clothes
People who wear very tight fitting clothes that get rubbed frequently over skin are much more prone to ingrown hair. This is because the friction makes the hair to turn around and grow inside the skin. To prevent this condition, always choose well-fitted clothes that provide enough aeration to your skin and do not create friction.

Change your hair removal techniques
If you have naturally curly hair or if shaving frequently causes you to suffer from ingrown hair, it may be time to switch over to some other hair removal options like:

• Chemical hair removal: Hair removal creams and gels are one of the safest and hassle-free ways to get rid of excess hair growth without the risk of ingrown hair. These are made from chemical substances that melt the hair follicle almost to the end, so there isn’t enough hair to curl inside the skin. You can certainly try this method if you don't want to spend much but want a clear skin without any red bumps.
• Laser hair removal: Hair removal by this method is long lasting, often permanent, and treats large areas of skin at once. This procedure involves the use of laser beams to burn your hair follicle and no follicle means no new hair growth. On the downside, it is a costly procedure and may lead to scars, blisters or skin darkening.
• Electrolysis: Electrolysis is yet another expensive but permanent solution for hair removal. In this process, mild electric current is passed through an electric probe to the hair root. Just like laser removal, electrolysis also kills hair follicles but it is a much more lengthy process and takes several rounds for completion.

So, you did everything right and still got an ingrown hair? The best thing you can possibly do is to calm down and leave it undisturbed. Let it grow naturally. Usually, the redness and bumps subside on their own within a few days.

However, if you got a really stubborn one that does not seem to leave without intervention, here are a few things you can do:

• Use of washcloth: A washcloth is your best bet against ingrown hair. They clean dead skin and debris and are also effective in pulling out the ingrown hair from your skin. All you have to do is put a soaked washcloth over the affected area and leave it there for a few minutes.  Just make sure you use lukewarm water. This will hydrate and soften your hair so it can be easily pulled out.
• Soft Toothbrush: If you are not able to clear out an ingrown hair with a washcloth, try using a soft bristle toothbrush. Move the dry brush in a gentle circular direction over the ingrown hair. This will help in unclogging of the pore so the hair will uncurl itself.
• Using tweezers and needles: This can only be done when you are able to see a  part of the ingrown hair above the skin. Never try to poke or scrape your skin, otherwise, it may worsen the condition by giving way to a  bacterial infection. Use a sterile needle or tweezers to hold the part of hair above the skin line and try to pull it outside.
• Avoid aggravation: Most people have a tendency to touch, poke or scratch an affected area of the skin. Just like every other condition, ingrown hair may also get aggravated by this habit. Avoid scratching, picking and squeezing the area. Doing this may damage the skin, creating a wound site for infections. It can also cause scarring over the area which you probably never want to happen.
• Mild antiseptics: Ingrown hair is often associated with redness, itching and pus. However, pus does not always confirm infection and there's still something you can do by yourself. Wash the area with a mild antiseptic and see if it clears out by itself. In most cases, it would. You can also apply essential oils like tea tree oil. These oils have strong antimicrobial potential which prevents the ingrown hair site from being infected with pathogenic bacteria. 

Ingrown hair can be easily managed at home, however, in case your skin bumps become excessively painful and swollen with continuous pus discharge that doesn’t seem to go with any remedy, it is best to consult a doctor. Pilonidal cyst refers to an outgrowth on the lower back area that contains ingrown hair along with fluids or pus. It may vary in size and usually needs draining and surgical intervention for complete removal.

Our body reacts to most foreign agents in a similar way. There are many other possible skin condition that have similar presentation to ingrown hair. An appointment with an expert may help you differentiate these conditions.

• Acne or pimples: Most commonly an ingrown hair on the face is confused with acne or pimples, both of them grow with inflammation and pain but acne is usually infected skin or clogged skin pores.
• An abscess: It is an accumulation of pus in an area, which may occur due to various reasons
• A cyst: It is a cavity filled with fluid, gas or pus Initially it appears as a small swelling, which is easy to mistake for an ingrown hair.
• Eczema: It is a condition in which the skin becomes dry, itchy that can secrete clear fluid when scratched. The symptoms of eczema often appear very similar to that of ingrown hair
• Impetigo: It is a bacterial infection of superficial layers of skin that is highly contagious. It appears as a red patch with a yellow covering that is usually itchy and painful
• Pustular psoriasis: It is a form of psoriasis marked by red, scaly skin with pus-filled blisters. Psoriasis occurs due to the buildup of skin cells and most commonly affects fingers and toes.
• Mollascum contagiosum: It is a viral infection with a similar presentation as ingrown hair and often spreads by sharing towels and clothing.
• Keratosis pilaris: This is a skin condition in which hard plugs of keratin (a hair protein) forms within the hair follicle. It gives a rough and dry appearance to the skin and often affects the arms and thighs.