An ingrown hair is one that’s grown back into your skin instead of rising up from it. It usually appears as raised, red, itchy spots on the skin. Sometimes you may see hair trapped under the skin.
People with coarse or curly hair are more likely to get an ingrown hair. They are likely to get ingrown hairs in areas they shave, such as face and neck, legs, armpits, chest, back and pubic hair. Waxing, plucking and threading hair can also lead to ingrown hairs. There are things you can do to treat and prevent ingrown hair.
The best way to prevent ingrown hairs is by not shaving. If you want to shave, or remove hair in another way, there are things you can do to prevent ingrown hairs and help them get better quicker.
- Wet your skin with warm water and use shaving gel
- Shave in the direction the hairs are growing
- Use as few strokes of the razor as possible
- Rinse the razor after every stroke
- Hold a cool, wet cloth to your skin after shaving to reduce irritation
- Use an exfoliating scrub to help release any trapped hairs
- Try a different hair removal method, such as hair removal cream
- Try a long-term way of removing hair, such as laser treatment
- Do not shave too close – leaving some stubble can stop bacteria from getting in
- Do not use a blunt razor – use a new, sharp, single-blade razor every time you shave
- Do not scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs as this can damage your skin and lead to infection