How to get rid of ingrown hair

Majority of the people who shave, wax or remove hair in any other way, tend to have ingrown hair which can be quite irritating. Ingrown hair are actually the hair which curl back inside the skin and grows. People with curly hair are more prone to get ingrown hair. You can get ingrown hair on almost any part of your body like the face or the neck, pubic area, etc. Ingrown hair cause a lot of irritation in form of itchiness. It is important to remove ingrown hair as they might become infectious. People who shave or remove hair in any other way, tend to suffer more because of frequent ingrown hair.You can easily get rid of the ingrown hair by following the simple steps given below

Complexity level: Basic

Time required: 10-15 minutes

Resources required:

1. Body scrub
2. Needle
3. Acne medicine
4. Warm water
5. Towel
6. Soap
7. Plucker

Instructions:

1. Exfoliate skin regularly:

• It is recommended to scrub the skin regularly. As far as the ingrown hair are concerned, you need to scrub that particular area two times in a day.
• Exfoliation helps in removing dead skin cells, dirt and oil that are capable of trapping ingrown hair.
• With proper exfoliation you will also be able to get the tip of the hair out of the skin. Do not rub intensely. Exfoliate your skin with gentle hands so that the skin does not start to bleed or gets abraded.

2. Apply acne medicine:

• Ingrown hair are pretty much like acne and may also be accompanied with pus which makes the situation all the more difficult.
• You can apply benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid on the affected area till it is healed.
• Team this method with daily exfoliation to get rid of the ingrown hair soon.

3. Apply hot water pack:

• Use a clean towel or other piece of cloth and dab it in hot water.
• Put this towel above the affected area and apply some pressure with your hands.
• Repeat this many times, replace a cold towel with hot one by dipping it in warm water again. This way, the hair inside will get softened and will soon pop out of the skin. This is a pain free and effective method of removing ingrown hair.

4. Use a needle:

• Use a sterilized needle to bring out the ingrown hair out of the skin. Do this very carefully else you might cut the skin.
• Place a warm towel above the affected area and then use a needle to take out the ingrown end outside.
• In case you notice a loop of hair on your skin, it is a sign that the tip of the hair has started growing down the skin. You will have to put the needle in the loop and gently take out the ingrown part of the hair.

5. Clean the area:

• Once you have removed the ingrown hair, do not forget to clean the area with a good moisturizing soap and water. Apply a good antiseptic cream above the area to prevent any infections.
• Once you are done with ingrown hair, you must continue exfoliating the skin to avoid further inner growth of hair.

Frequently asked questions:

What should be done in case the ingrown hair becomes swollen?

In case the ingrown hair becomes swollen, you must see the doctor as soon as possible to avoid risk of serious infections. Apply a topical ointment on the surface for immediate relief.

Quick tips:

If you do not have acne medication, you can opt for household toothpaste and apply that to the affected area.

Things to watch out for:

1. Do not over exfoliate the skin.
2. Never avoid an ingrown hair.
3. Consult a good doctor if you are not able to remove the ingrown hair on your own.