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Most ingrown hairs will go away on their own without treatment after a few days; though, severe cases may take several weeks. If your symptoms don’t improve, your healthcare provider may need to prescribe medications that decrease inflammation and improve infections. Cosmetic products, such as shampoo, that contain peppermint oil may provide a means of applying peppermint oil topically to the scalp. Some trials on mice have found promising results related to peppermint oil and hair growth promotion, but more research is needed to determine if these effects apply to humans. There is not enough quality evidence to conclude that peppermint oil benefits hair growth in humans. While some animal studies on the effects of peppermint oil on hair growth have been conducted, there is a lack of research to conclude that peppermint oil promotes hair growth in humans.
When should I see my doctor?
For a severe infection, they can prescribe medication to treat it and coax the hair out. For example, prescription steroid creams can reduce inflammation, and prescription-strength antibiotic creams can treat the infection. If your infection is mild or infrequent, you may be able to use home remedies.
How do you get rid of an ingrown hair cyst?
If you often develop infected ingrown hairs, the doctor may take a skin sample for testing. You may have a higher risk for ingrown hairs and related infections if your hair is naturally coarse or curly. These hair types are more likely to curl back into the skin when growing out after hair removal. In rare cases, your healthcare provider may use a sterile surgical knife with a thin blade (scalpel) to make a small cut in your affected areas. They’ll squeeze out any pus and use sterile tweezers to remove the ingrown hair.
Best for Sensitive Skin

This after-shave oil contains coconut to treat and soothe the skin and features scent notes of grape, lavender, and passion fruit too. These dermatologist-recommended products exfoliate and soothe your skin. Exfoliation should be approached carefully, as it causes inflammation, which leads to hyperpigmentation and may not be very helpful in resolving ingrown hairs. Apply a warm, moist — not dripping — 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.
The other is salicylic acid, which can help break down the scales and flakes on your scalp so they wash away more easily. Hair grows around 0.35 millimeters each day, which amounts to 0.5 inches in a month and 6 inches in a year. If you are treating a sensitive part of the body, consider a product that utilizes a chemical exfoliant. What makes this particular treatment one of our favorites for the body is how easy it is to apply—no need for cotton balls or scrubs.
If it’s difficult to see the area, use extra lighting like an LED ring light and a magnifying mirror. This will allow you to grasp only the hair and avoid damaging your skin. A hair becomes ingrown if it grows back into your skin while being outside of its hair follicle.
More severe cases can result in painful lesions, similar to a boil. When left untreated, an infection can occur, and a scar may form. If your ingrown hair has looped or curled back into your skin, you can remove it by gently pulling it out with a sterile needle, pin, or tweezers. Thread the sterile needle, pin, or tweezers through the exposed hair loop.
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Exfoliating your skin removes a dead layer of skin cells and helps release ingrown hairs. Use warm — not hot — water and small, circular motions to wash your affected areas with a washcloth, exfoliating brush or exfoliating gel or scrub. Iman Balagam is a beauty contributor at Cosmopolitan with nearly four years of experience writing beauty stories that range from curling irons to collagen for hair growth. She’s an authority in all categories, but is an expert when it comes to hair oiling, thanks to years of personally researching and testing different hair oils to grow her thick hair.
What causes these bumps to form?
This method targets the hair follicle, and it’s usually permanent. And because the hair doesn’t grow back after treatment, you won’t have to worry about ingrown hairs. This may be due to preference, cultural values, or work requirements. Whatever the reason may be for wanting or needing to shave, there are other ways to prevent ingrown hairs.
“Avoid tight hairstyles and hair accessories that pull on the hair and handle your hair with care to minimise breakage and damage. For instance, if your hair tends to be dry, then “look for serums that contain oils to help hydrate the dry hair shaft,” says Dr. Shaver. You can also find hair growth serums that contain active ingredients that have been FDA-approved to promote hair growth, like minoxidil. When searching for an effective ingrown hair treatment, the ingredients and how they interact with that part of the body are two of the most important considerations. Some ingredients can be much harsher on the skin than others so it’s important to consider how your skin reacts to those ingredients, especially in sensitive areas like the pubic area and underarms. Targeted treatments like the Manscaped Crop Exfoliator are specifically designed to work on the pubic area with minimal irritation.
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These pads also shouldn’t be used right after shaving, so it’s recommended that you apply the treatment the day after you shave. One of the best ways to manage ingrown hairs is to choose an effective exfoliant that includes ingredients, like green tea and oat, that can soothe irritation and minimize razor bumps. After shaving, it’s best to apply the oil with the included dropper and rub into clean, dry skin to start the hydration process.
It's a bummer because even though I have a lot of hair, it doesn't look like much — leaving me with pretty sad-looking ponytails and buns. That's why I've prioritized thickening shampoos like this derm-approved one, which has a pretty impressive ingredient list. "It helps to restore strength in the hair shaft by repairing broken bonds that occur because of exposure to chemicals/dyes, heat, and UV rays." Han says this shampoo is a great pick for anyone with fine to medium hair since the formula is super lightweight, so it won't weigh your strands down. This budget-friendly shampoo's hair-strengthening combination of rice water and a key amino acid is super helpful for anyone with weak or brittle strands. Levine recommends this shampoo because it contains prebiotics and other natural ingredients that can help restore the proper pH balance of the scalp's microbiome.
It is also possible to develop a bacterial infection, especially if you are scratching at the ingrown hair. If you notice signs of infection—like pus, worsening pain, or lesions—see a healthcare provider so they can offer proper treatment. You can avoid this condition by not removing hair or not shaving very close to the skin.