How to Properly Care for an Ingrown
Ingrown hairs are certainly annoying, but they’re generally harmless. The main issue is figuring out how to A. make them less painful and B. get rid of them.
An ingrown hair forms when hair becomes trapped under your skin. This in turn causes irritation and inflammation. People with thick and curly hair tend to be more susceptible to ingrowns.
“Ingrown hairs develop when the free edge of the hair does not clear the skin’s surface and instead grows back into it,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “This can lead to a red, angry bump that often becomes infected.”
Wondering whether or not it’s an ingrown? It should look like a pimple and it will most likely feel painful.
If you think you might have one, try our tips for caring for an ingrown hair. These should really help you out!
Attack it with Acids
Did you know the cure for ingrowns is exfoliation? That’s right. If you want to see the back of that pesky painful hair, try exfoliating the affected area using acids like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic. Unlike physical exfoliants, acids quickly and easily loosen the outermost layer of skin cells to treat and prevent ingrown hairs.
What product you use depends on the area you need to address. If it’s the bikini area, you can get away with pre-soaked swipe pads or a small tube of serum, but if it’s for a larger surface area like your arms or legs, you’ll need a formula with a thinner consistency. Make sure you follow up with sunscreen, as acids make the skin more vulnerable to sun damage.
Dab the affected area with a few drops of Truly’s Blueberry Kush CBD Body Oil to tackle ingrowns and irritation. It’s loaded with lactic acid and salicylic acid to clean, clear, and dissolve dead skin.
Scrub it
Another great way to banish ingrowns: physical exfoliation.
“Regular, gentle exfoliation will help remove and reduce flaky skin around the opening of the hair follicle and can begin to release any ingrowing hair,” says board-certified cosmetic and surgical dermatologist Jody Levine.
Scrubs can effectively alleviate ingrowns around your bikini line and body. Opt for a gentle sugar or salt scrub and apply in the shower, massaging it into the area for 2-3 minutes to unclog pores and help get rid of ingrown hairs.
Truly’s Matcha Body Scrub is a gentle, sugar-based scrub that utilizes green tea, glycolic acid, and vitamin A to remove dead skin, reduce blemishes, and soothe the skin.
Stop Shaving
Shaving isn’t bad exactly. The main issue with shaving when you have an ingrown is that a razor cuts hair at a sharp angle, making regrowth more likely to grow as an ingrown hair. That’s why it’s best to stop shaving for a few days until the ingrown has gone away.
Waxing is the best hair removal practice to weaken new hair growth and prevent ingrowns. Alternatively, consider other methods like depilatory creams or electric shavers for hair removal without worsening or causing ingrowns.
Apply Tea Tree Oil
To ease the pain and prevent your ingrown from getting infected, try applying tea tree oil to the affected area. Tea tree oil has natural antiseptic properties which help exfoliate the ingrown and prevent infections from occurring.
Tweeze it!
Has your ingrown surfaced? While most derms recommend seeing a specialist to remove it, it’s relatively safe to pluck it out with a clean, dry pair of tweezers and the right technique.
Start by sterilizing your tweezer using a cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol. Then simply pluck the hair out. Can’t seem to get it out? Don’t force it if it doesn’t want to come out. You may only make things worse.
If the ingrown hair is directly under the surface, apply a warm compress to soften the skin. Then, using a sterile needle, prick the area and tweeze.
After plucking the ingrown hair, follow up with a chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid or salicylic acid to clean the area and slough away dead skin cells.
Stick to Lightweight Lotions
Whatever you do, don’t sabotage all your hard work by smothering your skin in a thick, heavy lotion. It will just clog the pores and worsen your ingrown hair problem. Opt for lightweight, breathable formulas that won’t suffocate your skin.
Grab Yourself an Ingrown Hair After Kit
Whether you repeatedly shaved the same area of your skin or wore super-short shorts in the summer that rubbed, our guess is that you’re looking for a way to treat your ingrown hair.
It’s your lucky day because we designed our new Ingrown Aftercare Kit with you in mind. Featuring a Black Jelly Blemish Treatment, CBD Jelly Body Mask, and Jelly Booster Pigment Potion, these products will kiss your irritation, bumps, blemishes, and ingrowns goodbye.
Using active ingredients like salicylic acid, retinol, and tea tree oil, these products work together to loosen hair trapped beneath the surface, reduce inflammation and discoloration, and prevent future ingrowns.
It really is your go-to if you’re caring for an ingrown.
PREVENT INGROWNS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN BY…
- Always using a clean, high-quality razor with plenty of blades to effective shave without having to go over the same area multiple times.
- Prepping with shaving gel or cream to soften the hair and prevent friction from causing razor burn and ingrowns.
- Wearing breathable, cotton clothing that won’t cause chaffing.
- Changing your hair removal method – opt for waxing, depilatory creams, or trimming instead.
Caring for an ingrown hair is pretty simple. If you’ve followed the above tips, tried our ingrown aftercare kit, and still your ingrown stands, it might be time to visit a professional to get it properly removed. We also recommend seeing a dermatologist if your ingrown appears redder or has changed its appearance in some way. You may need special medication to get rid of it.
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