How to Correct Ingrown Discolored Hair

Ingrown body hairs occur when the tip of the hair burrows back into the skin, forming a small pimple-like bump. It is more common in people with coarse and/or curly hair, and in places where the body hair is more coarse, such as in the armpits. Basic treatment and prevention of ingrown hair can be managed at home, although severely infected areas and chronic cases should be handled by a doctor.

Things You'll Need

• Antibiotic cream
• Washcloth
• Hot water
• Tweezers
• Razor
• Exfoliant
• Moisturizing cream
• Depilatory cream

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Instructions

• 1

  Clean the affected area. If you have an ingrown hair, your body will react as it would to a minor infection. Keep the swelling clean and dry, and apply antibiotic cream to help it heal and eventually release the hair.

• 2

  Pull the hair out. If there is a small loop between the hair root and the ingrown tip, you can pull the tip out. Moisten the area with a washcloth dampened with water as hot as you can stand. Leave the washcloth on the pimple for several minutes to relax your pores and help loosen the embedded end. Use a pair of tweezers with a narrow head to gently tug on the ingrown hair and pull it loose. Once the hair is removed, apply antibiotic cream.

• 3

  Assess the discoloration. Occasionally an ingrown hair has changed color while embedded in the body. If this happens in an area that you shave regularly, the hair will be removed the next time you use your razor. If not, and if the discoloration is aesthetically unpleasant, consider plucking the entire hair.

• 4

  Exfoliate and moisturize your skin. You can prevent future ingrown hairs by keeping your shaved skin clean and healthy. Use an exfoliant regularly to remove dead skin cells, and keep the shaved area moisturized with lotion or cream.

• 5

  Alter your shaving habits. The sharp tips of newly-shaved hairs are prime candidates for becoming ingrown. Pulling your skin taut to shave a particular area leads to a closer shave---which can cause more ingrown hairs. If you use an electric razor, leave one to two millimeters of stubble; the duller tip of the shaved hair won't be able to burrow back into your skin. Or use depilatory creams instead of shaving---the hair grows back with a flat tip, not a sharp one.

• 6

  Take extreme measures in extreme conditions. If you have chronic ingrown hair issues, electrolysis will permanently remove the hair. No hair, no ingrown hair. Stop shaving if you can---longer hairs will not grow back into the skin.