The condition occurs most frequently where people shave to get rid of unwanted hair, such as the beard area, legs, underarms and bikini area.
This is not a serious issue, but definitely an irritating problem affecting many people. In most cases, ingrown hairs go away on their own as the hair eventually grows out of the skin. But some simple home remedies can speed up the healing process and diminish the inflammation and redness.
As for the hair growing back into the skin, you can simply lift it out with a sterile straight pin or a pair of tweezers; do not pick or dig at your ingrown hair though.
1. Sugar Scrub
Sugar is a great skin scrub that can help get rid of ingrown hair. It gently exfoliates the skin, removing dead cells and helping the ingrown hair come out of the skin. Plus, it will make your skin silky smooth.
- Mix one cup of white sugar with one-half cup of extra-virgin olive oil or jojoba oil.
- Stir in 10 drops each of tea tree oil and lavender essential oil.
- Apply a small amount of this homemade scrub on the affected area.
- Gently scrub the skin in circular motions for a few minutes. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
- Follow this remedy once or twice a week as needed.
You can store the remaining scrub in an airtight container for future use.
2. Salt
Salt works as a great exfoliating agent and at the same time helps increase circulation, promote healing and reduce swelling.
- Mix one and one-half teaspoons of table salt in one cup of lukewarm water.
- Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and gently rub it over the affected skin.
- Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse it off with water.
- Do this twice daily until the ingrown hair clears up.
Note: Do not use this remedy if your skin gets red or irritated.