Ingrown Hairs

What are ingrown hairs?

Ingrown hairs happen when a hair grows back into your skin instead of growing outward. This creates small bumps that can be itchy and uncomfortable.

These bumps often look red on white skin. If you have darker skin, they might look a different colour from your normal skin tone. Sometimes you can actually see the hair trapped underneath your skin.

Where do they happen?

Ingrown hairs are most common in areas where you shave, such as:

• Your face and neck
• Your legs
• Under your arms
• Your chest and back
• Your pubic area

You can also get them from waxing, plucking, or threading hair.

Who gets them more often?

You're more likely to get ingrown hairs if you have coarse or curly hair. The hair is more likely to curl back and grow into your skin.

What do they look like?

Ingrown hairs appear as raised, itchy bumps on your skin. If they get infected, they can become painful and you might see pus inside the bumps. This is when you need to be more careful about treatment.

How to prevent ingrown hairs

The best way to avoid ingrown hairs is to stop shaving completely. But if you want to keep removing hair, here are some tips:

Do:

• Wet your skin with warm water before shaving
• Use shaving gel or foam
• Shave in the same direction your hair grows
• Use as few razor strokes as possible
• Rinse your razor after each stroke
• Put a cool, wet cloth on your skin after shaving
• Use an exfoliating scrub to help release trapped hairs
• Try different hair removal methods like hair removal cream
• Consider long-term options like laser treatment

Don't:

• Shave too close to your skin - leaving some stubble helps prevent bacteria getting in
• Use a blunt or old razor
• Shave every day if you can avoid it
• Scratch, pick, or squeeze ingrown hairs - this can damage your skin and cause infection

Getting help from your pharmacist

Your pharmacist can suggest:

• Creams and lotions for itching
• Better shaving products to prevent irritation
• Exfoliating products to prevent ingrown hairs
• Mild antiseptic to help prevent infection

When to speak to your GP

You should see your GP if:

• An ingrown hair or the area around it becomes very painful, hot, or swollen
• You have an ingrown hair and feel unwell with a high temperature
• You feel hot, cold, shivery, or generally unwell

These could be signs that the area has become infected and needs proper medical treatment.

Treatment from your GP

If needed, your GP might:

• Carefully remove the hair using a sterile needle or small blade
• Give you steroid cream to reduce swelling and irritation
• Prescribe antibiotic cream or tablets if there's an infection

Remember, most ingrown hairs will get better on their own with proper care. The key is gentle treatment and good hygiene to prevent infection.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.