Wouldn't it be really f*cking nice if just for once after you shaved or waxed, razor burn, or even worse, an ingrown hair didn't come creepin' in?! I mean, yeah, razor burn sucks, but ingrown hairs definitely take the cake, IMHO. Not only do those pesky bumps irritate the heck out of your skin, but they're also super freaking uncomfortable—especially in sensitive areas like the bikini line or underarms. And because I know that I am definitely not the only one who wants to get rid of ingrown hairs forever, I found nine of the best ingrown hair treatments to prevent and remove 'em safely—oh, and even consulted a few of the pros to chime in. Smooth skin, I couldn't be more ready for ya.
Meet the experts:
- Dr. Annie Chiu, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of The Derm Institute in Manhattan Beach, California. She specializes in non-invasive cosmetic dermatology and aesthetics.
- Dr. Hysem Eldik, MD, is a dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York City, and Assistant Professor at Mount Sinai. Eldik specializes in general and cosmetic dermatology.
Before we get into all the ~science~ behind ingrown hairs, here's a little sneak peek of what's to come:
Our top picks for the best ingrown hair treatments in 2022:
What causes an ingrown hair?
Most ingrown hairs occur "when a hair curls back under the skin in the process of growing back after removal," says Chiu. "The hair that has now curled back into the skin, instead of growing outward, becomes inflamed due to the skin treating it like a foreign body." (Think: a splinter.)
So with any form of hair removal, you're prone to developing ingrown hair. But did you know that ingrown hairs can also occur on their own? (Yeah, fun, right?!) In other cases, occlusion with heavy clothing, lack of exfoliation, hormones, or a genetic disposition—such as coarse or curly hair—are all factors that can lead to ingrown hairs, explains Chiu. Although they can happen wherever there is hair growth, they occur most commonly in the armpits and groin area where the hair is thicker, coarser, and curlier, explains Eldik.
How do you draw out an ingrown hair?
Let me preface this by saying, NEVER pick at an ingrown hair or let anyone other than a board-certified dermatologist do so either (!!!) Think of them like a pimple: when you try to get rid of a pimple by picking, it can exasperate the problem and lead to scarring and even an infection—so please, avoid the temptation to poke and prod. Not only that, but you should always have a dermatologist evaluate your ingrown hairs, as "there are many mimickers that could require different treatments," says Eldik.
That said, if you've got one that is bothering the heck out of you, and you're going to attempt to draw it out regardless of my (many) cautions, at least do it the safest way, k? Dr. Chiu says to apply a warm, moist washcloth, or impress, several times a day to help with discomfort. From there, if the ingrown hair is above the surface of the skin, and you're able to grab it with tweezers without interfering with the skin (and even if this is the case, I'd leave it to a pro!), use steel point tweezers to gently pull out the hair. If it's not budging, stop ASAP to prevent scarring.
If the ingrown develops a cyst, is large, more painful, or does not heal, SEE A DERMATOLOGIST. "Avoid picking or popping a cyst, this will just get rid of the accumulated liquid, but will not get rid of the hair itself. Popping a cyst can introduce bacteria to the skin," says Chiu.
How to choose the best treatment for ingrown hairs
Evaluate the severity
If you currently have an ingrown hair, know that they "are generally easy to treat, but treatments depend on the severity of your condition," says Chiu. "For mild infections, your doctor may need to prescribe a topical antibiotic, a more severe infection may need an oral antibiotic," she says. (Ahem, reason number one million and one to see a dermatologist.) Once you have it evaluated by the pros, they can recommend an individualized treatment plan. If you're a frequent sufferer, it can include in-office physician-grade chemical peels, cortisone injections, prescription antibiotics, and more explains both Eldik and Chiu.
Determine if you're looking to treat or prevent
Although treating ingrown hair on your own is a safety no-no, you can most certainly take precautions to prevent them from occurring in the first place. There is only so much you can do when it comes to cases that are caused by genetic predispositions (i.e., coarse, curly hair), but you should keep these healthy shaving techniques and practices, courtesy of our derms, in mind:
- Exfoliate before shaving, and always use a shaving gel or cream.
- Consider a less close shave if your hair is very curly so that the hairs are less likely to curl under.
- Soak the skin in warm water prior to shaving (take at least a 10 to 15-minute bath for the legs, or if it's the face, use pressure and apply a warm, wet cloth for the same amount of time in the areas you will shave).
Figure out your formula and ingredient preferences
Here's the good news: There are a TON of wonderful treatments that work to prevent ingrown hair effectively. This also means that you're going to need to figure out what you prefer, considering formulations can come in the form of a cream, serum, oil, tonic, wipe, and even a spray. Once you choose that, you've gotta consider the ingredients:
- Retinol: "Use a topical cream that has an active retinol in it to help the skin over the ingrown hairs release easier. However, use as instructed, as retinol can potentially irritate the skin," says Eldik.
- Chemical exfoliants: "Look for salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, or lactic acid, as these chemical exfoliators break down the glue between cells, allowing hairs to more easily penetrate," says Chiu.
- Hydrocortisone: "Purchase an over-the-counter hydrocortisone 1 percent cream and apply it twice a day to affected areas right after shaving to prevent ingrown hairs," says Eldik.
- Antiseptics: "Tea tree oil can be applied daily to prevent infections, but do a patch test beforehand, as it can irritate those with sensitive skin," says Chiu.
Now that you've got all the info, I made your job a little easier: Here are nine of the best ingrown hair treatments below.
1
Best overall ingrown hair treatment
Amazon Basic Care Hydrocortisone 1 Percent Cream
2
Best Ingrown Hair Treatment Tonic
Topicals High Roller Ingrown Hair Tonic
3
Best Ingrown Hair Treatment Spray
Tower 28 Beauty SOS (Save.Our.Skin) Daily Rescue Facial Spray
4
Best Ingrown Hair Treatment Oil
Fur Ingrown Concentrate Hair Oil
5
Best Chemical Exfoliating Ingrown Hair Treatment
Jack Black Bump Fix Razor Bump & Ingrown Hair Solution
6
Best Ingrown Hair Treatment Pads
First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA
7
Best Ingrown Hair Treatment Scrub
Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub
8
Best Ingrown Hair Tweezers
Tweezerman Stainless Steel Point Tweezer
9
Best Ingrown Hair and Razor Burn Treatment
Koko Rose The Magic Stick
Siena Gagliano Contributing Editor Siena Gagliano is a contributing editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces.