Most people around the world tend to shave certain areas of their bodies, not only for hygiene but also to maintain a good and healthy physical appearance. One of the most common problems those people face is ingrown hair.
Ingrown hairs usually arise when a person shaves in some area of their body. Shaving can cause cut hairs to regrow, but this time in a contracted direction toward the skin. This situation causes them to bury themselves again under the surface of the skin.
Ingrown hairs can create small bumps or lumps on the skin that many people tend to mistake for pimples. They are usually reddish and can cause inflammation, infection, pus, itching, or pain. This situation often occurs when a person removes the hairs with a razor, wax, or tweezers. It should be noted that the appearance of ingrown hairs is more common in African American men or women.
The most common areas where these hairs can appear are the beard area, armpits, neck, back, pubic area, legs, etc. There are many factors that can cause the appearance of ingrown hairs, and for this reason, it is essential that we know how to prevent or eliminate them.
The first thing to keep in mind is that they usually heal on their own. That means that we should only avoid shaving for a certain time, and the ingrown hair will improve on its own. However, many people do not have the patience for that. Most prefer to remove them quickly to have attractive and healthy skin. The best way to treat ingrown hairs is through home remedies.
DIY Home Remedy for Ingrown Hair
As we said earlier, removing ingrown hairs is a great option to avoid shaving and wait for them to heal on their own. However, we can resort to certain homemade methods that can help us speed up the process.
It is important to note that the first thing we should do is wash the affected area with warm water and then massage it in circular movements with a soft brush. Then apply a chamomile compress for a few minutes and carefully lift the tip of the embedded hair with a sterile needle.
Next, we will discuss some home remedies that can help you treat ingrown hairs.
Warm Compress
We can consider this as a quite effective home method. Applying a warm compress to the affected area will help soften the tissues around the inflammation. That will allow the embedded hair to be easily removed later. However, it is not enough to place it on the area for a moment.
You should immerse the towel in hot water to later place it on the affected area. Hold it for 5 minutes and then let the area rest for another 5. You must repeat this process several times throughout the day. That will help keep the tip of the hair close enough to the surface.
Tea Tree Oil
It is one of the most popular home remedies used for different treatments, including ingrown hairs. This remedy is an anti-inflammatory that has certain antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Tree oil helps you disinfect the affected area and reduce swelling.
You will only need to mix warm water with the tree oil. Put about 20 drops of this oil in a container of hot water. Subsequently, soak a towel or cloth in the mixture and apply it to the affected area.
In the same way, you can mix this oil with natural plants such as witch hazel, which has antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
Baking Soda
Another of the most used home remedies is based on baking soda. It is very effective, but you have to be careful with its application since when using incorrect amounts, you could end up burning your skin, making the problem worse.
It is considered an excellent exfoliant for the skin, which helps reduce inflammation and eliminate (or prevent) ingrown hairs. The interesting thing is that if you combine it with oatmeal, it will reduce the skin’s redness and irritation.
All you need to do is mix one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of oatmeal in a bowl of water. After you stir the mixture enough, it will have a texture similar to the paste, which you will apply to your skin using cotton. Apply the mixture for 10 minutes and then rinse the affected area with warm water.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has moisturizing properties that reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and keep the skin hydrated. If you mix this product with a sugar scrub or any other, you will get a powerful home remedy to treat ingrown hairs.
You can combine half a cup of coconut oil with a cup of sugar. Mix it up and apply it to the affected area. It is recommended to use this scrub daily. If you start to see improvement, then you can reduce the number of applications per week. Another option is to mix both products with some essential oil, which will provide a better aroma and offer benefits according to the natural properties they present.
Black Tea
This natural product is recommended due to its healing properties. It contains tannic acid, which will soften your skin and reduce inflammation and redness. It should be noted that it also contains antioxidants such as caffeine that will provide benefits to prevent acne and even aging. It is an ideal product to treat ingrown hairs.
The only thing you will need to prepare this home remedy is to heat warm water and a black tea bag to moisten it. Subsequently, apply it to the affected area for two to three minutes. You can repeat the process between 2 or 3 times a day.
What Should I Do If DIY Home Remedies Don’t Work?
If you have used any of these natural remedies and none have helped you eliminate or prevent ingrown hairs, you recommend visiting a dermatologist to provide you with the most appropriate treatment. The reason why you should do this is that each person has a different skin type.
Make sure not to touch the affected area with your hands or any other hair removal instrument (or material) to prevent it from becoming infected and making the problem worse.