Finding an ingrown hair after shaving, waxing or epilating is frustrating.
asserted
Finding → find → hair
It’s caused by hair curling into and getting trapped underneath the skin, and it can be itchy and painful.
asserted
it → cause → skin
Thankfully, ingrown hairs, also commonly called razor bumps, are treatable at home, similar to razor burn.
asserted
hairs → call → burn
But don’t expect them to go away overnight.
asserted
them → expect → ?
Being patient while using ingrown hair treatments is key to preventing infection and scarring later on.
asserted
Being → use → infection
I spoke with four dermatologists to learn more about how to treat and prevent ingrown hairs.
asserted
I → speak → hairs
Using their guidance, I rounded up ingrown hair treatments and preventatives, all of which are either recommended by dermatologists or tested by NBC Selected staff.
asserted
all → use → staff
To recommend the below ingrown hair treatments, I chose products that dermatologists recommend, we’ve used ourselves or are highly rated and meet expert guidance.
asserted
we → recommend → guidance
Since ingrown hairs can occur in any hair-bearing area, I note whether each product is meant for your face or body.
asserted
product → occur → face
Make sure to avoid removing hair in the area where you have an ingrown until it’s fully healed, experts told me.
asserted
experts → make → me
Neosporin is my go-to antibiotic ointment for ingrowns, cuts and burns.
asserted
Neosporin → go → ingrowns
It contains bacitracin, an over-the-counter topical antibiotic you can apply to red and inflamed ingrown hair, says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology and an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.
asserted
Zeichner → contain → Hospital
The ointment also has a blend of other antibiotics that protect against infection and help heal skin, plus it can minimize the appearance of scars if you use it one to three times daily, according to the brand.
uncertain
you → have → brand
Hydrocortisone creams can help reduce inflammation and itching associated with ingrown hairs, says Dr. Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in Manhattan, New York.
asserted
Chang → help → Manhattan
This option from Cortizone 10 is made with 1% hydrocortisone, which is the highest concentration of the ingredient found in over-the-counter products, according to our experts.
uncertain
which → make → experts
I’ve also used Cortizone 10 on bug bites, sunburns and razor burn, and you can apply it to eczema spots.
asserted
you → use → spots
The fragrance-free ointment is made with aloe, which helps soothe skin, according to the brand.
uncertain
which → make → brand
Best roll-on treatment
This fragrance-free salicylic acid spot treatment comes recommended by Ashley Morris, NBC Selected associate SEO reporter.
asserted
treatment → roll → Morris
“It stops my ingrowns from forming into bigger bumps and fades the dark spots left behind by old ingrowns,” she says.
asserted
she → stop → ingrowns
It applies really smoothly and the tonic dries almost right away.”
asserted
tonic → apply → ?
The rollerball applicator also allows you to target the ingrown without touching your skin and potentially transferring bacteria from your hands to the affected area.
asserted
you → allow → area
Topicals’ clear tonic contains zinc, a mineral that can minimize irritation; glycolic acid to further exfoliate; and niacinamide to brighten the appearance of the bump, according to the brand.
uncertain
that → contain → brand
“I’ve used Prid’s Drawing Salve for everything — cystic acne, slivers and even ingrown hairs,” says Lauren Swanson, NBC Selected editorial director.
asserted
Swanson → use → everything
“It’s very tar-like and smells gross, but it truly is a miracle worker.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
I slap this stuff on over ingrown hairs, put on a Band-Aid and then go to bed.
asserted
I → slap → bed
When I wake up, it’s gone.”
asserted
it → wake → ?
The salve is made with natural ingredients like sulfur, which relieves itch, silicea, which draws out hair trapped underneath the skin’s surface and arnica, which reduces pain and swelling, according to the brand.
uncertain
which → make → brand
Make sure you cover the area you apply this drawing salve to with a bandage or gauze — it’s brown in color and can stain fabric.
Best healing serum
Fur’s Ingrown Concentrate contains tea tree oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties and helps prevent ingrown hairs from getting infected, says Chang.
asserted
Chang → make → hairs
The treatment is also made with chamomile extract to minimize redness and coconut, tamanu and grape seed oils to hydrate and soften skin, according to the brand.
uncertain
treatment → make → brand
Before applying the concentrate, the brand recommends exfoliating with the included finger mitt in the shower.
asserted
brand → apply → shower
Then, once you dry off, apply a few drops to bumps.
asserted
you → dry → bumps
It dries them up while I’m sleeping and makes them appear much less red and swollen in the morning.
asserted
them → dry → morning
The lotion has salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells sitting on top of and around ingrown hairs, and calamine, an ingredient that reduces itching and irritation, according to the brand.
uncertain
that → have → brand
You dip a cotton swab into the pink sediment at the bottom of the bottle and dab it directly onto the ingrown.
asserted
You → dip → ingrown
The lotion dries quickly but leaves a light pink, chalky residue behind, which is why I prefer to use it at night.
asserted
I → dry → night
How I picked the best ingrown hair treatments
asserted
I → pick → treatments
The best way to treat an ingrown hair is to free the trapped hair from underneath the skin in two steps (listed below).
asserted
treat → treat → steps
Consider the following while shopping for ingrown hair treatments:
- Calming irritation: Ingrown hairs can be swollen, inflamed and painful to the touch.
asserted
hairs → consider → touch
Calming irritation before spot treating reduces pain so the treatment is more bearable, experts told me.
asserted
experts → calm → me
Dermatologists recommend applying first-aid ointments along with cold compresses or ice packs.
asserted
Dermatologists → recommend → compresses
…and 94 more, not listed.
The Aporia
