Is there a medication for ingrown hairs?

Ingrown hairs, also referred to as pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), can affect your comfort and confidence. They are common among people with different skin and hair types, but they are particularly prevalent in individuals with curly hair.

PFB occurs when hair grows back into your skin, causing bumps called papules. If they develop an infection, the papules may contain fluid or pus. When this happens, they are known as pustules.

Pustules may lead to irritation, pain, and sometimes feelings of embarrassment if they appear in noticeable areas. However, proper prevention methods and treatment can help keep ingrown hairs from forming or help you manage them if they do.

How to treat ingrown hairs

Dealing with PFB can certainly be challenging, but a variety of effective treatments are available, both over-the-counter (OTC) and by prescription.

Prescription treatments

• Topical retinoids: These may include products like isotretinoin (Absorica), which gently exfoliate your skin, helping free the trapped hair and prevent future occurrences by keeping your follicles clear.
• Topical antibiotics: If your ingrown hair develops an infection, a topical antibiotic like clindamycin (Cleocin) may be useful. Antibiotics offer one of the fastest ways to treat ingrown hairs.
• Oral antibiotics: Oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline (Vibramycin Hylate), might be recommended in more severe cases.
• Enzyme inhibitors: A topical cream called eflornithine hydrochloride (Vaniqa) may slow hair growth and reduce the likelihood of ingrown hairs developing

Nonprescription treatments

For milder cases or as a preventive measure, you can try several options at home, including:

• OTC treatments: Salicylic acid (Keralyt), glycolic acid, or benzoyl peroxide (Pr Benzoyl Peroxide Wash), commonly found in acne treatments, can help with exfoliation and reduce inflammation.
• Warm compresses: You can soothe the area with warm compresses, reducing swelling and encouraging the hair to come out naturally.
• Hydrocortisone cream: Applying mild hydrocortisone valerate creams may relieve inflamed areas.
• Depilatory creams: These alternatives to shaving dissolve hair, rounding the ends and making ingrown hairs less likely.

You should be cautious of how products and medications may react to certain skin and hair types, and stop using them if irritation occurs.

Who is most at risk of ingrown hairs?

Certain factors may increase the likelihood that you will experience ingrown hairs.

Genetics

Keratin is a protein that helps form your hair, your nails, and your skin’s outer layer. Sometimes, people may have structural differences in specific keratin genes. These differences (variations) can increase the risk of ingrown hairs by up to six times when compared with people without the same variations.

Males of African descent are more likely to experience ingrown hairs, along with those with tightly curled hair, according to a 2021 research review.

Hirsutism

While less common in women, PFB can be more prevalent if you have hirsutism, a condition that involves excess growth of facial hair.

How to prevent ingrown hairs

You can try some ways to help reduce the chance of experiencing ingrown hairs, including:

• Moisturizing: Use noncomedogenic moisturizers to maintain your skin’s elasticity without clogging your pores. The term “noncomedogenic” means the product should have a special formulation that ensures pores do not clog.
• Wearing loose clothing: Loose clothes, especially in areas like the bikini line, can reduce irritation and friction.
• Exfoliating: Consider chemical and physical exfoliation to remove dead skin cells.
• Having professional waxing: Choosing professional waxing may lower the risk of ingrown hairs.
• Maintaining skin hygiene: Keeping your skin clean and free from oils and dirt will help prevent clogged follicles.
• Getting laser hair removal: This type of hair removal offers a long-term solution but is not permanent. It is more effective for people with dark hair and lighter skin tones, according to the Fitzpatrick skin phototype scale. You may require multiple sessions, with potential side effects including pain and scarring.
• Using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) devices: You can use these devices at home and may only need to use them every 4–6 weeks. Again, you may see greater effects if you have light skin and dark hair.

Is there a particular shaving technique to help avoid ingrown hairs?

If you experience ingrown hair, one of the best ways to avoid it is by not shaving at all and letting your hair grow. However, you may not feel that is appropriate for you, so if you want to keep shaving, you could try these strategies:

• Avoid stretching your skin: If you stretch your skin during shaving, you may alter hair angles, cut hairs too short below the skin’s surface, and increase friction. These all contribute to ingrown hair formation.
• Shave direction: Shave with the grain to prevent cutting the hair too short and leaving sharp tips.
• Razor quality: Use sharp razors to reduce improperly cut hairs and friction.
• Pre-shave preparation: Use warm water before shaving to reduce the chance of sharp tips. Shaving after a warm shower or bath can help.
• Electric clippers: Electric clippers can leave hair long enough to make it unlikely that they will grow back into your skin.

Should you consider permanent hair removal?

Permanent hair removal can be costly, painful, and time-consuming. However, once treatment is complete, you may never experience ingrown hair again, which could save you time and money in the long run.

Electrolysis and laser hair removal offer permanent hair removal solutions, though there is usually some hair regrowth with either method.

Electrolysis destroys hair follicles using electrical currents, while laser hair removal uses a light beam that the skin absorbs and turns into heat to remove the hairs.

One 2022 study compared the two hair removal methods when used to prepare people for surgery. The study showed that while electrolysis suits all hair types, it may have a greater risk of scarring. Laser hair removal proved less effective on light-colored hair, but the overall process was faster and less painful.

Is it important to avoid picking an ingrown hair?

Picking at ingrown hairs can lead to several complications, like:

• Infection: Picking at papules and pustules can introduce bacteria from your hands into the follicle, leading to infection.
• Scarring: Repeated picking or attempting to extract the hair can cause scarring or darkened skin, especially for people with darker skin tones.
• Worsening the condition: Picking can aggravate the area, potentially causing more inflammation and making the condition worse.
• Delayed healing: Picking at the ingrown hair can delay your skin’s natural healing process.

Instead of picking, you can gently exfoliate the area to encourage hair to resurface. For troublesome or infected ingrown hairs, consult a doctor or healthcare professional for safe removal and treatment.

Summary

Common across all skin and hair types, ingrown hair (also known as PFB) is more likely to occur if you have tight, curly hair. Treatments include retinoids, antibiotics, and OTC exfoliants or creams with salicylic or glycolic acid.

Adjusting your grooming routine, understanding risk factors like hair type and genetics, and avoiding picking at ingrown hairs may all help. Gentle exfoliation can help you maintain smoother, healthier skin.

Electrolysis and laser hair removal offer a more permanent solution, and a healthcare professional or skin specialist like a dermatologist can help you determine whether these options are right for you.