Do Ingrown Hair Go Away on Their Own?

Ingrown hairs are a common yet frustrating skin concern that can cause redness, bumps, and discomfort. Whether they appear after shaving, waxing, or other hair removal methods, many people wonder: Do ingrown hairs go away on their own? While some may resolve without intervention, others can persist and lead to irritation or even infection. Understanding how ingrown hairs develop and when they need treatment can help you manage them effectively. In this article, we’ll explore whether ingrown hairs heal naturally and what you can do to prevent or speed up the process.

What are Ingrown Hair?

The hair grows out of the skin surface. But in certains cases, they curl back into the skin and grows beneath. The condition is common in people with thick, coarse or curly hair. In medical terms, ingrown hair is known as “pseudofolliculitis barbae.”

The pesky ingrown follicle can crop up anywhere on the body. The areas that are shaved or are subjected to a lot of friction are prone to developing ingrown hair. These includes:

• Legs
• Beard
• Armpits
• Chest
• Pubic Area

Signs and Symptoms of Ingrown Hair:

• Red bumps
• Itchy skin or irritation
• Rashes
• Razor burn

The skin area that has formed ingrown hair shows up like strawberry with reddish raised bumps. Oftentimes, those reddish bumps go irritated and sensitive, and may get filled with pus.

Causes of Ingrown Hair:

Anything that comes down in the way of hair growing normally, it leads to ingrown follicle. And, it could be any of the following reason contributing to the abnormal hair growth i.e. blocked hair follicle:

1. Improper Hair Removal:

An improper shaving technique is one common cause of ingrown hair. When hair are very close to the skin and you shave them, a sharp tip to the end of hair is created. Now, at most cases, these hair grow back normally, without any problem. However, some could instead curl themselves and grow inwards to the skin. When this abnormal growth occurs, the body responds to it in a manner it would do to an intruder – causing inflammation, which is a common symptom of ingrown hair.

It is not just improper shaving that leads to ingrown hair, but also improper waxing, threading, or plucking out of hair.

2. Clogged Follicles:

It is evident for a hair follicle to get clogged by dead skin, dirt and debris. When this happens, the hair follicle might get trapped or grow sideways into the skin. Also, in cases the hair grows beneath the skin.

3. Friction:

Tight fitted clothes worn for a longer duration of time creates friction with the body movement. This leads the hair rubbing through the skin continuously which eventually causes the hair to turn around and push back into the hair follicle.

How to Treat Ingrown Hair at Home?

Dealing with ingrown hairs at home is easier than you might think. With the right approach, you can soothe irritation, reduce inflammation, and prevent further complications. Whether it’s gentle exfoliation, natural remedies, or proper hair removal techniques, a few simple steps can help free trapped hairs and restore smooth skin. Here’s how you can effectively treat ingrown hairs at home.

1. Warm Washcloth and Soft Toothbrush

Proceed by rubbing the warm washcloth in gentle circular motions. This will help uncurl the hair. If rubbing the washocloth doesn’t help, you could, alternatively, use a soft toothbrush. Apply the warm washcloth to the ingrown hair and gently rub a soft toothbrush in circular motions to help unclog the hair follicle and release the trapped hair.

2. Avoid Irritants to Prevent Ingrown Hair Worsening

To treat an ingrown hair as soon as possible, it is imperative to stand aloof of things that irritates it. You need to stop waxing, shaving, threading, or tweezing the area around the ingrown hair. Also, you need to make sure you avoid scratching an itchy ingrowing hair. To avoid friction on the areas surrounding blocked hair follicle, wear loose fitted clothing.

Keeping the irritants off the hair bump are often enough to vamoose on their own. When a hair grows to a length of about 10 milimetres, it usually unleashes itself from the clogged pores or the hair follicle.

3. Tweezer to Liberate:

When you notice any part of the hair cropping up above the skin surface, pull the hair out using a sterile needle or tweezer.

You’re advised to do this only when you see the hair above the skin surface. If you try digging into the skin to tweeze out the ingrown hair, it will furthermore lead to an infection.

If you pluck the hair out, there’s always a probablity for the hair to grow inwards, again, as it grows back. The area surrounding the hair is inflamed and requires time to heal completely. Make sure you don’t wax, shave, or pluck the hair again until the skin inflammation is completely healed.

4. Use Gentle Soaps and Cleansers:

It is advised to use gentle soaps to clean the skin areas, affected with ingrown hair, to prevent infection. Also, you could put to use the natural exfoliants around the hair to help remove the dead skin cells. The exfoliating process also supports clearing the inflamed and irritated skin around the ingrown hair.

5. Shunt the Hair Removal:

Ingrown hair are quiet unpleasant to deal with. There are people who put a halt to removing hair from the problem area altogether.

The individuals suffering the ingrowns at the neck area because of improper shaving might switch to trimming. The pubic hair could be cut short or trimmed instead of removing them entirely may help shunt the ingrown hair. Also, there are several products as well treatments available to your rescue.

Nevertheless, if nothing is to avail, you might want to seek medical attention. There are several methods, such as the Intense Pulse Light Therapy‘ or the creams that helps reduce the hair growth. These medical procedures and treatments can help with the risk of deeper infections and scarring.

6. OTC Products’:

There are several OTCs’ thay can help cure the ingrown hair. Salicylic acid is an ingredient to watch out for. The OTCs’ formulated with salicylic acid helps open the pores and the hair follicles, thus, shunting the hair from clogging within the skin.

7. Tea Tree Essential Oil to the Rescue:

Tea Tree Essential oil is yet another helpful ingredient to watch out for. Several reports have proven the tea tree essential oil helpful in treating the ingrown hair. The oil works by killing the bacterias, reducing the redness as well as the inflammation. Also, tea tree essential oil is an effective natural exfoliant.

Also Read: Beauty Uses of Tea Tree Oil: Benefits & How to Use It for Skin & Hair

8. DIY’s:

There are several DIY treatments to help with ingrown hair. You could scrub those kitchen ingredients into the skin to get rid of the dead skin cells. The ingredients that can be to the help are:

• Sugar
• Coffee
• Salt
• Baking Soda

Recommended Read: How to Use Rica Wax: A Guide to the Professional Salon Process

How to Remove Hair Without Getting Ingrown Hair?

• Prepare Your Skin Before Hair Removal:

It is important to understand that if a skin is prepared properly for hair removal, it can help with preventing ingrown follicle.

Before shaving, make sure you wash the area thoroughly using a gentle soap. To help with friction, use moisturizing shaving cream or gel.

Also, ensure that you use a razor that’s fresh and will cut hair precisely. If you’re using a dull blade, there’s a probablity of it causing the ingrown follicle because of the jagged cuts it gives. Close shaving is also never recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ingrown Hairs

Does Waxing Cause Ingrown Hair?

Yes, waxing can contribute to ingrown hairs, especially if the hair breaks below the skin’s surface instead of being removed from the root. As the new hair grows, it may curl back into the skin, leading to ingrown follicle. To prevent this, exfoliate the skin before waxing and moisturize regularly to keep hair follicles clear.

How Long Does It Take for an Ingrown Hair to Go Away?

Most ingrown hairs resolve on their own within a few days to a few weeks, depending on the severity. Gently exfoliating the area and keeping the skin hydrated can help speed up the healing process.

When Should You See a Doctor for Ingrown Hairs?

If an ingrown hair becomes swollen, painful, or filled with pus, it may be infected. In such cases, seeking medical advice is recommended to prevent further complications.