An ingrown facial hair is also known as pseudofolliculitis barbae or a razor bump. This condition is caused when hair grows through the hair follicle or into the skin. Once the hair becomes ingrown, the area will become red and irritated. Because the face is a sensitive area, proper care for an ingrown hair is necessary to minimize the risk of permanent scarring or darkening of the skin.
Don’t Scratch
One of the symptoms of ingrown facial hair is itching. Regardless of how much the area itches, you should avoid scratching it. By scratching the area, you increase the risk of scarring. A topical hydrocortisone cream can be used to treat an ingrown hair, according to Kaiser Permanente. It will help to minimize the itching and irritation associated with the ingrown hair.
Apply Heat
Applying wet heat to the razor bumps can help to speed up the healing. According to Epigee, you can apply a warm compress to the area three times per day. If you choose to apply topical medications to the razor bumps, do this after applying the compress.
Remove Hair
While an ingrown facial hair that is embedded, or hidden below the skin, shouldn’t be removed, it is possible to remove an ingrown hair that has a visible hair loop above the skin. You can use sterilized tweezers to gently pull up on the hair loop to remove the ingrown tip of the hair from the skin. The Mayo Clinic states that you can use a sterilized needle to pull up on the hair.
Prevent Infection
If you try to dig an ingrown hair out of the skin or if you scratch an ingrown hair, there is a chance that you may introduce bacteria into the area. Bacteria in the area can lead to infection, and infection may lead to scarring. If you were able to remove the ingrown end of the hair from the skin or if you accidentally scratch the area, you should apply a triple antibiotic ointment to the area to minimize the risk of infection.
