What should you know about extracting ingrown hairs?

An ingrown hair curls or grows back into nearby skin after hair removal or natural growth. It may cause a small itchy or tender bump, a visible trapped hair or darkening after inflammation. Repeated shaving-related bumps can fit pseudofolliculitis barbae, while pus-filled bumps may indicate folliculitis. Rough, bumpy skin on the upper arms or thighs can instead be keratosis pilaris, which is not an ingrown hair.

Pause shaving, waxing or plucking over the irritated area. Wash gently, use a warm compress for comfort, and avoid tight clothing or repeated rubbing. Do not use tweezers or a needle to tunnel under the skin, and do not squeeze the bump. Once the skin settles, a clinician can advise on shaving direction, a clean single-use razor, depilatory products or other prevention. Laser hair removal may be considered when repeated hair removal triggers ongoing bumps.

Seek medical advice for increasing pain, spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, a deep lump or marks that keep returning. Prompt assessment matters if the bump is near the eye or if you have diabetes or reduced immunity. A clinician may need to release a trapped hair safely, treat folliculitis or check another cause of the lesion.

Ask whether the bump is an ingrown hair, folliculitis, razor bumps or another condition. Discuss how long to pause hair removal, which products suit your skin, whether laser hair removal is appropriate, and how to manage dark marks after inflammation.