Ingrown Hair Treatments; How to prevent Ingrown Hairs in Bikini Lines, Beards, and Genital Areas

For men and women alike, the irritation of ingrown hairs is inevitable. Whether taking off that 5 o’clock shadow for an important business meeting or tidying up the bikini line for a beach vacation, there are a few tips to help you reduce the chances of ingrown hairs, as well as some remedies to minimize the agitation they cause.

Known also as razor burn or hair bumps, the actual name for these annoyances is Psuedofolliculitis Barbae (PFB). Caused by breaking the hair off below the skin or by a hair curling around and growing back into the shaved area, these little bothers can be truly painful.

For both genital area and facial shaving, always remember to exfoliate. Use a semi-abrasive soap or body scrub to remove the layer of dead cells from the skin’s surface. Your hairs will have to put up less of a fight this way.

To prep for a painless bikini line trim, rest in a bath of warm water for 10-15 minutes allowing the pores to open and skin to soften. Then, shave lightly in the same direction as the hair grows. After the bulk of the work is done, go back against the growth direction for that super smooth finish. The sharper the razor, the better. You may want to keep a few disposables on hand for one-time use or opt for a less guarded men’s razor.

A little known trick for reducing the risk of irritation or redness after the shave is to layer lightly a dab of Neosporin or other advanced healing agent. This acts a protective, soothing coating as the skin recovers from the trauma of the razor blade. Don’t overdo it, you don’t want to clog the pores.

Shaving the face properly greatly reduces the changes of razor bumps. Don’t pull the skin tight as shaving too closely is one of the main causes of ingrown hairs. Use a single blade razor and shave in the direction the hair grows. Don’t push too hard on the razor. This can remove more of the skin than is necessary leading to redness or a tender neck region.

Yet for those who shave frequently, the occasional ingrown hair is unavoidable. So what’s the most effective way to treat them? There’s no instant cure, but the most common practice, and the most hygienic and safe, is to use a warm compress or washcloth. Press it against the afflicted area for 10-20 minutes. The deeper or more infected the ingrown hair, the longer you should keep the warm press against it. With sterilized tweezers, remove the end of the hair that has grown into or is breaking the skin. Avoid plucking the entire root as it will cause the hair to grow deeper in an already agitated area.

Use rubbing alcohol or a mild soap to gently cleanse the area throughout the process. Once the ingrown portion has been removed, apply an oil-free moisturizer to the area and allow the skin time to heal. It may take a few days for it to grow back out and for the redness to diminish, but it’s the healthiest remedy for your skin.

For the portion of the population that feel tidy grooming is paramount, ingrown hairs will likely result from shaving; however, with adherence to a few prep tips and with simple treatment, razor burn can be a minimal risk worth taking.