Infected Ingrown Hair: Pictures, Treatment, Removal, and More

Table Of Content

• How we tested the best hair removal creams
• What does an infected ingrown hair cyst look like?
• Get the Mayo Clinic app
• What happens if an infected ingrown hair goes untreated?
• Treatment
• First, what causes ingrown hairs?
• Mayo Clinic Press

The hairs tend to be tiny, but the extreme close-up viewing angle adds major drama. Although a very useful step, protecting the surface of the skin from the hair-melting chemicals, we found it a little tricky to use. Too much and you run the risk of no hair getting hit, too little and there’s no protection at all, so finding the sweet spot may take a bit of time, but once you get there, it’s hard to go back. After the balm, smooth on a layer of the removal cream as normal, and, after five to eight minutes, your brows, cheeks or chin should be silky smooth. Looking at ease of application, how they felt and the result post-use, our tester spent one whole month trying each of the hair removal creams out – and these were their favourites. Ingrown hairs are the worst – especially when you let them sit.

How we tested the best hair removal creams

Ingrown hairs are most common in areas of hair removal, such as the face, legs, armpits, and pubic region. Shaving and waxing creates sharper hairs that tend to get trapped in the skin. Home remedies can often treat ingrown hairs, even if the affected area becomes infected. Infections can occur if a person does not treat the hair or if they have a weakened immune system. If you can live without a super smooth shave, switch to an electric razor. This will give you a close shave but leaves the tip of the hair above your skin’s surface.

What does an infected ingrown hair cyst look like?

Palm adds that in severe cases, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics to prevent an infection from arising. This means that most of the time, you don't need to worry about removing them. "I encourage patients not to pick at ingrown hairs on their own because it can cause damage, scarring, or infection, especially if sharp tools are used," says Engleman. To keep strands away for longer, we also applied the Skin Doctors hair no more inhibitor spray two days post-cream application, to boost the performance of the hair removal creams. Finding a hair removal cream that can work on all parts of the body (even intimate areas) can be tricky, so Woo Woo is a wonderful find. While it has that distinctive hair removal cream smell, its formula is created with softness in mind, housing jojoba and aloe vera for more of a moisturising finish.

VIDEO: the Most-Watched Ingrown Hair Removal on YouTube - Business Insider

VIDEO: the Most-Watched Ingrown Hair Removal on YouTube.

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Get the Mayo Clinic app

The curlier the hair, the more likely it is to become ingrown. A hair can curve back into your skin as it grows out and become trapped under your skin. So, wearing tight clothing such as leggings and jeans can contribute. As important as it is to get rid of an ingrown hair, it’s also crucial to start thinking about how to prevent the next one from cropping up. People with coarse, thick, or curly hair are often more likely to have ingrown hairs.

You can’t always prevent ingrown hairs, but you can take steps to lower the chances of them developing. “I would recommend this be the first place to go for help with ingrown hairs,” says Dr. Bullard. Dermatologist Sherrie Bullard, MD, shares safe ways to get rid of ingrown hairs and how to prevent them from happening.

Retinoid creams are effective in removing dead skin cells that may contribute to ingrown hairs. If ingrown hairs won’t take a hike, you may need to forgo shaving, waxing or tweezing that area. Consider alternative hair removal options, like laser hair removal. This method targets the hair follicle, and it’s usually permanent. And because the hair doesn’t grow back after treatment, you won’t have to worry about ingrown hairs. Sensitive skin and hair removal creams are far from a match made in heaven.

Warning: Various graphic clips from ingrown hair removal videos - Daily Mail

Warning: Various graphic clips from ingrown hair removal videos.

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First, what causes ingrown hairs?

If an infection develops and worsens, you may need medical treatment. If ingrown hair infections recur or are severe, you may have an underlying condition that needs medical treatment. Keep reading to learn how to recognize an infected ingrown hair, as well as tips for treating and preventing them. An infected ingrown hair happens when a hair is blocked from leaving the skin or newly emerged hair curls back into the skin, and the follicle becomes infected.

In fact, if you are more on the sensitive side, you need to take even more caution before using these creams – if the skin is irritated, broken or damaged, best to avoid them altogether. But if you do still want to give them a go, this Nair option may be your best bet. With aloe vera extract, it soothes while smoothing away hair quickly, easily and without any pain. A spatula is included for easier application, and, after five minutes, you can start to see the cream get to work. In fact, we’d recommend it for those trying hair removal creams for the first time, too, as it’s just that little bit gentler, which will only help you get your bearings with it. For those of you who choose to remove hair from various parts of your body, we don’t have to explain how annoying this process can be.

This helps get rid of dead skin cells that can keep the ingrown hair trapped for longer. Anyone who shaves, tweezes or waxes their hair can develop ingrown hairs. If you shave often, you’re more likely to have ingrown hairs. We can all agree, it's best not to get ingrown hairs in the first place, so here's how to prevent ingrown hairs — and what to do if you wind up with one or more.

“If you can’t see the hair, don’t go digging for it, because it could be another type of inflammatory cyst—like a pimple—that doesn’t actually have a hair. Either way, if you go picking, popping, or digging, you could cause an infection, scarring, or further irritation,” Dr. Clay points out. Ingrown hairs frequently go away on their own without any specific treatment. There’s a chance an ingrown hair could heal on its own in as quickly as a week or two, Dr. Hayag says, but it may take longer if it gets infected. Sometimes it takes around a month, according to the Mayo Clinic, but it can take up to six months for hairs that are really stuck in there. (Sorry to be a downer.) If you have pain, the bump gets bigger, and/or you notice other signs of infection (see below) and your symptoms don’t get better in a few days, you’ll want to get that sucker out.

These hair types are more likely to curl back into the skin when growing out after hair removal. Typically, new hair grows straight out of the follicles in the skin. As the hair matures, it exits the skin’s surface and continues to grow. But sometimes, the hair grows crooked or curls back under before it has a chance to exit the skin. An infected ingrown hair — also known as folliculitis — typically looks like a bump, a hard lump, or a cyst under the skin.

The Tweezist called this one oddly satisfying and, I've gotta say, something about seeing how long those hairs are really does make the removal feel like a relief.

If an infection is present, squeezing the bump may worsen it. Infected ingrown hairs can be uncomfortable, but most clear up on their own in 7–10 days with good hygiene. This can help ease the ingrown hair out of the skin on its own. Staphylococcus (staph) infections can occur with an ingrown hair.

If you have particularly angry bumps, your doctor may also suggest a steroid cream to reduce inflammation, the Mayo Clinic says. They may appear anywhere hair grows on your body, but they commonly appear in places where you shave, tweeze or wax, especially your face, legs, armpits and pubic area. A good skin care routine helps prevent ingrown hairs from forming, while at-home treatments can help release the hair from underneath your skin and provide relief. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any signs of infection.

“If the hair is still attached to the base of the follicle, I leave it so that the follicle can heal.” But if the hair isn’t still attached, your doctor can remove it “much like removing a splinter,” she says. Next, they might insert a sterile needle underneath a visible hair loop to free the strand. Using the narrow tip of a clean pair of tweezers (you should rinse it with alcohol or use an alcohol wipe) tease the ingrown hair out of the follicle. If the hair becomes invisible or if you can’t get it out without too much poking or bleeding, stop and give a dermatologist’s office a call.

14 Amazon Products For Ingrown Hairs Reviewers Love

Table Of Content

• What are the different hair removal methods?
• Mayo Clinic Press
• When should you see a doctor to get rid of an ingrown hair?
• Treatment
• Alternative hair removal methods
• Jolen facial hair remover kit

Of course you want a close shave, but if you’re prone to ingrown hairs, stick to a razor with two blades, max. “Each additional blade after two, the lower you cut or shave the hair,” Dr. Wechsler says, the greater the likelihood that the hair will curl back on itself before surfacing. Frequency of shaving is also a factor, says Dr. Lolis, who advises shaving less frequently. This single-blade razor from Oui the People was one of the Good Housekeeping Institute's top razor picks for 2023. Your health care provider is likely to diagnose ingrown hair by looking at your skin and asking about your hair removal habits. Most ingrown hairs will subside fairly quickly if you leave them alone.

What are the different hair removal methods?

If you can see that the hair is starting to emerge, pull it out gently with sterile tweezers. Don’t pluck it out completely — just coax it out so that the edge of the hair is above the surface layer of the skin. The rest of the hair, with an attached follicle, is still alive and well beneath the surface of the skin. This is what makes the hair grow back (and why you’ll have to shave again in a day or two). Keep reading for our complete guide on how to get rid of ingrown hairs once and for all.

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This Viral Video Shows What It Looks Like To Remove a Six-Year-Old Ingrown Hair.

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Mayo Clinic Press

Applying a warm compress to the area can calm any inflammation and itchiness, as well as soften the top layer of your skin, making it easier for the ingrown hair to break free, Dr. Goldenberg explains. We have a hunch that you’re here because you’re wondering if it’s no big deal to attempt ingrown-hair removal yourself. Here’s what you should know about getting rid of one safely, as well as how to prevent them from showing up in the first place.

When should you see a doctor to get rid of an ingrown hair?

An infected ingrown hair will likely be painful, red, swollen, and may have a yellowish green fluid draining from it, she adds. Your hair grows out of little pockets called follicles, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). An ingrown hair starts growing in its follicle normally, but after emerging into the world, it doubles back and reenters your skin. Compared to other hair-removal methods, this happens most often when you’re shaving.

The ingrown hair that's hiding below the surface

If you continue having infected ingrown hairs in the same area, such as your face, you might consider other methods of hair removal, such as laser treatment. And if you can afford it (and deal with the moderate pain), laser hair removal is perhaps the best option for the ingrown-prone. It’s not foolproof—the hair can still grow back—but it prevents your hair follicles from working properly, cutting back on your body hair and, therefore, annoying ingrown hairs. Your health care provider might recommend laser-assisted hair removal, which removes hair at a deeper level than does shaving, waxing, tweezing or electrolysis. Laser treatment slows regrowth and is a longer term solution.

Treatment

This medication can be applied to areas with ingrown hairs to help gently exfoliate until the ingrown hair appears at the surface of your skin. You can then carefully remove the hair with tweezers (see below). If you’re aiming for a smooth, hair-free look, ingrown hairs can ruin the effect. These unsightly bumps can be an annoying side effect of hair removal. The good news is ingrown hairs can be treated effectively at home. After applying the warm compress, you can very gently exfoliate the skin that’s trapping the hair.

Alternative hair removal methods

“Don’t try to pop them and don’t try to pick them,” she warns. This 30-second video from 2015 is the perfect introduction to the world of ingrown-hair removal. In it, you'll see six years of hair growth swiftly teased out of a single pore on a man's shoulder. Shout-out to the brave loved one who put on rubber gloves, picked up the tweezers, and agreed to film the extraction.

If you can’t see the hair, stop immediately and call a doctor. What makes the DIY method so dangerous is that people often dig into the skin to get at the hair, which can cause an infection. Ingrown hairs can be unsightly and painful, but the good news is that there are some practical ways to treat them and prevent them from returning. If the hair is completely under your skin, avoid the temptation to poke the area with a sharp object and dig out the hair. Please see a healthcare professional for help in this situation.

The first sign of an infected ingrown hair is often a bump. As the infection progresses, you may see pus, and the bump may grow larger. With this method, you can get rid of your ingrown hairs and prevent them from returning in the future.

The arrival of ingrown hair is never welcomed, especially after a 20-minute waxing session filled with wincing at the forceful removal of each wax strip as a remedy to avoid them altogether. There’s tons of discourse on social media platforms, from TikTok to X (formally known as Twitter), about stopping ingrown hair in their tracks and why waxing is the best alternative, especially for Black women. However, some commentary from users isn’t as positive, noting they’re still experiencing an influx of ingrown hairs, even when they’re doing everything right. The market has exploded with skin care products with different ingredients to help with ingrown hairs.

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Generally, you can get rid of that ingrown with regular exfoliation and acne-fighting products like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide instead. If you’re looking for a pain-free way to remove unwanted hair, hair removal cream could be your answer. So long as you take care to follow all instructions, patch test before use, and ensure your skin is in good nick before applying, you may find the product to be quite miraculous. Taking measures to prevent ingrown hairs and treating any infections promptly can help prevent these. You may have a higher risk for ingrown hairs and related infections if your hair is naturally coarse or curly.

As long as the edge of the hair is above the surface of the skin, it won’t be able to curl around and grow inwards. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. And it’s those dead skin cells that cause the hair to get clogged in the first place.

Some grow back into the body, causing the surface of the skin to swell (and sometimes resulting in pimples). If these at-home remedies aren’t working, step away from the tweezers and call your doctor. A medical professional can treat ingrown hairs and help you prevent them in the future.

And once the follicle is dead, you won’t have to worry about any nasty little ingrown hairs popping up again. Every time you shave, you run the risk of developing ingrown hairs. Knowing how to treat ingrown hair is nice, but it’s more important to know how to prevent them. Instead of trying to pluck the hair, use a topical treatment instead.

Beyoncé Shows Off Her Natural Hair Using Cécred

Table Of Content

• #9: Ashy White Highlights
• Dark Brown Highlights On Black Hair
• #11: Mid-Length Hair with Cute Partial Blonde Highlights
• Golden Blonde Balayage On Brunette Hair

Without any doubt, natural black hair color is a great base color for any type of highlights. With so many variations flattering different skin tones, textures, and personal styles, it’s easy to find a combination to enhance your appearance. Whether you seek to add some depth or juice up your dark tresses with color, explore these amazing highlight ideas to step up your look. Blonde highlights on light brown hair give that golden-toned ombre. It looks fantastic if you have medium brown hair because it’s so natural. Multi-tonal shades of light brown and blonde blend in with natural hair color.

#9: Ashy White Highlights

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The dark base color creates a striking contrast against the bright rainbow highlights. To create black hair color ideas with vivids, try color-blocking peek-a-boos under your base tone. This way, the roots will be covered, minimizing the look of it growing out. Invest in Redken Color Extend Shampoo to maintain your color.

Dark Brown Highlights On Black Hair

Go for messy loose curls for an overall style that leaves a lasting impression. This dynamic wavy lob is artfully enhanced with sunlit blonde highlights, giving the impression of a summer day spent outdoors. The waves add movement and body, ideal for fine hair seeking extra volume, and the placement of highlights accentuates both the texture and the choppy layers. It’s a versatile look that suits a variety of face shapes, particularly complementing those with angular features by adding softness and femininity. In this feature, we explore the art and allure of blonde highlights through 30 diverse hairstyles. From balayage to ombre, and everything in between, discover how to light up your look with these stunning blonde highlights inspiration.

#11: Mid-Length Hair with Cute Partial Blonde Highlights

For blonde highlights that enhance your natural color, try a classic ombré style. The contrast of two opposing colors somehow works together for a look that boasts a little bit of personality without going overboard. The best thing about it is the pops of color and not having to get it touched up every 6-to 8 weeks.

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Whether you have naturally curly locks or permed hair, you may face the problem of excessive thickness and frizziness. Light brown and blonde highlights will help highlight and define the curl pattern. If you want to richen up your hairstyle with various tones, take inspiration from these ombre highlights. Caramel blonde has this reddish tone in it that makes the hairstyle so exquisite. Central parting and caramel highlights on curtain bangs is a great move in this coloring too. Precision meets style in this chic angled bob, accented with bold blonde money piece highlights that cut through the base color like rays of light.

#25: Black and Blonde Faux Locs for Natural Hair

This is a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ blonde; a tone so perfectly blended that it peek-a-boos through the face frame for the most natural-looking effect. If you want to try it on your client, create chunky face-framing highlights through the very front of the hair, using BlondorPlex + 6% to lift. Then, when that face frame has developed, reach for a cool blonde toner, such as Shinefinity Color Glaze 09/13 or 07/13. Once you get into blonde highlighting, it might be hard to stop.

Golden Blonde Balayage On Brunette Hair

No matter the season, there is always a reason to wear your favorite color in your hair. Whether it’s a few wisps of turquoise to highlight your face or a full ombre of pink or peach, this is one of the best highlights for black hair. Soften the natural brown color of your hair with a mild sand blonde. We love the way these blonde streaks frame the face while also flattering the bronze skin tone and the dark-ish base color. Bring depth and luminosity to your short style with some blonde hair highlights.

This sleek and straight style showcases a stunning ash blonde transformation that perfectly complements cooler skin tones. The seamless gradient from a natural brunette at the roots to a delicate ash blonde at the ends embodies a chic and low-maintenance look. Ideal for round and heart-shaped faces, the long, uniform cut elongates the appearance, while the cool blonde tips add a fresh, edgy twist to the classic straight hair. If you want a bold yet subtle hair color, black hair with peekaboo highlights is a great choice. Spend time in a consultation to review options and get those highlights just right.

Here, your stylist splits your hair into two contrasting color sections and gradually blends from one hue to the other. Platinum, ash and icy blondes create beautiful, dramatic looks. Remember to treat your dyed hair the right way to keep the warm shades away. When it comes to streaks, remember that it’s more about the placement than the quantity, and they’d better be blurred to blend with the base color. A few chunky platinum steaks in the front frame the face and brighten the overall look.

A great way to add more structure and texture to a layered hairstyle is to apply highlights. When the base color is a lovely ash brown with soft blonde hues, dirty blonde highlights couldn’t be fitter for the job. It’s also an easy to maintain look that you can refresh whenever you feel the need to do so. A black and blonde hair color is a blend of light and dark tones that provide a spectacular contrast!

Simple but sweet, this look of black hair with highlights is for the lady who wants to brighten things up a bit without going overboard with the color. Soft caramel highlights peeping out from dark locks to add depth and style are all that’s needed for a seasonal pick-me-up hairstyle. There’s a refined elegance to platinum blonde whether we look at highlights or at s uniform hair color. With its icy shimmering, platinum blonde can be the ideal fit for a style-forward lady who wants a unique look. Moreover, it’s a hair color that complements all skin tones and hair lengths.

This beautiful sandy brown balayage looks even more gorgeous with loose soft curls. It’s the best way to add a little blonde if you have warmer, darker skin tones. These chunky caramel highlights give black hair great dimension and depth, especially when the hair is styled in loose waves.

6 Statement-Making Black and Blonde Hair Color Ideas

Table Of Content

• #18: Natural-Looking Brunette Hair With Highlights
• Copper Blonde Highlights
• Black Hair with Brown and Blonde Highlights
• TRESemmé Flawless Curls Defining Gel
• Honey Blonde Balayage on Darker Hair

Blonde highlights and a black base create a striking contrast, which makes the entire look elegant and dramatic, especially when paired with long hair. Besides the fact that Ana de Armas honey-colored eyes perfectly match her hair, it's the honey highlights and caramel lowlights that really get us. The lighter colors seem to enhance her darker base, not hide it, which is what lowlights are meant to do. The warm blonde base of Zendaya's bowl-cut pixie offers a honey-hued contrast to the darker lowlights throughout. For this look, use a texture spray, which amps up the dimension in the hair. The rich caramel framing the front of the face is a classic look that will not only show off some edge, but it will brighten your eyes and frame your smile.

#18: Natural-Looking Brunette Hair With Highlights

Opt for a light blonde solid top with black hair underneath or vice versa. Take part in the black hair, blonde highlights trend with some sexy money pieces framing the face. Black hair with blonde highlights might look strange at first.

Copper Blonde Highlights

Illumina Color is delivering all the warmth in this cinnamon blonde look, which was first highlighted using Blondor Freelights + 9% and alternating strokes of 10/69 + 6%. Allow the blonde highlights to do a better job on your black locks by highlighting wider strands. The focus should be on the top part of your head, while the bottom can either stay black or be highlighted. Maham is a seasoned beauty & lifestyle writer with a master’s degree in agricultural science.

Black Hair with Brown and Blonde Highlights

Black hair with blonde ombre highlights is an excellent way to create depth and lightness in your hair. An ombre technique is great if you have dark hair because it gives a gradient blend from dark to light that is low maintenance. Blonde ombre highlights on dark hair give brunettes high-contrast blonde highlights while leaving dimension and depth.

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TRESemmé Flawless Curls Defining Gel

Honey blonde highlights are great if you need some sunshine in your hair. Warm, golden, honey tones as full highlights on black hair are an effortless color goal for naturally dark-haired women. Balayage and babylights are techniques your hairstylist can use to help you achieve the maximum lift and brightness when working towards lightening black hair.

Because your hair goes from one end of the spectrum to the other, at-home care with professional products is paramount. Pair this “statement” color choice with a new lipstick to make all the heads turn. Lovato was previously seen rocking a longer jet-black bob with a side parting, which has become her staple hairstyle over the past few months. Show up and show out wherever you go with this gorgeous and unique hue that is bound to turn heads.

Remarkably, this edgy color combination can effortlessly complement all skin tones since there’s a vast range of blonde shades. Black hair with blonde highlights is certainly a statement look, but just because the colors are near opposites doesn’t mean they can’t work together flawlessly. Simply talk to your client about the type of finish they want.

Blonde Highlights to Play Around with Your Hairstyle

However, sometimes the treatments required to lift the dark color out of your hair may cost extra money. Black hair with blonde highlights can be both subtle and dramatic. Nevertheless, a few stripes of blonde on a dark base are enough to impart a natural glow to the face. Play it safe with babylights that are thin compared to conventional highlights but result in a soft blended look. Did you know that black hair with blonde highlights is becoming more and more popular each month?

For a seriously bold mane, leave one side of your hair a stark black (or dye it, if needed) and bleach the other platinum blonde. Just keep in mind that if you’re lightening black hair, it will take multiple sessions and a bit of time before you can reach your desired platinum shade. If you want to add some blonde to your hair, natural light highlights are the way to go.

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This messy dark bob looks extremely hot with salted caramel money pieces and ombre. Warm caramel is the perfect match for ladies with darker skin tones, beautifully emphasizing facial features and bringing a beautiful glow to the skin. Beyoncé's mix of highlights and lowlights look especially dramatic when worn stick-straight.

Bring a photo to your stylist so they can match your preferred shade. The subtle graduation of color from roots to ends adds depth and dimension, complementing an oval face shape beautifully. These highlights not only bring warmth to the complexion but also require less frequent salon visits, being kinder to your wallet and your time.

Besides changing your hair, you are allowing yourself to change the whole outlook. And this works with colors such as light brown, dark red, red, blue, purple, magenta, blonde, and some other lighter colors. So when your hair is black, it promotes your facial features, adding depth and dimension to your overall appearance. But if you want your black hair to be more powerful, add highlights.

You can also enhance the tone and shine of your hair with an at-home hair color gloss, like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Clear. In just fifteen minutes in the shower, this toning gloss corrects brassiness, enhances shine and deeply conditions your hair. Use Suave Dry Texture Finishing Spray to style your hair to help infuse tresses with all-over body and a sexy wave. Its combination of sandy blonde and red looks gorgeous on everyone. A platinum balayage is versatile enough to work for any complexion, and the cool undertones of platinum balayage make this look extra glamorous. If you want to try different colors, but still want to maintain some black and blonde, this is the look for you.

Try blonde-copper highlights on your dark hair if you want to add a subtle pop of color to your tresses. To recreate this look, ask your stylist to add more lowlights on the bottom half of your head. Consider leaving it in its solid color for greater dimension. We love how they add an extra dimension to a rounded halo Afro. Let this be a lesson that you can totally bleach natural curly hair! Bleaching very dark hair to blonde can take a while, but it is so worth it for this gorgeous effect.