Home Treatment for Vaginal Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs in the vaginal area are uncomfortable, unsightly and, unfortunately, quite common 1. An ingrown vaginal hair can usually be treated at home with an over-the-counter topical acne medication. However, if the hair follicle appears infected or if you get ingrown hairs often, visit your doctor 1.

Symptoms

An ingrown vaginal hair may cause a painful red bump that looks a lot like a pimple. There may be pus in the bump, but sometimes the bump may be hard instead of pus-filled. The bump may also itch. You may notice hyperpigmentation, which occurs when the affected area is slightly darker than the surrounding skin.

Causes

Remedies for Vaginal Pimples

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Broken or bluntly cut pubic hair is the most common reason for ingrown vaginal hairs 1. When this happens, the hair may grow back at more of an angle and actually curl back into the skin rather than coming out of the hair follicle. When the hair penetrates your skin, the skin acts as if it is a foreign object and becomes inflamed.

Any type of hair removal including waxing, tweezing and shaving can cause ingrown hairs 1. This is especially true if shaving too close or at the wrong angle, or if the hairs are broken off rather than fully removed by tweezing or waxing.

Excess oil in the hair follicles and dry skin can also cause ingrown hairs, and people with coarse, curly or stiff hair tend to experience more ingrown hairs than people with soft, fine hair 1.

Read more: How to Treat an Infected Ingrown Hair

Treatments

The most important part of treating an ingrown hair is not to irritate it. Do not pluck, pick, squeeze or pop an ingrown hair pustule, which may cause an infection.

Apply a warm compress to the area three times a day for five to 10 minutes to encourage blood flow, which can promote healing.

Apply an over-the-counter topical acne treatment such as benzoyl peroxide at the first sign of an ingrown hair. This can help kill the bacteria that is growing under the skin. Be sure to wash the affected area and your hands with soap and water before applying the medication and let it soak in completely.

Keep the area clean and dry, wearing a panty liner if necessary. Aways shower after exercising, and wear loose-fitting clothing until the ingrown hair heals. Although exfoliation is recommended as a way to prevent ingrown hairs, you should not exfoliate if you currently have an ingrown hair 1.

Considerations

Symptoms of an Infected Ingrown Hair

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If you experience itching, you can apply hydrocortisone or another anti-itch medication to the area. If you do scratch at the area, apply an over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment to the area to help minimize the risk of infection.

Experiencing recurring ingrown hairs when you don't shave or otherwise remove hair from your vaginal area could be a sign of another problem 1. Large, painful cysts may be mistaken for ingrown hairs, but can actually be caused by Staphylococcus or fungus and may require prescription antibiotics 1. Some sexually transmitted diseases can also cause lesions that resemble ingrown hairs 1. Speak to your doctor if you have any concerns about recurring ingrown hairs 1.

Read more: How to Treat Ingrown Hairs in the Pubic Area