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- Medline Plus: Folliculitis
- Pub Med: Pseudofolliculitis barbae and related disorders
- Pub Med: Pseudofolliculitis barbae and related disorders
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How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs on Your Legs
Ah, the dreaded ingrown hairs. When these lumpy and bumpy lesions appear on your legs, or any other parts of the body, they are irritating, painful and unsightly. While the common causes of ingrown hairs are improper shaving techniques and the friction of tight clothing, you can get rid of your them safely at home. If your skin becomes red, painful, or hot after extracting the hair, visit your medical doctor immediately for treatment.
Gently exfoliate your legs. Try using a clean loofah or a washcloth. Avoid abrasive and grainy scrubs as they may cause small tears around the follicles, increasing the risk of infection.
Start out with clean, dry legs. Do not use any type of moisturizer or fragrance on your legs before removing the hair.
Prepare a warm (not hot) compress. You can also use a warm towel or washcloth, as long as it is clean. Moist heat (from wetting the compress with water) will work better than dry heat.
Hold the warm compress to the area that you are treating for 30 seconds. This will make the hair more pliable and may also help to drain clogged follicles.
Using a sterilized pair of tweezers, pinch the hair close to the root and pull firmly. Do not "dig" into the skin with the tweezers, as this may cause scarring and infection.
Apply a cool compress to the area after removing the hair. To prevent infection, do not apply water-based moisturizers to the affected area for 12 hours.
Tips
Shaving is the main cause of ingrown hairs. Exfoliate the skin before shaving to remove dead skin and prevent pore blockage. Always shave in the direction of hair growth and if possible, avoid shaving the affected area. Use a new, sharp razor when shaving. Dull, contaminated razors may cause infection or cause the hair to curl back beneath the skin. There is no cure for ingrown hairs.
Warnings
If the hair is beneath the skin, do not try and break the skin with the tweezers. This may lead to infection and scarring. Bathe regularly to avoid infection using clean washcloths and towels to prevent pore clogging and infection.
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