Ingrown hair occurs when a hair follicle grows back into the skin. The area in which the follicle has doubled back becomes red, raised, potentially sore to the touch, painful, itchy and full of pus. Most ingrown hairs are a minor, occasional condition that require no professional medical treatment. You can try to treat the hair at home with Neosporin or other antibiotic ointment.
Do Not Pick at the Hair
The first principle of any successful ingrown hair treatment is not to pluck at the hair. Do not pick at the skin with your fingers or an insrtument such as tweezers, as you'll increase your risk of infection and leave a permanent scar. The hair will eventually grow out at least partially on its own, but it may take weeks or even months before this happens. You may remove the hair once it has broken through the surface on its own.
Apply Neosporin Regularly
While waiting for the ingrown hair to grow out, you can decrease pain and irritation and also lessen your risk for infection with Neosporin. Apply Neosporin two to three times per day over the bump. With the decreased amount of bacteria, the bump is less likely to become filled with pus and the hair will grow out more quickly.
If you have more than one ingrown hair on a chronic basis, you may benefit from an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist in order to rule out more serious hormonal conditions. However, it's possible you may find that the best prevention is to no longer shave, pluck or wax hairs in the frequently affected areas.
