How to cure an infected ingrown hair

The ingrown hairs are hairs that do not grow outwards, but rather grow under the skin sideways because the hair follicles are clogged by dead skin cells.

Among the main causes of ingrown hairs are the waxingTherefore, they usually appear in the areas of the body that we wax or shave. In the case of men, they are more frequent in the area of ​​the beard and testicles and, in the case of women, in the legs, armpits, abdomen and pubis. Some of the factors that can lead to ingrown hairs are the following:

• A hair that is very curly, since this type of hair favors that the hair enters the skin again after being cut and begins to grow again.
• Shave hair dry.
• Stretching and tightening the skin while shaving, which can cause the hair to retract into the skin, re-entering the skin without first growing outward.
• Tweezing.

Both electric epilators and blades favor the formation of cystic hairs, the best method of hair removal to prevent them is wax. When a hair is incarnated, the body detects it as if it were a foreign body and, before this, a inflammation around it, which can also cause pain, redness, small bumps, and infection.

Main ingrown hair symptoms are as follows:

• Small, firm, round bumps or papules.
• Pustules or small skin lesions with pus very similar to blisters.
• Darkened skin
• Redness
• Pain.
• Itch.
• Hair or hairs trapped under the skin.

One of the most common complications of ingrown hair is the development of an bacterial infection and the hair follicle is generally infected by staphylococcal bacteria, which usually enter the subcutaneous tissue through small wounds in the area, either by scratching, cuts or small breaks in the skin. When this happens, in order to fight infection, neutrophils (the most common type of white blood cell) travel to the area, causing inflammation and the formation of a pocket of pus under the skin, called a boil.

Main symptoms of a boil and that can indicate that an ingrown hair is infected are the ones listed below:

• Appearance of a subcutaneous, red and painful lump that increases in size over the days as it fills with pus and dead cells. Eventually, a white or yellowish spot will appear in the center of the bump.
• Redness
• Inflammation.
• Pain and discomfort in and around the boil area.

Normally, when all the pus drains to the outside, the pain and discomfort disappear and this skin lesion heals without leaving scars in the area, except for those boils that are of considerable size and have a great depth.

In many cases, ingrown hairs do not require a specific treatment and they end up coming out on their own. Now, when we show signs of infection and the ingrown hair is deep, it is important go to the doctor and do not treat the problem at home or self-medicate.

The medical treatment to cure infected cystic hair It will depend in each case on the degree of infection and the symptoms that the patient presents but, in general, it can consist of the following:

• Application of wet compresses with warm water for 10 to 20 minutes about three times a day to reduce inflammation and facilitate the drainage of pus and the healing of ingrown hair.
• Medicines antibioticticos: in cases of mild infection, the doctor will prescribe the application of a lotion that contains an antibiotic to fight against the bacteria responsible for the infection. Only in cases of severe infection, oral antibiotics will be prescribed.
• Creams to reduce skin inflammation: the steroid creams They can be helpful in reducing swelling and itching in the affected area.
• Minor surgery: In those cases in which the boil does not drain spontaneously after a few days, a small incision can be made in the area to drain all the accumulated pus, remove the deep ingrown hair and accelerate its healing.

In addition to the above, it is important to consider some care and measures as the following:

• Keep the ingrown hair area clean and dry. Cleaning should be done with mild soap and warm water.
• Do not squeeze or pop the bulge.
• Do not apply topical medications or lotions for someone else.
• Wash your hands very well before and after touching the affected area.

In the following oneHOWTO article, you can find more information on how to treat a boil.

There are some Natural medicine that can be of great help in the process of cure an infected ingrown hair, above all, to reduce pain and discomfort in the affected area. However, these should not replace medical treatment in any way.

Chamomile compress

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help heal an infected ingrown hair more quickly.

1. Make a chamomile tea.
2. When it is warm, soak a cheesecloth in it.
3. Place the gauze over the skin lesion, letting it sit for 10 minutes.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal can be used to make baths that provide great relief, heal the skin, repair it and reduce inflammation in an effective way, as it is a cereal with soothing, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties.

1. In a pot, boil about 500 grams of oatmeal for about 5 minutes.
2. After that time, remove from heat and beat the mixture.
3. Add the mixture to warm bath water.
4. Take a relaxing bath for about 20 minutes, soaking the area affected by the ingrown hair.

Tea tree oil

This oil is a good antibiotic and natural antiseptic, being excellent for fighting bacterial infection and alleviating the discomfort that an infected ingrown hair can cause.

1. Dilute about 4 drops of tea tree oil in 1/2 cup of water.
2. Apply the resulting liquid on the damaged area.
3. Wait for the oil to dry on its own.

You can see more natural treatments like these by consulting the article Home remedies for boils.

This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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