Few things can ruin a day at the beach or pool faster than a painful bump in a sensitive area. If you’ve noticed discolored, swollen spots on your thighs, pubic area, or armpits — especially after shaving or waxing — you might be dealing with ingrown hair cysts.

If you’ve tried different hair-removal techniques and still end up with uncomfortable ingrown hairs, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll cover why they happen, how to prevent and treat them at home, and when it’s time to see a healthcare professional.

What Causes Ingrown Hairs?

Ingrown hairs develop when a strand of hair curls back into the skin instead of growing out, usually after shaving, tweezing, or waxing. This can lead to irritation, especially in areas where the hair is coarse or curly.

Sometimes called razor bumps, ingrown hairs often leave the skin looking inflamed and feeling tender. These bumps may look red, purple, or darker than your usual skin tone, and they may appear more pronounced on deeper skin tones. They can also sometimes fill with pus — a thick, yellowish fluid made up of white blood cells, bacteria, and dead skin cells — as the body responds to irritation or infection.

Although ingrown hairs can happen anywhere hair is removed, they’re most common in areas with thick, curly, or tightly coiled hair, such as the pubic region, armpits, or beard and neck area.

Tips for Preventing Ingrown Hairs

Some people can prevent ingrown hairs or reduce their frequency by making a few changes to their skin care routine.

Here are a few tips:

• Wet your skin thoroughly with warm water before shaving.
• Apply shaving cream or shaving gel to soften the hair.
• Use a single-blade razor and change the blade or razor frequently between uses.
• Shave in the direction of hair growth.
• Rinse the blade frequently while shaving.

After shaving, exfoliate your skin by applying a product like glycolic acid lotion or an aftershave designed to remove dead skin cells. Regularly moisturizing your skin can also help. When your skin is soft and flexible, hair grows through it more easily.

If you try these skin care tips and still experience ingrown hairs, consider using an electric razor. Some people find that trimming their hair instead of shaving gives them a smooth enough feel without the small bumps and discolored skin.

At-Home Treatments for Ingrown Hairs

Despite making changes to your shaving technique and skin care routine, you may still notice discolored, irritated skin and small bumps with hair trapped in the middle. Now what? Unless they’re infected, most ingrown hairs don’t require medical treatment. Many people have success using home remedies and over-the-counter products.

The first step is to stop shaving, waxing, and plucking, so as to let the skin heal. Next, gently exfoliate with a washcloth to remove dead skin cells. After soaking the washcloth in warm water, gently rub it in a circular motion over the area where you shaved and the surrounding skin.

If you notice an ingrown hair, the first step is to stop shaving, waxing, and plucking to let the skin heal.

If you can see the trapped hair, you can try using a sterile needle to gently pull it out. Do not dig around for it. If you can’t easily pull out the hair, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.

Here are some additional home remedies:

• Place warm compresses on the affected area to open the pores and soften the skin.
• Use an over-the-counter, topical hydrocortisone cream to reduce discoloration, swelling, and itching. But only apply a thin layer and use it for less than seven days to avoid harmful side effects.
• Take a warm bath.
• Wear loose cotton clothes to avoid irritation.

An internet search for how to treat ingrown hairs will bring up many results. Check the credibility of the source before you try at-home treatments. If you have questions about something you read online, talk to your doctor or a dermatologist.

It’s Not Getting Better. Now What?

If you’ve tried treating an ingrown hair at home but it doesn’t clear up, or you think it could be infected, schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional. Depending on what they find, they might prescribe:

• An antibiotic ointment to treat an infection
• A steroid cream to reduce inflammation
• A prescription acne medication (retinoid) to remove dead skin cells

They also may suggest other treatment options, depending on your medical history and a physical exam.

In some cases, your doctor might want to use a sterile knife and tweezers to make a small incision and release the trapped hair. Do not do this at home. Leave the surgical treatment to healthcare professionals. Otherwise, you risk infections, complications, and scarring.

If ingrown hairs are a recurring issue, ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of long-term hair removal methods like electrolysis and laser hair removal. Also, ask if your ingrown hairs could be a symptom of something else. What appear to be severe cases of ingrown hairs can sometimes be symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) or other skin disorders.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

HS is a chronic (long-lasting) skin condition that affects the armpits, groin, inner thighs, area under the breasts, and anywhere else you have sweat glands or skin folds. Because it causes lumps, pimples, cysts, and boils, and it occurs in areas that are popular for hair removal, HS can sometimes be mistaken for ingrown hairs.

“My first HS flare-up started with me thinking it was an ingrown hair or a bug bite,” said one member of myHSteam.

Another shared, “I battled with HS for several years without realizing what it was. I thought I was getting a lot of ingrown hairs. I even resorted to laser hair removal. When the bumps kept coming, I saw my doctor, who referred me to a dermatologist, where I was ultimately diagnosed with HS.”

“I battled with HS for several years without realizing what it was. I thought I was getting a lot of ingrown hairs. I even resorted to laser hair removal.”

— A myHSteam member

HS is not as rare as doctors once believed. The HS Foundation estimates approximately 1 percent to 2 percent of people in the United States are living with HS. However, not all healthcare providers have experience with this painful skin condition. If your doctor treats you for ingrown hairs but the problem keeps happening, consider seeking a second opinion or making an appointment with a doctor specializing in dermatology.

“I was diagnosed with HS after having a horrible cyst in my armpit,” said a myHSteam member. “My doctor misdiagnosed me with ingrown hairs. When I went to a dermatologist for a second opinion, they told me it was HS.”

“My doctor misdiagnosed me with ingrown hairs. When I went to a dermatologist for a second opinion, they told me it was HS.”

— A myHSteam member

Here are a few HS facts. HS is:

• More common in women than men, according to the HS Foundation
• More common in people who are Black or biracial
• Not contagious
• Not caused by poor hygiene
• Not an infection

HS isn’t curable, but it is treatable. If you have recurring ingrown hairs, ask your doctor if it could be HS.

Whether you have HS, another skin condition, or recurring ingrown hairs, you may find comfort in support groups or online forums. Connecting with others who know what you’re going through can help you feel less alone. It’s also a great way to learn about available treatment options.

Join the Conversation

On myHSteam, people share their experiences with HS, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Do you experience ingrown hairs? What steps have you taken to avoid or manage ingrown hair cysts? Let others know in the comments below.