VIDEO BELOW.. You may be able to treat an ingrown armpit hair with topical products, such as retinoids or benzoyl peroxide. Practicing good hygiene may also help prevent infection.
Ingrown hairs are hairs that curl back into the skin instead of growing out. Many hair removal techniques blunt and toughen the ends of hair. This allows them to more readily pierce the skin, leading to this occurrence.
Coarse or curly hair is more prone to becoming ingrown than fine, straight hair. Ingrown hairs tend to crop up anywhere you shave, tweeze, or wax, including your armpits.
At-home remedies for an ingrown armpit hair
Ingrown hair can often be treated at home with over-the-counter products or natural solutions. Things to try include:
Steroid cream. If your skin is very irritated, try using a topical steroid treatment to bring down inflammation.
Exfoliation. Natural products make excellent exfoliators when combined with oil or another base. These include sugar, kosher salt, and baking soda. Baking soda can also be effective at reducing inflammation.
Moisturize. Dry skin is more prone to ingrown hair than moisturized, supple skin. Make sure to pamper your armpits before and after hair removal with a noncomedogenic moisturizer, and shaving cream.
Gentle scrubbing. Wash and moisturize the area. Then, use a clean, soft toothbrush to gently scrub the skin in a circular motion, to release the hair. You can also use a clean washcloth, or other abrasive substance.
Topical retinoids. Over-the-counter products containing ingredients such as adapalene, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, help to exfoliate skin, clearing away dead skin cells, and making ingrown hair less likely to occur. Adapalene, derived from vitamin A, has been shown to be effective at reducing ingrown hair growth, and eliminating infection, when combined with clindamycin.
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Benzoyl peroxide. The topical antiseptic benzoyl peroxide (often used to treat acne) has been shown to be effective at reducing the pustules, papules, and hyperpigmentation associated with ingrown hair, according to a 2004 study reported in the clinical journal Cutis.
