Diseases and Conditions
Ingrown hair
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lifestyle and home remedies
Preparing for an appointment
Prevention
To help prevent ingrown hairs, avoid shaving, tweezing and waxing. If that's not an option, use these tips to make ingrown hairs less likely:
- Wash your skin with warm water and a mild facial cleanser before shaving.
- Apply lubricating shaving cream or gel a few minutes before shaving to soften the hair. Or apply a warm compress.
- Use a sharp razor every time you shave. Further study is needed to determine whether a single- or multiple-blade razor is best for preventing ingrown hair. See what works best for you.
- Avoid close shaves.
- Don't pull your skin taut while shaving.
- Shave in the direction of hair growth.
- Rinse the blade after each stroke.
- Rinse your skin and apply lotion after you shave.
The following hair removal methods also may help prevent ingrown hairs:
- Electric razor or clipper. With the razor, avoid the closest shave setting and hold the razor or clipper slightly away from your skin.
- Chemical hair remover. The chemicals in hair-removing products (depilatories) may irritate your skin, so test on a small area first.
- A cream to decrease hair growth. A product called eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream that decreases hair regrowth when combined with another hair removal method, such as laser therapy. Further study is needed to prove the usefulness of this method.