How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs in a Woman's Facial Hair
If that pimple on your chin just won't go away, it may be due to tweezing and plucking out stray hairs. Even if you gently pull out facial hair, it can still damage the hair follicle, which increases the chances of improper hair growth. While you may be accustomed to seeing these ingrown hairs on your legs or bikini area, they can show up on the face too. To prevent these problem follicles from marring your complexion, change up your skin-care routine to stop ingrown hairs in their tracks.
Woman washing her face (Image: gvictoria/iStock/Getty Images)Step 1
Apply a dime-sized amount of a gentle exfoliating scrub to the palm of your hand, and massage it over your face using the tips of your fingers. Concentrate on areas where ingrown hairs occur most to slough off dead skins cells prior to hair removal.
Step 2
Rinse your face with warm water well, then pat your skin dry gently using a towel. Do not rub or wipe the skin, as this can cause irritation and actually increase the odds of an ingrown hair developing.
Step 3
Soak a towel in hot water and wring it out so that it no longer drips. Lay the warm towel over the areas of your face where you are removing hair. Leave the towel in place for five minutes to soften the hair follicle. Softening the hair before removal reduces the chance of an ingrown hair developing.
Step 4
Apply a thin layer of facial cream containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid over all areas of the face that are prone to ingrown hairs. Apply the cream immediately after hair removal to prevent dead skin cells or bacteria from clogging up the hair follicle.
Things You'll Need
Gentle exfoliating scrub
Towel
Facial cream with salicylic or glycolic acid
Loofah, optional
Tip
If the ingrown hairs continue to develop, visit a dermatologist who can remove the hairs permanently to prevent future inflammation.
If you prefer, you can exfoliate with a small loofah using very little pressure and moving it in circular motions.
Warning
Do not squeeze or pierce an ingrown hair with sharp objects, which can cause infection. If inflammation does not go away after two or three days, see a dermatologist for removal.
