Ingrowns

[jadefirefly]

Firstly - I did check the blank manual. There's tons of stuff about itching, how to shave 'there', and whether or not it makes you gay if a guy does it. I didn't see anything that helped me, though... although I'm known for missing stuff right in front of my nose.


Anyway. I've shaved pretty much any body hair growing at neck level or below for years, now. I'm used to it. I don't have itching problems, or anything else like that. But all of a sudden I realized yesterday, that I've got one hell of an ingrown hair! I've never had one of those before.

Always when reading magazines about how to deal with ingrowns, I've smirked quietly to myself and skimmed past those parts, assuming that since I've never had one, I never would. And now I don't know how to get rid of it!

It doesn't really hurt or itch or anything. But it is ugly as hell, and I'm sure it can't be good for there to be hair growing under the skin, most likely.

How do I get rid of an ingrown hair?

 

[SweetErika]

There was a really informative thread with lots of treatment and prevention ideas on ingrown hairs in here recently, so searching would probably be a good idea.

There's also plenty of info online if you google 'treatment/treating/preventing ingrown hair(s),' though most I've seen advise keeping the area clean and dry, avoiding shaving until it's resolved, using warm, moist compresses and seeing the doctor if it appears to be infected or is causing problems. There are some special tweezers and creams on the market, though I'm not sure how well those work.

 

[likesmbig]

Firstly - I did check the blank manual. There's tons of stuff about itching, how to shave 'there', and whether or not it makes you gay if a guy does it. I didn't see anything that helped me, though... although I'm known for missing stuff right in front of my nose.


Anyway. I've shaved pretty much any body hair growing at neck level or below for years, now. I'm used to it. I don't have itching problems, or anything else like that. But all of a sudden I realized yesterday, that I've got one hell of an ingrown hair! I've never had one of those before.

Always when reading magazines about how to deal with ingrowns, I've smirked quietly to myself and skimmed past those parts, assuming that since I've never had one, I never would. And now I don't know how to get rid of it!

It doesn't really hurt or itch or anything. But it is ugly as hell, and I'm sure it can't be good for there to be hair growing under the skin, most likely.

How do I get rid of an ingrown hair?

I had one, on my penis. Didn't know what it was, just that I had a sore spot that wouldn't go away, and it was starting to worry me. Finally after a couple of months I went to the doctor. The soreness was from an infection called folliculitis. She prescribed an antibiotic and everything was fine after a few days.

So, why don't you just go see your doctor?

 

[Chicklet]

I think that this is the thread Erika was talking about. I used it to help with an ingrown hair, myself *blush*

 

[jadefirefly]

Thanks for the link, Chicklet, and for the advice Erika.

I felt pretty stupid, I knew I'd seen a ton of advice about it -- I'd even seen that thread when it first originated -- but I'd never ever had a problem with 'em, I guess I just assumed I never would so it was info I could ignore.

Go me.

 

[blueyez58]

just dig it out

I get ingrowns on my neck all the time, and I just dig 'em out. Squeeze it to get the hair to the surface (if it's been in there a while you might get some crud out too like a zit) and pull it out with a pair of tweezers. Then just wash it with soap and water and you're all set.

No need to spend the time/money going to a doctor.

 

[SweetErika]

I get ingrowns on my neck all the time, and I just dig 'em out. Squeeze it to get the hair to the surface (if it's been in there a while you might get some crud out too like a zit) and pull it out with a pair of tweezers. Then just wash it with soap and water and you're all set.

No need to spend the time/money going to a doctor.

Digging it out is fine if you're okay with the risk of scarring and infection.

Sometimes the buggers need more care than one can safely do at home, or get infected enough to require antibiotics. Other times what looks like in ingrown hair is actually a fungal infection, an STI or something else that requires medical treatment. When recommended self-care fails, seeing a doctor to get a good diagnosis and instructions for the future is the best course of action.

We err on the safe side here by advising people to seek professional help just in case, because we don't really know the situation and most of us have no medical training. Plus, there are some royally stupid people who post and lurk here (Jadefirefly's certainly not one of them), so putting out the safest advice is the best way to go in case one or more of them see the thread.

 

[jadefirefly]

Plus, there are some royally stupid people who post and lurk here (Jadefirefly's certainly not one of them), so putting out the safest advice is the best way to go in case one or more of them see the thread.

*note to self: delete half-written post about having unprotected sex, then asking what the odds are of getting pregnant...*

Oh... oh, no, of course! I'm all bright and intelligent and edumakated, dontchaknowit!