When the weather gets warmer, most of us prefer to wear sleeveless clothes to take full advantage of the lovely weather. This means that we have to keep ourselves well groomed, in particular to keep the armpits smooth and hairless. Hair removal can become complicated when there are underarm ingrown hairs. These may appear as red blemishes and are often painful depending on how large they become. These blemishes may also become infected pustules that can limit movement in the affected arm.
What Are the Symptoms of Ingrown Hair Underarm?
- Hard bumps on the skin
- Pus-filled blemishes or blisters
- Hyperpigmentation
- Pain and irritation of the area
- Itching and burning feeling
- Hair tips that are not free from the skin–they grow under the skin
- Razor rash
- Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit caused by bacterial infection
How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair Underarm
Sometimes, if there is no pustule and infection, leaving the ingrown hair alone will be sufficient. This strand may, on its own, find a way to the surface of the skin. However, if you have to remove the ingrown underarm hair, there are some home remedies to try:
1. Warm Compress
Apply a warm compress to the affected area that has been cleaned with warm, soapy water. Use a clean, disinfected needle or sharp tweezers to gently dislodge the hair from the bump on the skin. Apply an antibiotic cream or a mild disinfectant to the area. If the area is itchy, apply a mild hydrocortisone cream to the affected area. Take care not to overuse the hydrocortisone cream because chronic use can cause the skin to become thin.
2. Sugar Exfoliation
Use sugar as an exfoliator to remove the layer of dead skin, leaving the area clear for the hair to poke through. A great recipe for an exfoliator is: Prepare 125ml of extra-virgin olive or jojoba oil mixed with 250g of white sugar. Add a few drops of essential oils like lavender and tea-tree oil. Use this scrub to gently cleanse the area with the ingrown bumps. Use circular motions to lift up the dead skin cells. Rinse the area with warm water. Use this scrub up to two times per week to keep your skin bump-free. This mixture can be stored in airtight container.
3. Baking Soda Exfoliation
Baking soda also has an exfoliating effect on the skin. It helps to soothe the skin because it has anti-inflammatory properties. Prepare 15ml of baking soda mixed into 250ml water. Use a cotton ball to gently apply the solution to the affected area. Leave the solution onto the skin for about 5 minutes before washing off with cold water. This solution can be used up to three times daily. A scrub containing: 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of oatmeal and 15ml of water can be mixed to form a paste. Apply this paste to the affected area up to two times daily. Leave the paste on for about 5 minutes before rinsing off with warm water and gently drying the area.
4. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties to treat ingrown hair underarm. Dilute about 5 drops of tea tree oil into 30ml of clean, distilled water and apply to the underarm ingrown hair, after cleansing with an antibacterial. Leave it to stand for about 10 minutes before washing off with warm water. This method can be used up to two times daily. Use olive oil as the carrier oil by adding 3 drops of this essential oil to 15ml of olive oil. Massage the mixture into the underarm ingrown hair and leave it for 10 minutes after which you can wash off the mixture with warm water and pat dry. This method can also be used up to 2 times per day.
5. Aspirin Paste
Aspirin is a useful anti-inflammatory for the bumps of underarm ingrown hair. It is also a great skin exfoliator. People with very sensitive skin should avoid this method. Dissolve 2 aspirin tablets in about 5ml of warm water to form a paste. Add 5ml of honey to the paste and mix well. Apply this paste to the bump of the underarm ingrown hair and let it stand for about 10 minutes. Wash off the paste with lukewarm water and dry skin gently. This method can be used up to twice a week.
6. Salt
Saltworks two-fold on ingrown underarm hair: it works as an exfoliator and encourages healing by improving circulation. People with sensitive skin should be careful with this method. Add 7.5ml of salt to 250ml of warm water. Using a cotton ball, dab the salt solution to the area and leave to dry for 5 minutes. Rinse off the solution. Use this method up to two times daily.
7. Black Tea Bags
Black tea bags contain tannic acid which is a potent anti-inflammatory. Rub a wet tea bag over the ingrown underarm hair a few times during the day. Another use of the black tea bag is to let the bag steep in hot water. Take the bag out of the water and squeeze any excess water out into a container. Into this container, add 5ml of coconut water. Use a cotton ball to dab the area with this mixture. You can use this method two times daily until the bumps have disappeared.
How to Prevent Ingrown Hair Underarm
- Shave using a sharp blade, towards the end of your shower or bath. This will ensure the hair is softer after absorbing water. Only use sharp blades and replace any blunt blades as soon as possible.
- Use shaving gel which is a better lubricant for the skin and won't dry out the skin as the shaving foam would.
- Shave in the same direction as the hair grows to prevent ingrown underarm hair. Go over an area only once with light pressure only from the razor.
- People with sensitive skin should shave less frequently to allow hair to grow a bit longer.
- Exfoliate skin regularly to remove dead skin cells and dirt that prevent hair from growing outwards.
- Moisturize the underarms to keep the skin smooth. Smooth skin is easier to shave.