How To Get Rid of an Ingrown Hair Cyst

Ingrown hairs are incredibly common, and most resolve on their own before you even realize there’s an issue. But when trapped strands remain beneath the skin’s surface, inflammation builds, and a painful cyst develops. Join us to learn how to get rid of an ingrown hair cyst and prevent them from appearing in the future.

What is an ingrown hair cyst?

Ingrown hair cysts may be confused with pimples, razor burn, or folliculitis, but may cause intense, persistent discomfort. 

What does an ingrown hair cyst look like?

An ingrown hair cyst may appear as a hard or squishy pimple, lump, or boil under the skin in areas that are frequently shaved or waxed. They’re usually round or oval with a smooth surface and, sometimes, have a central dark spot where the trapped hair is visible. 

While these bumps can appear anywhere, they’re most commonly found in areas with coarse, curly hair, including the face, armpit, legs, scalp, and pubic area.

What are the symptoms of an ingrown hair cyst?

In addition to the actual cyst, you may experience:

• Pain and tenderness to the touch
• Warmth in the general area
• An itching or burning sensation
• Drainage of pus or a clear to yellow fluid
• Swelling that lasts weeks or months

What are the complications of an ingrown hair cyst?

Though unsightly and uncomfortable, ingrown hair cysts are usually harmless. However, infections, scarring, and lasting discoloration may all occur if the condition doesn’t resolve on its own. If the area becomes infected, it can cause increasing pain, spreading redness, fever, and a thick, foul-smelling discharge.

Related: Aftercare Waxing Products You Need in Your Studio

What causes an ingrown hair cyst?

Understanding how an ingrown hair cyst forms will help you get rid of existing cysts and prevent new ones from appearing. Let’s walk through the formation of an ingrown hair cyst step by step.

Hair gets trapped

After hair removal, a single hair may curl back into the skin, grow sideways, or fail to break through the skin. This is particularly common with coarse stubble left from shaving, but may also happen with new post-wax hair growth, especially when friction has occurred. 

The follicle gets blocked

Dirt, oil, and dead skin cells may then clog the follicle, leaving the hair with no escape route. The bacteria that normally live on your skin can become trapped around the root. 

A pocket forms

At this point, your body has likely identified the ingrown hair as a threat and has begun fortifying itself against an attack. To protect the surrounding skin, it creates a small sack or pocket around the trapped hair filled with keratin, fluid, pus, and bacteria. 

The cyst develops

Your ingrown hair has now evolved into a full-blown cyst. It may slowly enlarge, becoming firm, rubbery, and a bit more defined. In some cases, it may remain in this state for weeks or months. 

Inflammation and infection

Your body will eventually mount an immune response and send inflammatory cells to the area. This is when redness, warmth, swelling, and pain really increase, and the complications can become more serious.

Read more: Does Waxing Cause Ingrown Hairs?

How do you get rid of an ingrown hair cyst?

We’ve all been there. You know a single hair is trapped under the skin, and you may even be able to see it. Even though it seems so easy to pluck it out with a pair of tweezers, avoid squeezing, popping, or plucking, as this poses risks. Here’s how to remove an ingrown hair cyst without damaging your skin or increasing the risk of infection:

Apply warm compresses

In the first few days after waxing, your goal is to avoid heat in order to minimize inflammation. However, once your skin has healed, you can apply a warm compress to the area two to three times a day for 15 to 20 minutes each time to encourage the hair to release. To prevent burns and bacterial contamination, always use a clean cloth dipped in warm water, not hot.

Gentle exfoliation

As with warm compresses, exfoliation shouldn’t be performed on freshly waxed skin. Beginning about 72 hours after your appointment, use a gentle exfoliant over the affected area once or twice each day.

Salicylic acid is often preferable, as it can penetrate the clogged follicle to break down buildup beneath the skin. However, other gentle acids, such as lactic and glycolic, and soft, clean washcloths can also help remove dead skin cells from the surface. 

OTC treatments

In addition to the chemical exfoliants above, you’ll find plenty of great post-wax products to eliminate ingrown hairs, including ItalWax’s Ingrown Hair Therapy products, available in a concentrated cream or active paste. 

When to seek professional care

When cysts don’t clear up within two to three weeks, you may need to see your doctor for a stronger prescription medication. Don’t wait to schedule an appointment if you notice any of the following:

• Increasing discomfort
• Spreading redness
• Thick yellow or green discharge
• Pain when sitting or walking

Related reading: How Ingrown Hair Serum Helps Eliminate Ingrown Hairs

Avoid ingrown hairs from waxing with top-quality pre- and post-wax products from Bare Beauty!

Whether you shave or wax, ingrown hair cysts are possible along the bikini line, among facial hair, and beyond. Explore Bare Beauty’s extensive collection of pre-wax supplies and post-wax products to get rid of ingrown hair cysts and prevent new blemishes after your next treatment.