An ingrown hair scar is caused when the end of a hair is trapped beneath the skin, but continues to grow. This usually leads to formation of puss around the area, which may lead to infection.
The pus-filled area irritates the skin and most people end up popping or pricking the area. This leads to scarring, sometimes severe, leaving behind areas of skin discoloration. The scars remain long after the ingrown hair has healed.
Ingrown hair scars can cause people to lose confidence and feel self-conscious around others. But it really doesn’t have to be so. These scars, no matter how severe in appearance, can be treated using simple ingredients right in the comfort of your own home.
So, stop worrying about your scars and read on to find out how to get rid on ingrown hair scars effectively.
What You Will Need
In this guide to ingrown hair scars removal, I will share not one but two highly effective ways to treat the scars. Depending on what material are easily available in and around your home, you can pick either of the methods.
For Method 1, You will Need
- A non-comedogenic oil such as olive oil, hemp seed oil, argan oil or shea butter oil. These oils can be used on your skin for this purpose as they work without clogging your pores.
- Baking soda for exfoliation. Baking soda is a great natural exfoliant that contains several small smooth, rounded particulates that help in scrubbing off dead skin cells.
- Diluted lemon juice to act as a source of Vitamin C for the skin.
- Cotton pads to help apply the lemon juice over the skin.
- A clean, dry washcloth to help dry the skin. Make sure that the cloth is clean and new. You don’t want to risk an infection by using an old or dirty cloth.
For Method 2, You will Need
- Black tea bags. Black tea contains tannic acid which helps in soothing the skin and reducing the redness of the scars caused due to ingrown hair.
- 1 teaspoon of coconut water.
- Cotton balls to apply mixture of black tea and coconut water on the skin.
2 Methods How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair Scars
Without further delay, here are the two simple and easy-to-follow methods that will help you battle ingrown hair scars effectively.
Method 1
Step 1
In the first step, we use a non-comedogenic oil to treat the affected area as it helps dissolve the dirty oils produced due to bacterial presence, hormonal activity and dead skin cells lurking on the skin.
What you will need to do is pour one tablespoon of the oil into your palm and spread it over the scarred areas. Do so in a gentle manner, moving your fingers in a repetitive circular motion. Massage over the scarred area for at least 3 good minutes.
Step 2
After applying the oil over the scarred area and massaging well for a few minutes, you will need to place a steaming hot washcloth over the scar. Leave the washcloth on till it cools down completely.
This step revolves around the application of heat on the skin to open up the pores which allows all the trapped dirt and dust to escape. While removing the washcloth, be sure to wipe away any remaining oil.
Step 3
To get rid of the scar, we first need to get rid of the old skin cells that are still lingering around. To do this, we need to use a strong exfoliating agent like baking soda. Take a small bowl and mix one tablespoon each of baking soda and water into it. Do not use any more baking soda as it can cause skin irritation.
After mixing the baking soda and water, spread the mixture onto the scarred area using your fingers. Move your fingers in slow circular motions and cover the entire affected area thoroughly. Be careful not to touch your eyes as baking soda can cause a severe burning sensation. After massaging for about 3 minutes, rinse off the skin with warm water.
Step 4
In this next step, we need to re-nourish the skin with Vitamin C for a speedy and healthy recovery. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid helps greatly in skin cell growth.
What you will need to do is soak the cotton pads in lemon juice. Use the soaked pads to apply the lemon juice to the scarred areas. Wait for about 10 minutes after applying the lemon juice soaked pads to the skin. After removing the pads, leave the skin to dry for a few minutes.
Repeat this method after a few days if the scarring is only removed partially.
Don’t overdo the method as baking soda can leave your skin irritated.
Method 2
Step 1
Start by dipping a black tea bag in hot water for a few minutes till the water turns a deep black. Once done, squeeze the tea bag in a small bowl.
Step 2
Add one teaspoon of coconut water to the bowl and mix well. Use a cotton ball to apply this mixture over the scarred area. Repeat this procedure twice daily to help remove the scar faster.
This simple, two-step method is pretty easy to perform for anyone. It is a great alternative method to use in case your skin is overly sensitive to baking soda.
5 Pro-Tips How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair Scars
Apply Aloe Vera Gel
Sometimes ingrown hair scars present themselves with severe inflammation of the skin that can be painful. To treat this effectively, you can apply aloe vera gel over the scarred area daily.
Aloe vera has been proven to contain anti-inflammatory properties without the risk of any side effects. Simply use your fingers to leave a layer of aloe vera gel over the scarred area and leave it open to dry.
Using A Lightening Cream
If the darkness caused around the scarred area does not reduce even after a long time, you can try using a lightening cream that helps reduce the darkness of the skin.
Many popular lightening creams contain hydroquinone which has a carcinogenic effect – so try to avoid such creams. Instead look for a lightening cream that contains either Kojic acid, arbutin or bearberry extract, or Vitamin C.
Leave The Ingrown Hair Alone
Whenever you have an ingrown hair causing inflammation or irritation, fight all your temptations and try not to pick at it.
If you leave the ingrown hair alone, chances are it will heal faster and not get infected.
Avoid Sunlight
Whenever you are suffering from ingrown hair scars, it is best to avoid sunlight especially in the afternoons.
If you have to go outside, then make sure to apply a strong sunscreen lotion over the scarred areas. You will need the sunscreen to prevent the scars from deteriorating even further due to the harshness of the sunlight.
Meet A Dermatologist
If your ingrown hair scars are not responding to any home remedy or over-the-counter treatment, it is time to meet a dermatologist.
There are several advanced skin treatments available today like laser. This can help fight even the most severe scars with ease.
Don’t panic if the home remedies are not working – simply meet your skin care specialist and ask for the best options available.
Conclusion
Apart from the two main methods discussed above to fight the problem of ingrown hair scars, I have also shared several pro-tips regarding the issue which you can use to take better care of your skin.
I would like to strongly recommend meeting a dermatologist in case none of the above methods and tips work, before the condition worsens. Also, make sure to follow the above methods step-by-step for best results.
I hope this ingrown hair scar removal guide will help you get rid of all your scars effectively. If you have any queries or suggestions to share, please feel free to use the comments section below.
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