TMI- Ingrown hair

MrsZiz · September 2009

So I've had this ingrown hair in my bikini line (more like my upper thigh) since I was about 28 weeks pregnant. I thought I got the hair out and the skin was just scared but apparently I was wrong. Now it's all red and inflammed again, I've tried squeezing it and it brings me to complete tears. It hurts like F%$%!! I've tried using PRID ointment and that's not helping, I've tried warm compresses and that's not helping either... Anyone have any suggestions for how to get rid of it other than picking or digging at it because that just hurts too freaking bad and I don't want it to get more infected... Told you it was TMI!

inamra · September 2009

I never had ingrown hair problems but I lasered my hair a year ago (cuz I'm tired of shaving) and most of my hair (underarms, legs, etc) are all gone now except for a few fine ones. I highly recommend it, although it's costly but with almost all your hairs gone, you won't have ingrown problems and even with small fine hairs it would probably not ingrow as likely? Just a thought

MrsIH · September 2009

inamra:
I never had ingrown hair problems but I lasered my hair a year ago (cuz I'm tired of shaving) and most of my hair (underarms, legs, etc) are all gone now except for a few fine ones. I highly recommend it, although it's costly but with almost all your hairs gone, you won't have ingrown problems and even with small fine hairs it would probably not ingrow as likely? Just a thought

I have been wanting to try laser hair removal for a while... it doesn't hurt too badly does it? Did it take a few sessions to get rid of all or most of it?

MrsNicole&Brian808 · September 2009

I would talk to a dermatologist about how to get rid of it. Since it's in a private area, I'm hoping they won't need to actually see it. You don't want to get a bad infection down there by squeezing and picking at it!

HulaLove · September 2009

I've thought about lasering too, but after seeing the burn marks left on one of my friends I changed my mind. I'm sure there are many reputable places, just not where I live.

I sometimes use a needle with ingrowns. But that's a bit dodgy...

I'm looking forward to reading other's suggestions.

husky422 · September 2009

i'm a pick a holic so i would prob poke it with a sterlized needle. granted i think i should have been an esthetician in my past life cuz i love anything bump/zit related...haha.

you could use the compress, then poke? i know it's not a zit but what about trying to dry it out...toothpaste or dab of alcohol.

sorry it hurts.

HulaLove · September 2009

Ooooh I just remembered a remedy that my dad swears by. I'm not sure what the theory is behind it, but if he has an ingrown pimple or hair he puts a steeped tea bag on it.

husky422 · September 2009

also you may want to use tend skin or something similar.

hula--i think the tea bags help with inflammation. mh had a severe sunburn on his face and had to go to the er...they recommended steeped tea bags!

mrsdarling · September 2009

Ouch! Since you already tried the usual methods and they're not working, I would definitely suggest seeing a dermatologist. It could be infected and you don't want to let that go!

Don't worry about whether they'll need to see it. I had a rash that spread waaaaay up on my thigh, and I wore a skirt and boy-shorts to the appointment and felt covered enough to show it to my doctor. Believe me... derms have seen MUCH worse than a red bump!

Amy4773 · September 2009

Have you exfoliated? That usually helps. Although, since it's been there so long I'd be a tad concerned. Also, tea tree oil might help.

MauiWedding08 · September 2009

I bought this stuff from my old waxer lady - some antiseptic type toner stuff that is suppose to 1. prevent ingrowns and 2. help if you do get them. I always had good luck with it for prevention but I think there were times that it got pretty close to an infected ingrown and it helped. I'll look at the bottle when I get home.

Married2MrWright · September 2009

I would definitely go see a dermatologist for this one. You may need assistance removing it and a topical antibiotic if it is inflamed. Good luck!

inamra · September 2009

MrsIH:

inamra:
I never had ingrown hair problems but I lasered my hair a year ago (cuz I'm tired of shaving) and most of my hair (underarms, legs, etc) are all gone now except for a few fine ones. I highly recommend it, although it's costly but with almost all your hairs gone, you won't have ingrown problems and even with small fine hairs it would probably not ingrow as likely? Just a thought

I have been wanting to try laser hair removal for a while... it doesn't hurt too badly does it? Did it take a few sessions to get rid of all or most of it?

So where you go really matters. I wouldn't skimp on going to a cheap place unless it's reputable and has good reviews.

I've used both older and newer equipment before. The older ones hurt more (but I didn't mind for the legs/underarms as much...but for the bikini line, sometimes I'd want them to stop cuz it hurt so much =P). The newer ones don't hurt at all. With the older ones, I would get a bit red but they'd put aloe on it and it would be normal again in 1 hr. With the new ones, I'm not red even without the aloe. They also have numbing cream (like local anesthesia) that you can put on it 1/2 hr before the session but I tried it once and I was too lazy to do it again. Plus, the pain was bearable for me so I didn't care as much for it and with the new machines, it's not even painful IMO.

It does take several sessions. For my legs (I did only lower legs), it took about 6 sessions to get it to a point where I'm happy with it (it's really smooth now and I don't notice the sporadic thin hairs that are left unless I look closely). For my bikini line, it took 5 sessions and it's all clear so I was really happy with the results there. My underarms is the more stubborn one. I've gone through 7-8 sessions now and I think I may need 2 more but will have to wait until after pg (b/c they don't do it on pg women).

Overall, I'm really happy with the results b/c even with my stubborn underarms, it's a lot better than having to shave everyday and have such thick pricklies--I swam competitively since I was young so I've been shaving a lot and very often for a long time so it's gotten really thick so lasering was quite a lifesaver for me

MrsIH · September 2009

inamra:
MrsIH:

inamra:
I never had ingrown hair problems but I lasered my hair a year ago (cuz I'm tired of shaving) and most of my hair (underarms, legs, etc) are all gone now except for a few fine ones. I highly recommend it, although it's costly but with almost all your hairs gone, you won't have ingrown problems and even with small fine hairs it would probably not ingrow as likely? Just a thought

I have been wanting to try laser hair removal for a while... it doesn't hurt too badly does it? Did it take a few sessions to get rid of all or most of it?

So where you go really matters. I wouldn't skimp on going to a cheap place unless it's reputable and has good reviews.

I've used both older and newer equipment before. The older ones hurt more (but I didn't mind for the legs/underarms as much...but for the bikini line, sometimes I'd want them to stop cuz it hurt so much =P). The newer ones don't hurt at all. With the older ones, I would get a bit red but they'd put aloe on it and it would be normal again in 1 hr. With the new ones, I'm not red even without the aloe. They also have numbing cream (like local anesthesia) that you can put on it 1/2 hr before the session but I tried it once and I was too lazy to do it again. Plus, the pain was bearable for me so I didn't care as much for it and with the new machines, it's not even painful IMO.

It does take several sessions. For my legs (I did only lower legs), it took about 6 sessions to get it to a point where I'm happy with it (it's really smooth now and I don't notice the sporadic thin hairs that are left unless I look closely). For my bikini line, it took 5 sessions and it's all clear so I was really happy with the results there. My underarms is the more stubborn one. I've gone through 7-8 sessions now and I think I may need 2 more but will have to wait until after pg (b/c they don't do it on pg women).

Overall, I'm really happy with the results b/c even with my stubborn underarms, it's a lot better than having to shave everyday and have such thick pricklies--I swam competitively since I was young so I've been shaving a lot and very often for a long time so it's gotten really thick so lasering was quite a lifesaver for me

Thank you for the info! Smile That sounds really promising, I will have to look into it in my area. I wonder how you know that the machines are newer? Is there a name?

inamra · September 2009

MrsIH:

Thank you for the info! That sounds really promising, I will have to look into it in my area. I wonder how you know that the machines are newer? Is there a name?

So the older one is Lumenis Light Sheer Diode. It works better though (no pain, no gain!) and that's what I used for all my bikini line treatments (ouch!) and for part of my underarm and legs. The less painful/new one is Palomar StarLux Intense Pulsed Light and it requires more sessions (aka more $$).

I guess at this point, I don't even know if I'm gonna get those remaining underarm sessions b/c I justified the costs back then cuz I did it throughout the year before my wedding (since it takes up to 4-8 weeks between each session, depending on your skin/hair type, area to be lasered, etc). Anyway, HTH!

beachbubbles · September 2009

i would definitely head to a dermatologist-sounds like it could be infected and don't want to let that go...

redshoegirl · September 2009

HulaLove:

I sometimes use a needle with ingrowns. But that's a bit dodgy...

I do this too. Embarrassed I know, I KNOW - so bad!

I vote for dermatologist too.

TMI- Ingrown hair

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