HEALTH Notes
WHAT TO DO ABOUT...Ingrown hairs: They are particularly troublesome for men on the face and the back of the neck.
If possible, you should leave them for a while as they may disappear without you having to do anything and don’t pick or scratch as bacteria can enter the small wound created, increasing your risk of infection. It can also cause scarring.
Avoid squeezing the spots as it can damage the skin and also lead to infection.
If an ingrown hair is near the surface of your skin, gently tease it out with a sterile needle or tweezers but don’t dig for it if it’s deep under the skin. Men prone to ingrown hairs around their face could try growng out their beard as longer hairs are are less likely to become ingrown.
If there are lots of pus-filled spots (folliculitis) don’t shave for a few days and see if it gets better. Also try dabbing a mild antiseptic, such as tea tree oil, on to the affected area.
See your GP if the spots don’t improve.