# how to deal with ingrown hairs (TMI) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806 "2002-12-19T14:55:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806/1 "2002-12-19T14:55:20Z")
I have been plagued with many ingrown hairs on my legs. Its unsightly, and I haven’t been able to think of a way to get rid of them. Anybody have any advice? I have a LOT of them! ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806/2 "2002-12-19T15:22:16Z")
Whn I’ve had any I just used a disinfected pin to get them out ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806/3 "2002-12-19T15:40:44Z")
Do you shave your legs against the direction of the hair? This is more germane to the bikini and armpit areas, but when I started shaving with the direction of the hair I got less ingrown hairs. They’re fun to pluck out with a sharp tweezer, although I’m sure I’m compounding the problem and increasing the potential for infection by doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Alexxandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alexxandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alexxandra)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806/4 "2002-12-19T15:48:39Z")
I used to get them quite often in my bikini area, but no where else. I haven’t gotten them since I switched to using a chemical hair remover in that area. When you use a pin or twezer to get 'em out, doesn’t it hurt like MAD? Do you just poke around and dig them out? ---
**Author:** ![Alice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806/5 "2002-12-19T15:54:30Z")
Exfoliating helps a lot, although it doesn’t get rid of them entirely. Digging around with a pin / tweezers is not a good idea if you have sensitive skin. ---
**Author:** ![Alto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Alto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alto)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806/6 "2002-12-19T16:04:47Z")
Get a loofah or one of those rough bath mitts. Soak for a while, then scrub your legs against the direction of the hair. This releases a lot of the ingrown hairs and is helpful if you have too many to get them all with pin. Put some lotion on afterwards, and don’t shave until the next day if possible, because the process can be a little irritating. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806/7 "2002-12-19T16:11:30Z")
I _never_ shave my legs…I have enough problems without scraping some sharp blade against them :eek: After taking a shower this morning, I was horrified to discover that I have quite a few on my butt :eek: wonderful ---
**Author:** ![jenex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@jenex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jenex)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-ingrown-hairs-tmi/143806/8 "2002-12-19T16:26:40Z")
Use a soap with glycolic or salycilic acid…one of those Neutragena or Clearasil bodwashes…it helps slough of the surface layer of dead skin so the hairs are set free. It probably won’t cure the problem but it will help, especially on the backside.