11 Pubic Ingrown Hair Treatments to Smooth and Prevent, According to Dermatologists

Establish a Good Body Care Routine

A solid skincare routine shouldn't be reserved for just your face—your body deserves some love, too. "Proper skin care is vital to preventing ingrown hair," confirms European Wax Center's Stacie Harding, adding that ingrown treatment shouldn't just be done before and after a hair removal treatment. If you want clear, smooth skin, it's best to commit to a routine that will keep your body glowing.

Harding says to start with the basics: body wash, body scrub, ingrown hair serum, and body lotion. Look for products with ingredients that slow down hair growth, are non-comedogenic (meaning they won't clog your pores), and have gentle chemical exfoliants.

Incorporate pH-Balanced Ingredients Into Your Routine

Speaking of a body care routine, say la V.'s Mimi Anderson mentions the importance of ingredients that help with pH balance. She explains that the vulvar skin is delicate and is easily irritated by traditional body washes, menstruation, and even sex, which can result in dryness, rashes, itching, or ingrown hairs from shaving.

Anderson recommends a daily pH-balanced nourishing wash for bacteria-balancing prebiotics. Once you’re out of the shower, she then suggests going in with a lightweight cream for hydrating ingredients that soothe and prevent bumps, blemishes, and ingrown hairs.

Exfoliate Before and After Hair Removal

Exfoliating the area before and after shaving, waxing, and epilating is an extra step toward keeping ingrown hairs at bay. Dermatologist, Purvisha Patel, MD, recommends cleansing the area with an exfoliating body wash with a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid.

Exfoliating can help alleviate ingrown hairs that have already cropped up around the bikini line. Dr. Patel says to "gently scrub the area twice a day with an exfoliating glove or a washcloth with an exfoliating cleanser" to remove the buildup of oils and dead skin cells.

Use a New Razor Each Time You Shave the Pubic Area

Shaving creates sharp edges on hair when it's cut. This sharp edge makes it easier for the hair to pierce the skin and grow back into it. "Using a fresh razor and shaving cream is important to prevent ingrown hairs because you will cause the least amount of skin irritation this way," says Anna Karp, DO.

Shave in the Direction of Hair Growth

Both Drs. Karp and Patel agree that one of the most important things you can do to prevent ingrown hairs is to shave in the direction of hair growth, despite what you may have been taught. When working against the grain of hair growth, there may be more chance of it breaking and a potentially increased chance of ingrown emerging.

And be mindful of the ingredients in your shaving creams and gels: "Shave gels and products that have oils in them can actually clog pores and make ingrown hairs worse," says Dr. Patel.

Try Sugaring

Waxing and sugaring remove the hair from the follicle, which is why the results can last so much longer than shaving. Sometimes, though, the hair breaks above or below the skin's surface as it's being uprooted. Just like shaving, these sharp, broken ends create a breeding ground for hair growing back into the skin. However, sugaring is far less likely to do so.

"Sugaring is better than waxing for preventing ingrown hairs," says Dr. Karp. Keep that in mind if you're prone to getting those angry red bumps. If you go to a professional that uses sugaring paste, you'll have the best chance of avoiding hair growing back into the skin. You can also try your hand at sugaring at home.

Keep the Area Clean, Especially Before Hair Removal

Just as you would wash your face 1-2 times a day to prevent acne-causing bacteria, it's important to keep the pubic area clean to prevent ingrown hairs. "It's equally important to rid your skin of any impurities that can be associated with ingrown hair," explains Harding. "Bacteria is one of the main causes of ingrown hair." Wash the surrounding skin with gentle, fragrance-free soap every day.

Take a Warm Bath to Soothe Existing Ingrown Hairs

Most ingrown hairs go away on their own. Sitting in warm baths daily or more than once a day can help, as do hot compresses on the area. "If you can see the hair, a warm compress can soften the hair and bring it closer to the surface. If you cannot see the hair, leave the compress on until the hair becomes visible," says Dr. Patel. If you have ingrown hair that is bothering you, apply a steroid cream to reduce inflammation and any itching or a topical antibiotic cream if it's painful and seems infected. If it doesn't clear up in a few days or gets worse, see your doctor, who might prescribe stronger creams, an oral antibiotic, or both.

Consider Laser Hair Removal

There's always a more permanent option if you're sick of having irritated skin from waxing or shaving. "Laser hair removal is the best option if you don't want to deal with ingrown hairs," says Dr. Karp. This technique damages the hair follicle, preventing the hair from growing back in. If you don't have any hair around your bikini line, you don't have to worry about it growing in the wrong direction.

Swipe On an Antiperspirant

Yes, really. Your antiperspirant could help keep your bikini area free of irritations and ingrown hairs, according to Dr. Karp. "One trick after shaving is to swipe your stick/soft deodorant over the freshly shaven area. Aluminum products have astringent, antibacterial, and anti-sweating properties so this can help also." Just keep in mind that aluminum is the key here, so if you use a natural deodorant, that won't work. You'll need an actual antiperspirant with aluminum on the ingredients list.

Opt for Cotton Underwear

Sometimes, the root of the problem is often the one most simple yet overlooked. Hygiene isn't just about what goes on in the shower or the treatments afterward—it can be something as simple as changing your underwear preference. To keep ingrown hairs away, Anderson suggests wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear. "The vulva is covered in sweat glands called apocrine glands, which create thicker sweat than the rest of your body," she explains. Along with Anderson, research has shown that a clean (and breathable) pair of cotton briefs can help avoid ingrown hairs, itching, and irritation.

Skip the Artificial Fragrances

Another simple tip to keep the ingrowns away is to completely avoid artificial fragrances, says Anderson. While scented products from natural oils, for example, might not be as irritating, she recommends that when in doubt, skip anything that's labeled as artificial. Products like toilet paper, menstrual pads, baby wipes and more often come with these, and it's best to leave them on the shelves if you want to avoid itching and irritation "down there."