Skin Health How to Remove an Ingrown Hair Cyst At-home treatment involves warm compresses, not popping By Nancy LeBrun Nancy LeBrun Nancy LeBrun is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning writer and producer who has been writing about health and wellness for more than six years Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 12, 2023 Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD LinkedIn Leah Ansell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Signs of Infection Treatment Causes Prevention Frequently Asked Questions Ingrown hair cysts are small, fluid-filled sacs of tissue on the skin. They form around a piece of hair that is growing into the skin instead of out of it. It may resemble a pimple on the skin. In some cases, you may be able to see the hair at the surface of the bump. Ingrown Hair or Cyst An ingrown hair is a place where hair has gotten trapped under the skin. It can cause a fluid-filled bump called a cyst. Ingrown hair cysts commonly form on the parts of the body that people shave, such as the armpits. Razor bumps from shaving (pseudofolliculitis barbae) are a type of ingrown hair cyst. They often go away on their own but can become infected and need treatment. This article explains what an ingrown hair cyst looks like and why they form. It also covers some home remedies and medical treatments for ingrown hair cysts, as well as tips for preventing them. Guido Mieth / Getty Images What Does an Ingrown Hair Cyst Look Like? Ingrown hair cysts can show up on any part of the body that has hair, but they commonly develop on the parts that you shave, including: Face Armpits Pubic area Legs A cyst from an ingrown hair can be red, white, or yellow. An ingrown hair cyst looks like a pimple, but it can grow bigger. Sometimes, you can see the hair in the cyst. If the bump gets larger or redder, oozes, or hurts, it could be infected. An infected ingrown hair cyst needs medical treatment. Ingrown Hair Cysts vs. Cystic Acne Ingrown hair cysts are not the same thing as cystic acne, which are bumps that form under a skin follicle when there is a buildup of bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells. What Does Cystic Acne Look Like? Signs of an Infected Cyst From an Ingrown Hair Ingrown hair cysts usually go away on their own. However, see a healthcare provider for an ingrown hair cyst or razor bumps if you notice signs of infection, including: Swelling Pus Redness Itching Pain Odor Fever How to Get Rid of Razor Bumps How to Safely Remove an Ingrown Hair Cyst Ingrown hair cysts will often go away on their own in about a week. If you can, stop shaving the area while it heals. It’s also important to keep the area clean and moisturized. You can help the process along with a simple home remedy. Just apply a warm, clean washcloth as a compress to soften your skin, which can help move the hair to the surface of the cyst. You can try using some topical treatments—either over-the-counter or prescription from your provider—to help with healing. Natural antimicrobials like tea tree oil can also be helpful. Do not try to pop an ingrown hair cyst. It will make an infection more likely and can lead to scarring. If the cyst looks infected or didn't go away after you tried at-home treatment, see a healthcare provider. They can give you antibiotics and other treatments to keep the infection from spreading and prevent scarring. The 7 Best Ingrown Hair Treatments for Safe Removal What Causes an Ingrown Hair Cyst? Ingrown hair cysts often show up where your hair is coarse or curly, like in the pubic region. You might be more likely to get ingrown hair cysts if you have coarse or curly hair. The cysts can also form where dead skin cells are blocking hair follicles. Removing hair is one of the most common causes of ingrown hair cysts, whether from shaving, waxing, or tweezing. These methods can irritate your skin, making it inflamed and swollen. When new hair forms, if the hair follicle is closed up, hair can't grow out of the follicle and through the skin. Instead, it grows inward or sideways. How to Keep an Ingrown Hair Cyst From Coming Back If you get a lot of ingrown hair cysts, try these prevention measures to keep them from coming back: Wash your skin with warm water and a gentle cleanser before shavingUse a gentle exfoliating agent before shaving to remove dead skin cellsUse a single blade or electric razor, and try not to keep going over the same areasKeep shaving tools cleanDo not shave too closelyAlways shave in the direction the hair grows and do not pull the skinShave less frequently, if possibleMoisturize your skin after shaving If you have chronic ingrown hair problems, it might be best to avoid shaving altogether. Instead, consider permanent ways to remove hair, like laser treatments, electrolysis, or creams. Are There Painless Forms of Hair Removal? Summary Ingrown hair cysts happen when a hair follicle gets blocked, and the hair grows into your skin instead of out. You should never pop an ingrown hair cyst because it can cause infection and scarring. The cysts may go away on their own, but if they hurt, look red, or ooze pus, see a healthcare provider for treatment. To reduce the chances of getting ingrown hair cysts, keep your skin clean and gently exfoliated and moisturized. You may want to shave less often. If you do shave, don't shave too close, and always shave in the direction the hair grows. Frequently Asked Questions How do you get rid of ingrown hair scars? Try to let the ingrown hair cyst heal on its own. You can help the process by avoiding shaving, keeping the area moisturized, and applying a warm compress. If these methods do not help, see a healthcare provider for treatment. Learn More: Pros and Cons of Different Hair Removal Methods Can ingrown hair cysts cause infection? Ingrown hair cysts do not cause infection, but they can get infected if bacteria grow in or around them. What can an ingrown hair be mistaken for? Ingrown hair cysts can look similar to cystic acne or other pimples. If they're in the pubic area, the bumps can be confused for genital herpes sores. Learn More: Is It An Ingrown Hair or Herpes? 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Ingrown hairs. University of Michigan Health. Razor bumps. Cedars-Sinai. Ingrown Hairs (Pseudofolliculitis). National Health Service. Ingrown hairs. By Nancy LeBrun In addition to her extensive health and wellness writing, Nancy has written about many general interest topics for publications as diverse as Newsweek, Teen Vogue, abcnews.com, and Craftsmanship Quarterly. She has authored a book about documentary filmmaking, a screenplay about a lost civil rights hero, and ghostwritten several memoirs. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit