Some ingrown hair serums can work to help prevent and treat ingrown hairs. How? Well, serums that are filled with exfoliants, like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid—help slough away the dead skin and oils that "glue" together under your skin, get inflamed, and trap your hair follicles. Some formulas, however, are made to soothe inflamed ingrown hairs with anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe vera, allantoin, and bisabolol. These won't necessarily prevent ingrown hairs from forming, but they can treat current flare-ups and make them a little less angry.
TBH, though, an ingrown hair serum (as well as other treatments like medicated body washes, scrubs, and toners) are your best bet to preventing and getting rid of ingrown hairs. Because if you thought plucking your ingrown hair would help, you're mistaken. "I do not recommend plucking ingrown hairs, as it can introduce bacteria into the skin, making it more likely to turn into a boil or abscess," Dr. Sandoval adds.
But if your ingrown hair is seriously painful and inflamed, even after trying the above products, see a dermatologist. "They can numb the area and remove the hair with a sterile instrument," says Dr. Sandoval. "They can also treat for infection if bacteria has found its way into the hair follicle."
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