Ingrown hair help!

[Keepingthefaith21]

Okay I am so sorry if this is gross but...

My FI has several ingrown armpit hairs. Since he''s stubborn he refuses to go to the Dr. but has no reservation about complaining about the discomfort. all. day. long. I have read that if I apply hot compresses there is a possibility that the hairs will come to the surface and I will be able to tweeze them out. Have any of you done this before?

I should also mention that FI wants to take a needle and punture the offending area to drain it

I can NOT imagine that this is a very good idea.

 

[oobiecoo]

The only ways I''ve ever tried to get rid of ingrown hairs are to

1)Not let anything rub on it for a while. For example... no shirt, arms above his head while he sleeps at night.
I never actually did this for my underarms so I don''t know how well that would work or if he''d be able to actually sleep.

and

2)The hot, moist compress.

and

3)Attack them with a needle. I''m sure people will say not to but I''m a take charge kind of girl and I do what it takes to get the job done lol. I do the same for ingrown toenails because I was a dancer... if I went to the doctor everytime I got one then I''d be broker than broke.

Hopefully he can fix the prob!

 

[somethingshiny]

I go straight for the needle. I don''t use it to drain the area, but to get under the hair and bring it to the surface for tweezing. I clean the needle and skin with rubbing alcohol before and after "surgery."

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 8/15/2008 5:15:37 PM
Author: somethingshiny
I go straight for the needle. I don''t use it to drain the area, but to get under the hair and bring it to the surface for tweezing. I clean the needle and skin with rubbing alcohol before and after ''surgery.''

Ditto, but truthful it is more of a hassle and I rather go to the doctor if you can do that.

 

[Haven]

I''m a waxing addict, and my waxer takes care of ingrown hairs when they pop up. Or rather, when they refuse to pop up.

Perhaps bring him to your waxing specialist. It hurts like heck, but it works!

 

[Blair138]

Ditto to what all the other ladies have said about getting it with a needle.

My sister is an esthetician (waxer) and she uses lancets for people with diabetes (because they are sterile) to puncture the skin and get the hair out. I also do it to myself.

I usually squeeze it like a pimple if you can see the hair. Otherwise, go in from the side with the needle, if the hair is visible, try to pull the hair up. then use a tweezer to pull it out all the way. It may still be red and hurt but it will go down.

Also, if this is a recurring problem, he should try Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peel Pads. They are like Noxzema pads coated in salcylic acid. I use them between waxes.

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions!

I finally got him to go to the Dr. and boy am I glad I did - turns out his "ingrown hair" was actually an infection in his sweat gland. So, while I did eventually lance the infected area once it came to a head, I was only comfortable doing so knowing he had antibiotics running through him.

BLAIR - the suggestion for the diabetic lanclets was priceless! We will continue to keep a stock of these around the house especially when I have my own hairs to contend with

 

[aprilcait]

Date: 8/18/2008 11:06:04 AM
Author: Keepingthefaith21
Thank you all so much for your suggestions!

I finally got him to go to the Dr. and boy am I glad I did - turns out his ''ingrown hair'' was actually an infection in his sweat gland. So, while I did eventually lance the infected area once it came to a head, I was only comfortable doing so knowing he had antibiotics running through him.

BLAIR - the suggestion for the diabetic lanclets was priceless! We will continue to keep a stock of these around the house especially when I have my own hairs to contend with

Oh, the poor thing! I felt for him when I read that he had ingrown armpit hair. I''ve had those... ow! An infected sweatgland, though... double ow! Good for you for getting him to the doctor.

 

[NYCsparkle]

try hard not to pick at those ingrown hairs. i had one on my leg once and picked at it....all i wound up with was cellulitis and a trip to the ER. the doc said i was lucky cuz it was starting to enter my bloodstream and i could have had to have surgery

. all that from an ingrown hair.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Use the compress, under the arm for several minutes to soften the skin and hair folicle. Then, carefully take slim point tweezers to the area. If the area is red, raised or appears puss infested--similar to a pimple, then the hair is actually very close to the surface. Don''t be surprised if you pull out a very, very, very long hair or even multiple hairs. Hair will continue to grow inside the body much faster than out. Once the hair is removed, clean the area with soap and water...and he should be a-ok.

 

[ljmorgan]

The diabetic lancets are definitely the best!

Also to keep ingrown hairs at bay, try strong manual exfoliation (loofah gloves, etc) and an alpha hydroxy lotion (glycolic acid) applied daily. You could also use acne gels containing salicylic in a pinch. I''ve heard the old "gentle exfoliation and keep the area moisturized" but that never works for me, as I have curly hair and have a tendency towards ingrown hairs. The manual exfoliation removes dead skin that traps hairs from growing correctly and also can help slightly pull out hairs that are starting to grow under the skin. The AHA is a great exfolitator that also helps with dead skin and keeps the area clear.

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Gosh Ladies, I can''t even believe I am writing this here but maybe it''s because this thread has more or less died down and I feel "safe" to have my worry/pitty party....

FI went back to the Dr. today to have his infection professionally lanced. The swelling was coming back faster than we could keep it drained and his pain was only increasing. I left FI to head to work and told him to send me a text after his appointment. The moment I saw him CALLING me at work my stomach went into knots. FI never calls me at work. Ever.

When they were examining his armpit further they discovered that the "infection" was actually a cyst that was ruptured. Around that one ruptured cyst were several other more dense and solid cysts. He is already scheduled to have all the cysts surgically removed tomorrow. Once the cysts are removed, they will be sent out for biopsy.

I know they say not to worry until you have to worry but I can''t help how badly I am freaking out inside. I made FI a HUGE dinner tonight and have been waiting on him hand and foot and I know he will be home after his surgery tomorrow but I am just a mess. Of course, I am trying to hide that from FI because I don''t want him to worry about me at all (which he would). So...here I am just letting it out on here.

Thank goodness for PS - a place where I feel safe letting things out.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 8/18/2008 9:23:07 PM
Author: Keepingthefaith21
Gosh Ladies, I can''t even believe I am writing this here but maybe it''s because this thread has more or less died down and I feel ''safe'' to have my worry/pitty party....

FI went back to the Dr. today to have his infection professionally lanced. The swelling was coming back faster than we could keep it drained and his pain was only increasing. I left FI to head to work and told him to send me a text after his appointment. The moment I saw him CALLING me at work my stomach went into knots. FI never calls me at work. Ever.

When they were examining his armpit further they discovered that the ''infection'' was actually a cyst that was ruptured. Around that one ruptured cyst were several other more dense and solid cysts. He is already scheduled to have all the cysts surgically removed tomorrow. Once the cysts are removed, they will be sent out for biopsy.

I know they say not to worry until you have to worry but I can''t help how badly I am freaking out inside. I made FI a HUGE dinner tonight and have been waiting on him hand and foot and I know he will be home after his surgery tomorrow but I am just a mess. Of course, I am trying to hide that from FI because I don''t want him to worry about me at all (which he would). So...here I am just letting it out on here.

Thank goodness for PS - a place where I feel safe letting things out.

I''m sorry to hear about this! And you are NOT having a pity party! You have every reason to be upset! I hope everything turns out fine with the surgery and biopsy and I''m sending loads of PS dust your way!

P.S. I''m so glad you got him to go to the doctor!

 

[Blair138]

OH NO! KTF-I am so sorry to hear that! Glad he finally went to the doc though-My FI is the same way, he had an ingrown toenail once and ''let it go'' until the pain was too much to bear, it was even worse when the doc ripped his toenail out...men are so silly sometimes...I hope your FI is OK...did the doc say what caused it? I have gotten small cysts in my armpits before from deoderant but they wen away on their own...

Glad you liked the lancet info though! I love those things and they are sanitary so I know they are safe!

 

[aprilcait]

I''m so sorry to hear that!

Take care of yourself. Big hugs!!!