An ingrown hair bump, or cyst, extends from your body’s surface and deep underneath it. It often looks like a red pimple with one hair on its surface, but other types can look different and occur on various body parts.
Every pore on your skin contains a hair follicle. Pores are the small holes in our skin that allow sweat and oil to reach the surface of the glands underneath.
The hair grows from the bottom of your pore and is kept bathed in sebum secreted by the pore. But if the top of your pore becomes blocked due to debris or too much sebum and it swells shut, the hair can’t make its way out, resulting in an ingrown hair.
Keep reading to learn about the types of ingrown hair cysts and how to treat and prevent them.
As the name suggests, ingrown hair cysts start as ingrown hairs, but they can look different depending on the type.
The following chart summarizes the different types of ingrown hair cysts that can form, what causes them, and how to identify them.
| Type | Development and cause | Affected area | How to identify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps) | These form around a hair that gets stuck in the follicle and curls back inside. | shaved areas, more commonly on your chin, legs, groin, or neck | These look like raised, red bumps along with skin darkening. The bumps can be darker brown on darker skin tones. Pseudofolliculitis barbae is |
| Pilar cysts (also called trichilemmal cysts) | These develop from the bottom of your hair follicle, where keratin builds up. These can be genetic. | mainly your scalp | These appear as a round bump the same color as your surrounding skin. |
| Epidermoid cysts | These grow from the top layer of your skin or the epidermis but can still trap ingrown hair. The buildup of keratin also triggers them. They may also be a symptom of Gardner’s syndrome. | primarily your head, neck, trunk, and genitals | These are the same color as your surrounding skin. They range from |
| Pilonidal cyst or sinus | These happen when your hair becomes stuck in the follicle. They’re often | top of buttocks | This looks small and is often white or yellow. |
| Steatocystoma | These grow from the sebaceous duct inside the hair follicle and can trap hair. Some are caused by a genetic mutation of the KRT17 gene | often on your trunk, arms, and groin | This appears yellowish and smooth, though it may look darker on darker skin tones. |
| Eruptive vellus hair cysts | This | mostly on your chest, limbs, and abdomen | When irritated in lighter skin tones, these look like smooth papules of a flesh color or red. In darker skin tones, it can be more violaceous (purple) or dark brown-black. |
In cases of razor bumps, the primary goal of treatment is to reduce the surrounding inflammation and decrease your risk of infection.
Possible treatments for razor bumps include:
- moisturizing and discontinuing shaving
- over-the-counter (OTC) medications containing benzoyl peroxide or retinoids
- steroid cream such as hydrocortisone
- using body washes and lotions with gentle glycolic acid
Once an ingrown hair cyst has become inflamed and started to change in size, a healthcare professional may need to perform an incision and drainage to shrink the cyst and remove the ingrown hair.
Other treatments by type include:
- Pilar cysts: These don’t need to be treated but can be removed for cosmetic reasons.
- Epidermoid cysts: These may go away on their own but may need to be removed surgically.
- Pilonidal cysts: You typically would try a sitz bath or a warm compress first, but you may need antibiotics or surgery.
- Steatocystoma: These can be removed surgically or with a laser, electrosurgery (removal with heat), or cold therapy with liquid nitrogen. Oral isotretinoin (Accutane) can help shrink the cysts, and you may also need antibiotics.
- Eruptive vellus hair cysts: These
can be treated with certain topical medications such as retinoic acid or lactic acid, or they can be removed and drained with a needle.
What not to do
Don’t try to lift the hair out with tweezers like you might with typical ingrown hair. At this point, your hair is embedded far too deep underneath the bump or cyst for you to pull it out.
If this doesn’t help, you may have a cyst type that requires additional treatment.
In most cases, you won’t need to see a healthcare professional for razor bumps. OTC treatments can usually help coax the hair out.
If the bumps or cysts become extremely bothersome — or if they aren’t fading — see a healthcare professional or dermatologist.
They can figure out the type of cyst it is and drain it or remove it.
You should also see a healthcare professional if you suspect an infection. Symptoms of infection
The only way you can prevent ingrown hairs from occurring at all is to refrain from hair removal altogether. Even then, ingrown hairs can still happen.
Hair removal methods that don’t require shaving are less likely to result in ingrown hairs, but they don’t necessarily get rid of the problem entirely. If you’re prone to getting ingrown hairs, you may still be at mild risk, even with some of these methods. Laser hair removal is a good way to get rid of ingrown hair because it destroys the underlying hair follicle.
The best way to reduce the incidence of ingrown hairs is to stop tweezing, plucking, and waxing your hair until it has escaped by itself or with the help of a professional.
If you decide to remove the hair yourself, practice smart hair removal to reduce your chance of ingrown hair. Some types of ingrown hair cysts can’t be prevented simply by avoiding hair removal. In cases where treatment is needed, a doctor will figure out the best course for you.
At-home hair removal tips
- Only use sharp razors. Dull razors may not cut your hair straight, which can cause the hairs to curl back into your skin.
- Shave with warm, not hot, water.
- Replace your disposable razor every 5-7 shaves.
- Always use shaving cream, shaving gel, or some other lubricant.
- Tweeze only in the direction of your hair growth.
- Avoid overwaxing. Before you can safely remove it again, you’ll need to let your hair grow out to be at least as long as an uncooked grain of rice.
- Apply body lotion or soothing aftershave after every hair removal session.
How do I get rid of a cyst in my pubic area?
If the pubic cyst is caused by ingrown hair, it may go away on its own, or your doctor can remove it. If it’s infected, you’ll need antibiotics.
How long does an ingrown hair cyst last?
If they’re not infected, some ingrown hair cysts can go away on their own after several days or weeks.
Timely treatment can help eliminate ingrown hair cysts and reduce their chance of returning. In some cases, there’s another underlying cause, such as a genetic mutation, which means they can develop again.
If ingrown hairs continue to form, see a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying causes. They may also recommend more permanent hair removal methods, such as laser hair removal, to help reduce your risk of ingrown hairs and bumps.
If your cysts are hereditary, you may need ongoing treatments as they recur.