How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hair on Lip Line and Upper Lip

Are you wondering if what you have is an ingrown hair, cold sore or a pimple? This post examines the distinguishing features of an ingrown hair on lips, how to get rid of it, prevention and infection treatment.

Ingrown Hair on Lips

While facial hair in males is no big deal, girls may find it aesthetically unappealing. It is a result of hormonal imbalance and hereditary factors which result in acceleration of facial hair growth. Though not a serious condition, upper lip hair may be of cosmetic concern to many thus necessitating removal. Yet, in a bid to eliminate the hair lies the possibility of ingrown hair on lips. African-Americans, Latinos and people with thick curly hair are more predisposed to have ingrown hair. 

Ingrown hairs occur when hair growing out of the skin fails to and instead curls back inside of to the side of the skin causing red bumps to appear. The cause for the in-growth may be clogged pores, inappropriate shaving techniques can result in the sharp end left piercing the skin. You can get ingrown hair on lips after plucking, shaving, tweezing or waxing.

Ingrown hair on Upper Lip, Lip Line or above the Lip Symptoms

• When there is an ingrown hair around, under or on the upper lip, a pimple like red raised bump will appear. Severe cases of ingrown hairs may appear in the form of a boil- like bump or sore. Swelling is a common feature of the problem.
• A close look at the ingrown hair bump may reveal a hair trapped within it. Pus is also a component of the bump at times.
• The area will be painful, itchy and uncomfortable.

How to get Rid of Ingrown Lip Hair – Lip Ingrown Hair Treatment

Removing an ingrown hair from the lip involves softening the skin, loosening the hair and making it easy to grab or tease out of the skin.

1. Exfoliate

Skin exfoliation helps to open up clogged pores by removing dirt, accumulated sebum and dead skin cells. This makes it easy to get the hair out of the skin as this could be what was trapping it inside. Use a lip or facial scrub to exfoliate skin around the lips. An exfoliating brush could work too.

2. Apply a Warm Compress

 A warm compress placed on the skin softens the skin around the lip ingrown hair. This way the trapped hair gets closer to the skin easily from where it can easily be pulled out. Simply dip a wash cloth in hot water and hold it on the ingrown hair bump until you can see the hair. For deeply ingrown hairs on lips, you may have to repeat this a number of times to yield results. Warm compresses also aid in drainage in case pus had accumulated around the hair. This takes away swelling on the ingrown hair.  

Another option for a warm compress is to use milk and bread. Warm some milk and dip a slice of milk in it. Place the bread on the lip ingrown hair and leave it on until it cools. Repeat the same until the compress has been on the skin for about 10 minutes.

3. Remove the Hair with a Sharp Object

Once you have done the above, the ingrown hair will be close to the surface of the skin. You can now use a pair of tweezers or a needle to pull the hair out. Ensure that your item of choice has been sterilized to avoid infecting the hair. Also pay attention so you do not dig into the skin. Simply pull it out from the loop.

4. Use an Egg Membrane

An egg membrane is an effective way on how to get rid of ingrown hair on lips. Get the membrane from inside the egg shell and cover the affected part of the lip with it. Leave it on to dry and once it does, pull it off. It should come off with the ingrown hair.

5. Avoid and Treat Infections on the Ingrown Hair Bump

Once you have the hair out, it is important to apply antiseptic to avoid infections. In case after nudging the hair out it still doesn’t emerge, probably because it is deeply ingrown, see your dermatologist so they can have it treated. Wrong handling of the ingrowing hair could result in scabbing and scarring of the ingrown hair on lip.

To treat the irritated skin after removal of the ingrown hair, you can apply aloe vera. Its healing nature will aid in skin repair and protect it against bacterial infections. Antibiotics may also be prescribed by your dermatologist in case an infection flares up.

How to Prevent Ingrown Hair on Lips

1. After hair removal, use a wet washcloth to tease stubborn ingrown hairs on the lips out. Rubbing an exfoliating scrub in circular motion can help achieve the same effect.
2. If you can, avoid shaving hair around your lips. Instead, settle for other hair removal methods such as waxing, epilation and depilatory creams. If you must shave, use a sharp single-bladed razor. Before shaving, moisturize your skin. Use fewest strokes possible to shave in the direction of hair growth and finish off with a cool rinse and an aftershave. These steps should help you prevent ingrown hair on lips.
3.  Have a cleansing routine to protect the pores against blockage. Clean your face twice daily, exfoliate regularly and keep your face moisturized. These will promote appropriate hair growth as there will be no barriers to inhibit their surfacing on the skin.
4. Before engaging removing hairs on the upper lip, lip line, above the lip or on the lower lip, prepare it efficiently. Apply a warm compress on the skin to open up the pores. Relax your face to prevent the follicles from constricting during removal of hair on the lips. Once you are done with hair removal, engage in proper aftercare.

Ingrown Hair on Lip or cold sore

Although the symptoms of an ingrown hair and a cold sore may overlap, the two are different skin issues affecting the lips and area around the mouth. While a cold sore is caused by the herpes virus, an ingrown hair is the result of a hair failing to emerge on the surface of the skin. The resulting bumps for both situations may contain fluid and scab over. While cold sores are contagious, ingrown hairs are not. An ingrown hair should also not be confused for a pimple.

List of References

1. Ingrown Hair: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/ingrown-hair-causes-symptoms-treatment#1
2. How To Get Rid Of Ingrown Facial Hair (Causes, Prevention, and Removal): http://beardoholic.com/ingrown-facial-hair/
3. How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs in a Moustache: https://www.livestrong.com/article/263380-how-to-prevent-ingrown-hairs-in-a-moustache/