Can an ingrown hair develop a scar?
On One Hand: Ingrown Hairs Can ScarAccording to Mayo Clinic doctors, chronic ingrown hairs can lead to permanent scarring. Symptoms of ingrown hairs are very like those of acne, including redness, inflammation and filling with pus. When ingrown hair victims scratch at, pick at or pop their ingrown hairs, this can scar the skin and leave dark red pigmentation behind, which is the same thing that happens with acne.On the Other: Not All In-Grown Hairs ScarNot all ingrown hairs leave scars behind. The Mayo Clinic says doctors sometimes recommend prescription retinoids, corticosteroids and antibiotics to alleviate inflammation and prevent or treat infection. They also cite that patients can wash the ingrown hairs with a soft-bristled toothbrush or washcloth and release the ingrown hair with a sterilized needle to get rid of the ingrown hairs without visiting a doctor. Using these treatments, ingrown hairs are less likely to become pus-filled or get infected, which increases the risk of scar
