Ingrown Hair removal...

I have an ingrown hair on the bottom shaft of my penis.  It is about 1/2inch in length now and is slightly painful.  I have had it for a few weeks.  There is a red bump at one end.  I can not see the hair underneath the skin which has kept me from removing it myself.  I have tried using a warm/hot towel to soften the skin and raise the hair, but it did not work.  I have used a needle to try to find the hair under the skin, but only made a pin-cushion out of my penis... ouch.  I would like to avoid seeing a doctor due to money constraints and a lack of medical insurance....  can anyone please help me?

[ktw1986]

also, was wondering an average cost for a doctor to help?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

For ingrown hair, cleanse the area thoroughly and apply a good mild exfoliating scrub on that.Then apply wet warm compresses. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove.Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful.In case the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics may be needed.Pls don’t poke it with a needle as it may invite infections and an abscess may form.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional queries.