Short answer: An ingrown nipple hair is a hair that has curled back into the skin, usually after plucking, shaving or waxing. Most can be managed at home. Warm compresses and leaving the bump alone help, while squeezing or digging it out with tweezers can cause infection. See a doctor if the area becomes very painful, hot or swollen, or if you get a fever.
From our survey: 72% of the women with hirsutism we surveyed remove hair from their chest or around the nipples, most often by plucking. See the full results.
A sore little bump next to your nipple, sometimes with a dark hair trapped under the skin, is a common result of removing nipple hair. It can be itchy, tender and worrying because of where it is. Here is what causes it, how to help it heal, what to avoid, and how to stop it from coming back.
What is an ingrown nipple hair?
An ingrown hair is a hair that grows back into the skin instead of out of it. It causes a raised, often itchy bump. On white skin the bump is usually red. On black or brown skin the redness can be harder to see, and the bump may look darker or a different color. Sometimes you can see the hair under the skin. If it gets infected, the bump can become painful and fill with pus. [1]
Why do ingrown hairs happen around the nipple?
Ingrown hairs are more likely in areas that are shaved, waxed, plucked or threaded, and in people with coarse or curly hair. [1] Hairs around the nipple tend to be terminal hairs, the thicker and darker type, [2] and they are often plucked or shaved. Trimming with scissors leaves the follicle and the hair tip outside the skin alone, which is why it is the gentlest option.
Is it an ingrown hair or something else?
Not every bump on or around the areola is an ingrown hair:
- Folliculitis is inflammation of the hair follicles. It causes small red bumps or pus-filled spots around several hairs, and it can follow shaving, waxing or plucking. [3] Read more about enlarged hair follicles on the breasts.
- Montgomery glands are normal oil glands on the areola. They look like small, skin-colored bumps and become more noticeable in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. A blocked gland can swell like a pimple. [4]
If a bump does not behave like an ingrown hair, for example it does not go away, it is a lump under the skin rather than on the surface, or the nipple itself is changing, get it checked. Breast changes worth showing a doctor include a new lump, nipple discharge that is not breast milk, a nipple that turns inward and red, flaky or thickened nipple skin. [5]
How to treat an ingrown nipple hair at home
Evidence: Limited Most ingrown hairs can be managed at home without seeing a doctor. [1] The steps below come from health services and are based on clinical experience rather than trials, but they are gentle and low risk.
1. Leave it alone and give it time
Stop plucking, shaving or waxing the area until it has healed. For folliculitis caused by hair removal, DermNet advises waiting about 3 months after it settles before you start again. [3]
2. Use a warm compress
Soak a clean washcloth in warm water, wring it out and hold it on the bump for a few minutes, a few times a day. Warm, moist compresses may help an inflamed follicle drain. [6] We found no evidence that adding salt to the water makes a difference, so plain warm water is fine.
3. Exfoliate very gently
An exfoliating scrub can help release trapped hairs. [1] On the areola, be gentle: use a soft washcloth or a mild scrub with light, circular movements, and skip it if the skin is broken or sore. A pharmacist can advise on exfoliating products, antiseptics and creams to ease itching. [1]
4. Keep the area clean and comfortable
Keep the skin clean and reduce friction from clothing. A soft, loose bra or top helps. [6] If you need a moisturizer, choose an oil-free one, since greasy products can block follicles. [3]
What not to do
- Do not squeeze or pop the bump. Scratching, picking or squeezing ingrown hairs can damage the skin and lead to infection. [1]
- Do not dig the hair out with tweezers or a needle. If the hair needs removing, a doctor can do it with a sterile needle or scalpel. [1] If the tip of the hair is already sitting free on the surface, you can gently lift it with clean tweezers, but do not pull it out or break the skin.
- Do not keep removing hair from the area while it is inflamed. [3]
When to see a doctor
You usually do not need medical help for an ingrown hair. See a doctor if: [1]
- The bump or the skin around it is very painful, hot or swollen
- You have a high temperature, or you feel hot, shivery or generally unwell
- You have other signs of infection, such as spreading redness or pus
Also contact a doctor if the bump lasts longer than 2 or 3 days, keeps coming back or gets worse. [6] Bacteria on the skin can get into the breast through a break or crack in the skin, usually on the nipple, and cause a breast infection. [7]
A doctor may remove the hair with a sterile needle or scalpel, prescribe a steroid cream to calm swelling, or prescribe antibiotic cream or tablets if it is infected. [1] If an abscess (a pocket of pus) has formed, it may need to be drained. [7]
How to prevent ingrown nipple hairs
The best way to prevent ingrown hairs is not to shave. [1] For the nipple area, these options are gentlest:
- Trim instead of plucking or shaving. Use small, clean scissors and snip close to the skin. The follicle stays intact, so the hair cannot grow back into the skin.
- If you shave, use a sharp razor, shave in the direction of hair growth with as few strokes as possible, rinse the razor after each stroke, and leave at least 1 mm of stubble. [1]
- If you pluck, use clean tweezers, pull in the direction of growth, and stop if bumps keep appearing.
- Consider a longer-term method. The NHS suggests laser treatment as an option for people who get ingrown hairs. [1] Read about laser hair removal on the nipples and our guide to permanent hair removal.
If you get ingrown hairs on your legs or bikini line too, our guide to razor bumps and ingrown hairs has more tips. And if you are removing more and more hair from your breasts, chin or belly, it may be worth checking whether hormones are involved. Hirsutism is most often caused by PMOS (formerly PCOS). [8], [9] Our hirsutism self-check can help you decide whether to talk to a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an ingrown nipple hair take to go away?
Most can be managed at home. [1] Contact a doctor if it lasts longer than 2 or 3 days, keeps coming back or gets worse. [6]
Should I pull out an ingrown nipple hair?
No. Digging or picking can damage the skin and cause infection. [1] If it needs to come out, a doctor can remove it with a sterile needle. [1]
Can an ingrown hair on the nipple get infected?
Yes. Infected ingrown hairs can be painful and contain pus. See a doctor if the area is very painful, hot or swollen, or if you feel unwell. [1]
Is a bump on my areola always an ingrown hair?
No. It may be a Montgomery gland, a normal oil gland, or folliculitis. [4], [3] Any new lump or nipple change that does not go away should be checked. [5]
Key takeaways
- Ingrown nipple hairs usually follow plucking, shaving or waxing, and most heal on their own.
- Warm compresses, gentle care and a break from hair removal help. Do not squeeze or dig at the bump.
- See a doctor if the area is very painful, hot or swollen, if you have a fever, or if it lasts more than a few days.
- Trimming with small scissors is the easiest way to prevent ingrown nipple hairs.
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Sources
- NHS. Ingrown hairs. Accessed October 2026. Link
- DermNet. Hirsutism. Accessed October 2026. Link
- DermNet. Folliculitis. Accessed October 2026. Link
- Cleveland Clinic. Montgomery Glands. Accessed October 2026. Link
- American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer. Accessed October 2026. Link
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Folliculitis. Accessed October 2026. Link
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Breast infection. Accessed October 2026. Link
- Martin KA, Anderson RR, Chang RJ, et al. Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(4):1233-1257. PubMed 29522147
- Teede HJ, Bahri Khomami M, Morman R, Laven JSE, et al. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. Lancet. 2026;407(10545):2329-2339. PubMed 42119588
This article is for education and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor about diagnosis and treatment.