How to use glycolic acid to get rid of ingrown hairs, like a dermatologist. Ingrown hairs or razor bumps are really common and occur when the end of the hair starts to grow back under the skin, causing inflammation. Ingrown hairs can happen anywhere you shave, but areas with hairs that are coarse or curly are more prone to ingrown hairs (like the groin, armpits or bearded areas in males aka pseudofolliculitis barbae). Glycolic acid has exfoliating, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory properties,