Is That Bump a Pimple or an Ingrown Hair? A Dermatologist Explains How to Tell

"The first step in trying to tackle either an ingrown hair or pimple is to exfoliate the skin," Linkner said. "This will help relieve the congestion while also increasing the skin-cell turnover to prevent future occurrences. Salicylic acid-based washes are ideal."

If you're trying to get rid of a pimple, Linkner recommends using Rodan + Fields Unblemish Refining Acne Wash ($44) for its "gentle but active approach." The product can be used daily on the face and body.

To combat ingrown hairs on the other hand, she mentioned that it's also important to change out your razor regularly if you shave. "The bacteria that resides on the razor oftentimes is the culprit for the infections at the hair follicles that characterize in grown hairs," she said.

If waxing is your body hair removal method of choice, try exfoliating before and after getting waxed and following up with a product like Fur Ingrown Concentrate ($28).