Key takeaways
- The best way to prevent razor bumps is to stop shaving. However, if people still want to shave, they can soften the hair with water first, use a fresh, sterile razor, and shave in the direction of hair growth.
- When removing hair in the pubic area, cleansing and exfoliating the skin, using skin care products, or tweezing can help prevent or treat razor bumps.
- Ingrown hairs can occur anywhere people remove hair. However, it may be more likely in the genital area due to the coarser hair.
Hair removal is a common and popular way for many people to groom their pubic area. However, certain techniques can irritate the skin, potentially causing razor bumps.
Razor bumps, also known as shaving bumps or pseudofolliculitis, result from the inflammation of hair follicles due to ingrown hairs.
Ingrown hairs develop when hair grows into the skin instead of up and out. They occur more often after hair removal, as this can leave each hair with a sharp tip that can penetrate the skin and cause inflammation.
They can occur on any part of the body that is subject to hair removal techniques, such as shaving or waxing. However, they are more common in areas with coarse, abundant hair.
Razor bumps can be uncomfortable, and it may take up to 6 weeks for the inflammation to settle. Although nothing can make them go away instantly, the following methods may speed the healing process and provide relief.
Gentle exfoliation
People can try using a physical scrub to remove dead skin cells that may be plugging pores and trapping hairs.
Exfoliate the skin with a brush or sponge, or apply a skin care scrub containing fine sugar or salt. Do not use harsh scrubs with sharp grains, such as crushed seeds or nuts. It is important to avoid scrubbing too hard, as this may further irritate the skin.
Acid exfoliants
According to a 2019 article, acids such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid can help treat ingrown hairs.
Both acids can help exfoliate and remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface and hair follicles. This allows ingrown hairs to escape the pores, reducing bumps and giving the skin a smoother appearance.
Topical corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are a type of steroid that can help reduce inflammation and irritation due to razor bumps. People may be able to purchase mild over-the-counter corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone cream, at their local drugstore.
Acne treatments
People can try using acne treatments, such as benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin. These products may help reduce inflammation and remove dead skin cells, encouraging the trapped hair to emerge from the skin.
Hair tweezing
If a specific bump is caused by an ingrown hair and the trapped hair is visible above the skin, a person may be able to use sterile tweezers or a needle to lift it out.
Do not do this if there is no visible hair, and do not break the skin. This method is not feasible if there are many ingrown hairs.
Antibiotics
In some cases, a short course of topical antibiotics may help treat infection and provide some anti-inflammatory effects.
Simply stopping or reducing hair removal is the best way to prevent razor bumps.
Shaving the pubic area is a personal choice, and no one should feel pressured to have their pubic hair look a certain way. However, avoiding hair removal entirely may not be preferable for some people.
An alternative is changing to a different method of hair removal, such as:
- hair removal creams
- electric shaving, which does not shave as close to the skin and may cause less irritation
- laser hair removal, although this can cause hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones
If a person wants to continue shaving or waxing, they can lower their risk of razor bumps with the following tips:
- cleanse and exfoliate the skin in the pubic area
- remove the hair after having a bath or shower, or place a warm, wet towel on the pubic area first
- use an appropriate shaving cream, shaving gel, or waxing product
- avoid skin care products containing ingredients that may irritate the skin
- use a fresh, sharp, and sterile razor
- shave in the direction of hair growth
- rinse the razor after every stroke
Ingrown hairs commonly occur in areas of the body that are subject to the use of hair removal techniques. These areas include the face, legs, and pubic area.
The pubic region may be hairier than other parts of the body, with hair that is coarser and curlier. People may also not pay this area as much attention as they do their face or legs when shaving, or may have difficulty accessing it.
All of these reasons can contribute to razor bumps in the pubic region.
The pubic region is also prone to friction due to walking, tight clothing, and sexual contact. Therefore, it is advisable for people to wear breathable underwear and not have sex soon after shaving.
As the pubic area will be sensitive, any irritation may cause discomfort and increase the risk of razor bumps.
People may confuse razor bumps with razor burn, as they can both occur after shaving. However, razor burn does not cause bumps from ingrown hairs. Instead, it can present as a rash, discoloration, or a burning sensation.
Folliculitis is similar to razor bumps, but the difference between the two is the cause of inflammation in the hair follicle.
Folliculitis
Certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may cause symptoms similar to razor bumps.
For example, genital herpes may also present with bumps, but these will be open sores that may scab over. Additionally, genital herpes will usually produce other symptoms, such as:
Genital warts also present with bumps, but these will be rough-edged warts that may have a cauliflower appearance. These warts may also be prone to bleeding.
Anyone who thinks they may have an STI can speak with a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis. Without treatment, some STIs can lead to complications, including systemic infections.
Key terms explained: Systemic infection
A systemic infection is one that spreads throughout multiple areas of a person’s body or their entire body.
Razor bumps form when hair removal techniques, such as shaving, cause ingrown hairs. They commonly occur in the pubic area, where the hair tends to be coarse and curly.
People can treat razor bumps using gentle exfoliators, tweezers, or medication. They can attempt to prevent razor bumps by properly preparing the skin before hair removal or by trying a different hair removal technique.