How to beat ingrown pubic hairs for good, according to dermatologists

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• An ingrown pubic hair causes a red, painful bump that may be filled with pus around your pubic area.
• It happens because curly pubic hair can curve back and enter the skin again, causing inflammation.

If you wax or shave your pubic hair, chances are you've experienced ingrown hairs before. In fact, the pubic region is one of the most common areas for these red, painful bumps to appear.

While they typically aren't a cause for medical concern, ingrown hairs can be uncomfortable, painful, and unsightly. However, shaving and trimming down there the right way can prevent ingrown hairs from forming in the first place.

Here's what you need to know about ingrown pubic hairs, as well as how to treat and prevent them.

What is an ingrown pubic hair?

Instead of growing outward, an ingrown pubic hair curves back and re-enters the skin. This traps it beneath the surface, causing inflammation and a red bump, says Dr. Sara Perkins, a board-certified dermatologist at Yale Medicine.

Perkins says the main symptoms of ingrown pubic hairs are:

• Red bumps where your pubic hair grows
• Bumps filled with pus
• Visible trapped hair that might look like a "loop" of hair
• Itching
• Pain

Ingrown hairs can be a result of shaving, waxing, or tweezing your pubic hair, says Dr. Jeannette Graf, board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Shaving, in particular, creates a sharp edge at the end of the hair, which makes it more likely to pierce the skin if the hair curves back.

Anyone who removes their pubic hair can get ingrown hairs, but you are more likely to get them if your hair is coarse and curly.

How to treat an ingrown pubic hair

If you have an ingrown pubic hair that's bothering you, you can follow these home treatment tips:

• Avoid shaving/waxing/tweezing: Stop your hair removal method so that you can prevent further irritation and inflammation from occurring, Perkins says.
• Use warm compresses: Perkins says applying a warm compress to the area can help soothe the irritated skin and bring inflammation and trapped hair to the surface.
• Exfoliate: Graf recommends gently exfoliating the area so that dead skin is not blocking the area of the ingrown hair follicle. A chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid is a better choice here, since a mechanical exfoliant can be too abrasive, Graf says.
• Remove the trapped hair: If the loop of the hair is visible just above the skin's surface. Perkins says you can carefully use a sterile needle to gently pull out the hair to provide some relief.

If you have recurring ingrown pubic hairs or if you think you might have an infection, call your dermatologist. Signs of an infected ingrown public hair include increased redness, enlargement, discomfort, and pus, Graf says.

Some prescription treatments include:

• Topical or oral antibiotics to clear up infections
• Steroid creams to reduce inflammation
• Topical retinoids that help exfoliate dead skin

How to prevent ingrown pubic hairs

If you want to continue to remove your pubic hair but prevent ingrown ones from forming, follow these tips:

• Change the way you shave: When you shave, Graf says you should:
  • Clean and exfoliate the area before shaving
  • Only use sharp, clean razors (Graf recommends changing your razors or blades after every six to 10 shaves)
  • Shave in the direction of hair growth rather than against it
• Keep skin healthy: Perkins says that regularly moisturizing and exfoliating the area can prevent dead skin cells from clogging the follicles and potentially trapping the hair.
• Switch to clippers or trimmers: Instead of shaving with razors, trimming the hair with electric clippers can prevent ingrowns, says Perkins. Without fully removing the hair, it has less of a chance to grow back into the skin.

Another solution is to opt for more permanent hair removal. Graf says two options are:

• Laser hair removal: A laser is used to damage the hair follicles, which prevents and delays hair growth. It takes multiple sessions (around four to eight, Graf says) to stop growth, and while the results can last for months to years depending on the person, they aren't permanent.
• Electrolysis: Thin wires and electric currents are used to destroy the roots of your hair. Multiple sessions are necessary to ensure that hair won't grow back. Results are permanent.

Insider's takeaway

Ingrown pubic hairs occur when hair curls back and grows under the skin.

They can be caused by shaving, waxing, or tweezing, and can affect anyone.

Correcting any poor shaving or trimming habits down there is the first step to preventing future ingrown pubic hairs. You can also opt for more long-term hair removal solutions like laser hair removal or electrolysis.

If ingrown hairs are a chronic problem for you, or if you think you might have an infection, don't hesitate to contact your dermatologist.