Ingrown hairs happen when the hair follicle breaks off and grows into your skin instead of out of it. They can look like little red bumps or pimples, and they can hurt or itch. You might try shaving less often, wearing looser fitting clothing, or using an after-shave cream to reduce ingrown hairs.
People who shave, wax, or use another method to remove pubic hair may be more prone to ingrown hairs. Ingrown pubic hairs can also be due to wearing tight clothing that rubs and irritates the skin. People with curlier or coarser pubic hair are also more likely to experience ingrown hairs.
Itchy pubic hair is common and is often easily treatable. Common causes include rash burn, contact dermatitis, jock itch, pubic lice, scabies, yeast infection, psoriasis, eczema, and folliculitis. See a healthcare provider if the itching is severe, painful, persistent, or worsening.
Tiny cracks in your top layer of skin (epidermis), along with a loss of hydration and inflammation can occur when a blade moves across your skin. Other common causes of razor burn may include: Dry shaving, which means shaving without any water, soap or shaving cream or gel. Shaving too fast.
An ingrown hair is a strand of hair that grows back into your skin after shaving, tweezing or waxing. They may be painful or itchy, and they commonly appear around your face, legs, armpits and pubic area. Ingrown hairs are sometimes called razor bumps, shave bumps or barber bumps.
“It's not actually your hair that hurts, but the skin and perifollicular area of the scalp—the region around each hair, pore, or follicle,” explains Manhattan–based dermatologist Francesca Fusco. “The scalp is incredibly rich in blood supply, nerve endings, and oil glands.
Lots of itching in your genital area. Super small bugs in your pubic hair. You can usually see pubic lice by looking closely, or you may need to use a magnifying glass. Pubic lice are tan or whitish-gray, and they look like tiny crabs.
If you sense a little body odor, it's because your pubic hair is doing its job of trapping sweat, oil, and bacteria. To care for your pubic area, all you need to do is regularly rinse with water. Long story short, there is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair. There is no medical reason to remove it.
STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea often lead to itching, stinging, or burning sensations inside the vagina or penis. However, HPV and herpes also cause small itchy bumps to form on the pubic area. In addition, STD symptoms may “come and go.” So never assume that you're STD-free simply because symptoms have disappeared.
Trimming pubic hair is an intimate choice but many experts feel that shaving pubic hair is simply a misleading attempt at personal hygiene. An increasing number of studies are now advocating against shaving the pubes.
Overall, the better choice of the two methods is totally up to you and your personal preference. For some, the pain of waxing is enough to put up with all the tedious parts of shaving. For others, the idea of shaving every day is much too high-maintenance. There is no better or worse process—only what's right for you.
Try electrolysis for year-long results.
During this procedure, the doctor will insert a thin wire into your hair follicle underneath your skin. Then, they will use an electrical current to destroy the hair root, making the hair fall out and preventing it from growing back.
Folliculitis is typically caused by bacteria. Folliculitis causes red and white pimples to grow around the hair follicle resulting in that prickly feeling after shaving. Rest assured, mild cases of folliculitis should clear on its own within a number of days.
Adult: The adult pubic louse resembles a miniature crab when viewed through a strong magnifying glass. Pubic lice have six legs; their two front legs are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab. This is how they got the nickname “crabs.” Pubic lice are tan to grayish-white in color.
The pubic area is among the most vulnerable parts of the body for feeling itchy and irritated. Think ingrown hairs, razor burn and even post waxing irritation. The extra sensitive skin coupled with thick, wiry hair makes the pubic area prone to noticeable discomfort and itch during regrowth.
The science behind the pain originates in the scalp. “What's happening is inflammation coming from blood vessels in the scalp is flooding the nerves in the hair follicles and causing them to ache,” explains New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman.
"When you wear your hair in a tight-fitting ponytail, the nerve endings become accustomed to being in that direction, and pressure is placed on the follicle," she adds. "When you remove the ponytail, the nerve endings are suddenly stimulated, resulting very commonly in the feeling of sensitivity or pain."
A painful scalp is common. In fact, one 2012 article estimated that 44% of people in France experience scalp sensitivity. Causes of a painful scalp when the hair moves range from hairstyling choices to underlying health conditions. Even rearranging the hair can cause some pain in the scalp.