How to treat severe ingrown pubic hair

Ingrown hair is a skin disorder which is commonly seen in shaved regions, such as the face, arms, armpits, legs, and even pubic region. In its first stage, ingrown hair looks like scattered, pinpoint red bumps, which can be slightly painful or itching. This skin disorder is caused by shaving or waxing, which is done too closely to the hair follicles, leaving the sharp point of the hair which may easily poke back to the skin. Ingrown hair, in many cases, are going to break through the skin as it grows longer. However, many other cases show that instead of resolving, ingrown hair develops its severe stage, becoming pimple-like bumps with pus inside. Any shaved or waxed body parts may experience ingrown hair, including the pubic region.

Is pubic hair dangerous?

Ingrown hair occurring after hair removal treatment should not be dangerous as long as the surrounding skin does not get infected. Hence, immediate post-removal treatments are required. In women, ingrown hair is common with pubic region and armpits, while in men, the beard are is susceptible. Ingrown hair should resolve on their own by breaking through the skin and grown longer normally. However, some risk factors contribute to pubic ingrown hair which develop into pus-filled, pimple-like bumps accompanied by severe pain or itching. Few people even experienced pubic ingrown hair which caused severe, golf ball-sized inflammation on their pubic region. If ingrown hair reaches this phase, it definitely is dangerous and can even be life-threatening.

Treatments for severe ingrown pubic hair

• Soften the skin by putting a warm compress over it twice a day. To release a severe ingrown hair you will need to brush it with soft-bristle toothbrush every bath time. The skin should soften and thus, the hair will be able to release and regrow normally.
• Some people choose to put the skin under a warm compress and pick the ingrown hair out using a pair of alcohol-dipped tweezers. However, this method is not really recommended, as it is too aggressive and may damage the skin further, especially if you have got severe ingrown hair.
• If you see ingrown hair which has developed into pubic pimples, dab mild antiseptic, such as tea tree oil onto the infected area. This will heal the pimples, so that you can release the deeply ingrown hair after the pimples gone.
• Use antibiotics to treat infections which occur from developing ingrown hair. To reduce inflammation on the wound site, apply crushed aspirin tablets diluted in a warm water. You can also reduce the infection by taking prescribed antibiotics.
• In few cases, untreated ingrown hair develop into inflamed wound, which in pubic region, might be prone to Staphylococcus bacterial infection. This bacteria present in our skin, and will cause infection by getting through a cut or infection. Ingrown pubic hair might thus develop into badly swollen area with excruciating pain. If this is what happens, you will need to talk to a professional, and this should not be delayed. Several things will be done by the doctor including:
  • Medication compress.
  • Prescribed antibiotics.
  • Ingrown hair releasing incision.
  • Infection treatments.

Preventing severe ingrown hair from occurring

If it is possible, avoid removing pubic hair by shaving it. If you need to shave, you need to pay attention to some considerations, such as:

• Avoid shaving the hair too close to the skin, as this might cause unnoticed nicks, which trap the hair beneath the skin.
• Avoid shaving pubic hair in the opposite direction of hair growth, as this may leave sharp tip of the hair, which increases the possibility of ingrown hair growth.

Moisturize pubic region after shaving or waxing to calm the skin. Do not put any warm compresses too soon after the treatment. Wait for 24 hours to get a warm bath, so that the skin is not aggravated, which may lead to inflammation.

Apply gentle shaving gel or aloe gel before you shave the pubic hair. This will moist the surrounding skin and moisture dry skin, so that it will not be damaged when shaved. Damaged dry skin elevates the possibility of ingrown pubic hair.