Ingrown hairs are quite painful. They look ugly and are often inflamed, especially when they appear in your pubic region. Ingrown hair occurs when instead of growing to the surface the hair starts growing back into the skin. Generally, hair that is waxed, shaved, or plucked grows back through the skin. Sometimes, it can turn into an ingrown pubic hair cyst.
What Causes Ingrown Pubic Hair?
Your hair may grow back when you remove it. Under normal circumstances, hair shafts come up through the skin without a problem. If it starts to grow under the skin, your body takes it as a foreign object. This produces symptoms, including redness, itching, pain, and swelling.
It is common to notice round bumps appear where an ingrown hair develops. These round bumps can be papules or pustules (if they have pus). In some cases, you will notice hyperpigmentation in the area which makes your skin become darker. It is possible to experience severe itching or pain around that area.
Some people are more at risk for developing ingrown hair. The texture of hair in your pubic area is already quite coarse and it becomes even coarser for people with thick, curly hair. This makes them more susceptible to developing ingrown pubic hair.
Ingrown Pubic Hair Cyst
Although not very common, this condition can occur due to infection. If you develop a cyst where you have an ingrown hair, this usually means the infection is deep into the skin. Along with noticing a cyst in the area, you may also notice green or yellow pus with inflammation, itchiness, tenderness, warmth, and redness on the infected area.
What Is It Like to Have Ingrown Pubic Hair Cyst?
I have a cyst between my anus and vagina. I do not think it is a STI because I am not sexually active. The cyst was a whitish bump and quite small, but it has just started getting bigger. It hurts when I walk. I want to get rid of it but I am embarrassed to go to my doctor.
I am a virgin and notice bumps on my pubic area quite often. I get a couple at least every 6-7 months. These bumps are quite shiny and hurt when I try to pop them. I have not talked about it with anyone. I now know that these bumps are not that uncommon, but I am still looking for a way to get rid of them without having to go to a doctor.
How Should I Deal with Ingrown Pubic Hair?
You do not usually require any treatment for ingrown pubic hair. It clears up on its own. You may need to talk to your doctor though if you have developed an ingrown pubic hair cyst because you may have to seek treatment for the infection. Here are some suggestions about how to deal with ingrown pubic hair.
- Avoid removing hair in the affected area. If you have been shaving, waxing, or plucking the hair in the affected area, stop immediately. You need to wait until the ingrown hair is resolved. Similarly, avoid scratching or picking at the affected area because it will make things worse and even lead to a skin infection.
- Try to remove dead skin. You can do it through gentle washing. You may also exfoliate around the ingrown hair to help it move back to the surface. Your doctor can also prescribe medication to get rid of dead skin cells more quickly. Tretinoin and other retinoids really help accelerate the clearing of dead skin cells.
- Apply creams to reduce inflammation. You can use a steroid cream if your ingrown pubic hair is causing inflammation and redness. These creams also help reduce irritation and swelling around the ingrown hair.
- Take antibiotics to treat infections. You can take oral antibiotics if an infection develops. Talk to your doctor about it and he/she will prescribe the most appropriate antibiotics for you. Sometimes, it is important to take both topical and oral antibiotics, especially when you have an ingrown pubic hair cyst. Since cysts can lead to scarring, it is a good idea to talk to a dermatologist to drain the cyst.
- Alternatively, you can use tea tree oil to get rid of ingrown pubic hair cysts naturally. Its antiseptic properties can help alleviate the infection. Mix a few drops with water and apply it to the infected area. After a couple of minutes, rinse off with water.
You can also try to remove the ingrown hair by following the steps below:
- Start by cleaning the area. Simply taking a hot shower will help clean the area and open the pores. Then, apply a hot compress on the affected area for 5 minutes.
- Try a bath with Epsom salts if it feels the hair has not broken the surface of your skin. Pat dry the area and get ready to remove it.
- Be sure to buy an astringent solution that contains salicylic acid beforehand. Wash your hands and sterilize your tweezers first.
- Gently apply pressure around your ingrown hair with your fingers. Use sharp tweezers to pull the end of the hair out of your skin.
- Clean the area with a salicylic astringent if you see blood and pus, which indicate an ingrown hair cyst.
- Leave it for a while and apply the astringent again. You can also use a topical ointment such as Neosporin to avoid infections. Be sure to wear cotton underwear to allow air to pass.
What Can I Do to Prevent Ingrown Pubic Hair?
Here are some tips to prevent ingrown pubic hair:
- Always use a sharp, single-bladed razor for shaving.
- Be sure to use warm water to properly wet your skin before shaving and use a lubricating gel.
- Finish shaving with fewer strokes of the razor.
- Always rinse the blade after every stroke.
- Avoid shaving too close to your skin; leaving a bit of stubble will prevent ingrown hair.
- Place a cool washcloth over your skin afterwards.