From the gynecologist's perspective, shaving regularly to eliminate pubic hair has drawbacks. Razors harbor bacteria and cause some abrasion of the skin; especially in a moist environment. This creates a setup for a bacterial skin infection.
Normal and natural
Whether to groom or let it grow is your choice—no one else's. And there is no reason to apologize about your pubic hair, to your ob-gyn or anyone else.
Should you shave your pubic hair every day? It might be tempting, but you definitely don't want to shave down there every day — this could lead to increased irritation. “It's best to give the skin some time to recover,” Dr. Garshick explains.
Keeping it clean can help prevent odor. In separate studies, 59% of women and 61% of men stated that they groomed their pubic region for hygienic purposes. However, there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest any health benefits associated with removing pubic hair — other than the removal of pubic lice.
Using a sharp razor means that you could cut yourself. Then there's the regrowth stage: Shaved hair grows back after a couple of days, and when it does it can be prickly or itchy. This can leave you feeling uncomfortable. There's also a chance some hairs will become ingrown.
Removing your pubic hair comes with the risk of getting cuts or ingrown hairs. You might also develop hyperpigmentation and inflammation of the hair follicles. Removing your pubic hair can also increase your risk of catching herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Pubic Hair Trends
According to the researchers, when asked if they removed their pubic hair, 80% of women and 39% of men removed their pubic hair near the time of the survey. Also, 3% of women and 21% of men had never removed their pubic hair.
One of the best methods to prep your pubic area for a razor is to expose it to wet, moist heat. After using a warm washcloth, it is important to wash the area. This helps remove any built-up oils that may make shaving harder, and will also help you avoid folliculitis, an infection of hair follicles.
Because the skin on your vulva is sensitive, prickling and itching after trimming your pubic hair is very common. In fact, pubic hair grows on and around your vulva to protect the vulvar area from irritation and infection.
While better hygiene, a sense of cleanliness and freshness, and greater sensitivity can be convincing benefits associated with shaving pubic hair, there are equally compelling reasons not to, including ingrown hairs, skin irritation, and infections. But the bottom line is that it's really all about personal preference.
Pubic hair is also there to ease friction between body parts during sexual intercourse, without which you can experience skin irritations. It also reduces friction between your vulva and clothing. The presence of pubic hair makes the skin down there less susceptible to chafing or rashes.
Irritation: Removing pubic hair by waxing or shaving can cause skin irritation, razor burns, or ingrown hairs, which can be uncomfortable or painful.
When you're done shaving, wash the area generously with lots of warm water. Apply soft baby oil to keep skin smooth and free of pimples. (Some people find baby oil perfume irritating. Ideally, you want a moisturizing cream or lotion free from perfume, antiaging ingredients, sunscreens or other additives.
In general, pubic hair in females naturally covers the labia majora (outer lips) to the inner thighs and form a triangle-like shape up to the pubic bone. Some women will naturally grow thicker or thinner hair than others, so typically there's no cause for alarm when there's slight variation.
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.
From the gynecologist's perspective, shaving regularly to eliminate pubic hair has drawbacks. Razors harbor bacteria and cause some abrasion of the skin; especially in a moist environment. This creates a setup for a bacterial skin infection.
It's perfectly fine to carefully trim your pubic hair with small scissors along your swimsuit or underwear line. Many girls trim their pubic hair, or go to a salon to have a “bikini wax”; others prefer to shave just about every day, and many just leave it alone. Removing pubic hair is a personal preference.
Pubis Shaving
For many years, people never cared about shaving their pubic hair until the birth of bikini in 1946. Between the 1960s and 1970s, trimming took a different twist, and women were discouraged from trimming. In the 1980s, they were now encouraged on trimming and even to do a thorough shave.
What length should I trim my pubic hair to prevent itch? Trimming your pubic hair too low is a common way to get itch during regrowth. We recommend using a guard to have your pubic hair remain at least 2mm high. This will lead to less itching when it grows back, as the hairs won't be going through the skin.
Razor burn can lead to an itchy pubic region in many people. Cutting the hairs in this area may cause irritation, which can be worse if a person shaves too fast or uses a dull razor. Razor burn typically appears as a reddish area of skin, occurring alongside tender red bumps and itching.