Ingrown hairs and hair bumps are very frustrating to experience in bikini lines. They can be both unsightly and uncomfortable. The key to a great shave is to get as close a shave as possible while taking care to avoid irritating or nicking the skin to minimize the chances for ingrown hairs to develop. Read more...
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Why do we get so many bumps and ingrown hairs when we shave our bikini lines?
Ingrown hairs and hair bumps are very frustrating to experience in bikini lines. They can be both unsightly and uncomfortable. The key to a great shave is to get as close a shave as possible while taking care to avoid irritating or nicking the skin to minimize the chances for ingrown hairs to develop. The challenge with shaving is understanding the topography of the hair-bearing areas. Shaving hair is not like mowing the lawn on a baseball field! Skin with thick coarse hairs is not a smooth surface studded with hairs that can be closely shaved easily. The topography of the skin along the bikini area makes shaving closely more challenging.
What are the best ways to prevent this from happening (before and after shaving) in terms of products or tips?
One of the most common triggers for ingrown hairs is actually bacterial folliculitis. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that is commonly found in the environment. It can take up residence on the skin- inside the nose, under the arms, or in the fold between the hip and groin. When it lives in the fold between hip and groin you may not always see signs of it. However, after shaving or sweating or periods of stress there will be ‘breakouts’ that develop in the hair follicles. Most people think they just get "ingrown hairs". Although this can occur, it often develops in pus bumps, boils, and cysts that can be recurrent, persistent, and scarring for years. Other causes include hormonal changes, allergic reactions, hidradenitis (consisted autoimmune), etc.
What are the "do's" of shaving the bikini line?
Do’s
Wash with an antibacterial soap such as Dial or Lever 2000
Use disposable razors or frequently change the blade to avoid reinfecting or spreading
See your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and treatment. You may benefit from a slightly longer course of antibiotics along with an antibiotic cream called mupirocin to the fold between the hip and groin one week per month for 3 months to treat the Staph carrier state.
Wipe down gym equipment and use hand sanitizers to minimize the risk of becoming a carrier for the bacteria
If you feel as though you suffer from excess sweating then consider using a stick antiperspirant in the fold between the hip and groin to decrease sweating
What are the don'ts of shaving the bikini line?
Don’ts
Avoid wearing tight constrictive clothing
Don’t share razors
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