The Doctor Is In: Bikini Line Madness

Talking sex with your doctor isn’t always easy. Whether you are afraid she will judge you,  you just don’t feel comfortable sharing the intimate details of your life between the sheets, or you can’t think straight with a speculum between your legs, many people get tight lipped in the doctor’s office. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have questions.

We thought we’d help and every Thursday our friend Dr. Lissa Rankin will be answering your questions. The ones you couldn’t ask your doctor in person. Just leave your questions in the comments, or send em over to us. (We’ll keep it all anonymous for you.) Dr. Lissa will answer anything – really, anything – about sex and other lady things. Don’t be shy; she’s waiting for ya!

Q: Whenever I shave my bikini line or get waxed I get MASSIVE bumps down there. We’re talking HUGE. They hurt a ton and are super gross looking. Oh, and sometimes they pop (like a zit) and I get nauseous just looking at them. I can’t NOT wax/shave, but I also can’t handle these things. What is the cause and how can I prevent them?

A: I hear you, sister!  Sounds like you’re suffering from what we call folliculitis, infected ingrown hairs that can be caused by shaving.  We’ve all been there: it’s a hot, sunny day, and the beach beckons. You don your pink polka-dot bikini, only to discover that your Fabulous Furburger is flowing over the bikini line.  Bathing suit still on, you grab the razor and maybe a little hand soap, and set to work scraping the pubes off your inner thighs. Problem solved, right? Maybe not.  Two hours later, you’re covered with fire-engine red bumps advertising your bikini shave to the universe. And you can’t even swim because you’re so raw that the salt water makes you want to rip out your whole genital region and sling it into outer space.

And even in non-emergencies, when you do it right- soak in the bathtub first, lather up your pubes with the best shaving cream, and use a fresh, sharp razor, shave against the grain of what pubic hair wants- razor burn, ingrown hairs, itching, and burning often follow. Read More »