What Do Ingrown Hairs in the Genital Area Look Like?
Ingrown hairs, or follicular pyoderma, can be painful, long-lasting and cosmetically displeasing. They are most commonly found in areas where people shave. In this situation, they occur because the shaved area (most likely the genitals or armpits) is in a state of compression inside of clothing and as the hair grows back, it can be forced backward into the skin, causing irritation. Ingrown hairs also form without having been shaved, but this is less common.
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Identification of the Ingrown Hair
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An ingrown hair in the pubic region can resemble a pimple or red cyst. If it looks like a pimple but is lasting longer than a pimple usually does, it might be an ingrown hair.
Treatment
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You can use hair removal treatments, bought over the counter at a drug store, to get rid of ingrown hairs. Or you can use a needle to remove the hair from the ingrown side and then pluck it so the area can heal.
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Prevention
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To prevent the recurrence of ingrown hairs, keep your hair at a long enough length that it won't curl backward into your skin, at least 3 to 4 cm long. Substitute trimming with scissors for shaving some areas.
Alternative Solutions
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If you do shave the skin, you must continue to do so every day, so tiny hairs don't come back and become ingrown. You can also get electrolysis on certain hairs that cause recurring problems. Sometimes one or two hairs will be extremely stubborn and continue to become ingrown despite changes in hygiene practices.
Warnings
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If left alone, ingrown hairs will not just go away. They will become more inflamed, infected and painful. They need to be taken care of as soon as you find them if you want them to heal.
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