Thank you for your question – we’re so sorry to hear that you’re feeling uncomfortable. Let’s talk about pubic hair care and how you can make yourself more comfortable!
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. It’s totally up to you whether or not to shave or trim your pubic hair – many people choose to shave or wax, while many others let the hair grow long. If you choose to shave or trim, there are a few things you can do to relieve irritation and keep it from happening in the future.
If you develop a rash, red bumps, or itching on or around your vulva after shaving, here are some remedies you can try at home:
- Moisturize the area using a natural, fragrance-free lotion
- Take a warm bath or shower and let the water soak the irritated area. Make sure to moisturize after!
- Don’t pick at the hairs/bumps – this can irritate you skin more and even lead to infection
- Avoid shaving until the uncomfortable symptoms go away – your sensitive skin may just need a break!
Symptoms usually go away within a couple of days. If you notice continued discomfort after a few days or if parts of the area get redder/more irritated, be sure to check in with your health care provider (HCP). They may recommend that you try an over-the-counter topical medicine such as hydrocortisone cream.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.