I am certain most of you reading this article have attempted pulling out your pubic hair. However, do you know there are some side effects to doing that? Read on to find out.
Pubic hair is the hair that grows in the genital area of adolescents and adults. Some people opt to pull this hair out once it grows.
Some tweeze it, others pull it out through waxing or others might have a condition called Trichotillomania, which is a strong habit that causes one to pull out hair from the scalp, eyelashes or genital area. People with this condition pull hair to play with it, chew or eat it after pulling it.
Some people tweeze or wax their pubic hair for various reasons which we will discuss in detail. Pulling out hair can be very painful and time-consuming.
Let us dig deeper into the topic and especially the side effects of pulling pubic hair.
The Meaning Of Pulling Pubic Hair
It is the removal of hair that grows around the genital area in adolescents or adults by exerting force towards yourself to remove it.
How Do People Pull Pubic Hair
People pull out their pubic hair through either tweezing or waxing and some people have a condition called trichotillomania.
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Waxing
This is the process of hair removal from the root using strip wax. Wax is a sticky paste that is applied and dried with the hair so that by pulling it, it comes off with the hair.
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Tweezing
This is the use of tweezers, an object called tweezers used to pull out hair from the root.
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Trichotillomania
This is a mental disorder which leads to a strong habit of pulling hair from either their scalp or genital areas to play with it.
Pulling hair can have side effects from mild to severe depending on how you do it.
What Is The Right Way To Remove Pubic Hair
To avoid the side effects of pulling out pubic hair, there is a way to do it that will be much safer.
- First, exfoliate your skin with a scrub.
- Use a cream with natural moisturizing elements like aloe vera.
- Shave the hair in the direction of its growth.
- Finish up by rubbing your skin with ice cubes to close the pores
- Finally, after some minutes, moisturize with a lotion.
Benefits of Pubic Hair
Shaving or removing hair from your genital area is optional because pubic hair has its purpose down there.
Let us look at some benefits of pubic hair.
1. It protects against friction.
2. It reduces the amount of sweat produced around the vagina.
3. In addition, it helps block bacteria from getting into your vagina.
4. It helps to block infections like STIs.
5. It helps maintain the optimal temperature in the pubic region.
6. Also, it creates a favorable environment for normal vaginal microflora.
7. It indicates biological readiness for reproduction.
Removing pubic hair is believed to increase sexual sensation during intimate activity.
Side Effects Of Pulling Pubic Hair
Pulling pubic hair can result in side effects depending on how you do it and what you use to pull your hair.
Let us discuss into detail these side effects of pulling pubic hair.
1. Redness
This is one of the side effects of pulling pubic hair that might come as a red rash. It occurs alongside tender red bumps and itching.
2. Swelling
Swelling is also a possible side effect of pulling pubic hair caused by mostly ingrown hair.
It can be very itchy and painful sometimes.
A doctor might prescribe a steroid cream.
3. Itching
This is an uncomfortable feeling on your skin that makes you want to rub the skin with your nails.
The itching is caused by hair you didn’t cut well.
4. Irritation
This is also another possible side effect of pulling pubic hair. It is caused by a rash or damaged pores or cuts.
A study was conducted on a group of women 18-24 years old. More than 50% of the group admitted to removing their pubic hair for sexuality or aesthetics. The study showed that most of them experienced irritation from hair removal in their genitals.
5. Damaged skin
When the pores are damaged, the skin has ingrown hair and bumps, your skin is damaged and this will lead to irritation or infections.
This is a very possible side effect of pulling pubic hair.
6. Genital burns
Another possible side effect of pulling pubic hair is burnt. This mostly happens to those who use waxing creams. The creams can be harsh to your skin causing burns.
A study done on a group of women between 18-24 years old to investigate the risks of removing pubic hair had 50% of the women admit to removing their pubic hair either for sexuality or aesthetics. That same percentage of women reported burns on their genital area from the waxing.
7. Bumps
This is another of the side effects of pulling pubic hair caused by ingrown hair.
8. Ingrown hair
Ingrown hair is a side effect of pubic hair that occurs when hair that has been cut starts to grow back and curves into the skin.
A study conducted on a group of women aged between 16-40 years old who received care in a public clinic completed a self-administered questionnaire to determine the complications of hair removal, 60% reported having ingrown hair and epidermal abrasion.
9. Bacterial infection
This is a possible side effect of pulling pubic hair because the hair prevents bacteria from entering the vaginal opening. By removing the hair, you put yourself at more risk.
A study conducted on a group of women between 18-24 years to investigate the risks and complications of removing pubic hair, shows 50% of them who admitted to removing their pubic hair either for sexuality or aesthetics experienced bacterial infections as a complication that comes with removing pubic hair.
10. Rashes
This happens when a small area of your skin is irritated and swollen. As one of the side effects of pulling pubic hair, it happens when the pores are damaged the skin becomes irritated causing a rash.
A study conducted on several women to investigate the risks and complications of removing pubic hair shows 50% of them who admitted to removing pubic hair either for sexuality or aesthetics had reported cases of rashes in the genital area.
Reviews
Positive reviews
Some of the positive reviews include;
- It supports better hygiene.
- It makes feel more desirable sexually.
- Also, t makes you more confident.
- Supports more sexual sensations.
Negative reviews
In addition to side effects of pulling pubic hair, there are also some negative effects. Some of its negative reviews include;
- It is very painful.
- It causes itching.
- Moreover, it causes bumps and redness in your genitals.
- It causes bacterial infections.
Conclusion
Many people who pull out their hair, may it be trichotillomania, waxing or tweezing, do it for their reasons. Some people do it for their partners, for hygiene, for more confidence or the habit.
Removing your pubic hair should be done properly as discussed to avoid side effects of pulling pubic hair like bumps, itchiness and ingrown hair.
If your itchiness or the rash persists you should see a doctor for treatment.
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