Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Does Razor Burn Look Like?TreatmentPreventionIssues With Similar Symptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Does Razor Burn Look Like?
Treatment
Prevention
Issues With Similar Symptoms
Razor burn on the vagina will go away on its own, assuming no other condition (like asexually transmitted infection, or STI) is responsible for the symptoms of red skin, itching, and burning. You may want to try home remedies or over-the-counter products to relieve symptoms.
This article explains how razor burn on the vagina happens and how it can be prevented. It offers ideas for razor burn treatment and prevention, along with reasons you may need to see a healthcare provider to treatother conditionsthat lead to symptoms similar to a razor burn.
Razor burn, also known as razor rash, is a red, often itchy rash that can occur after shaving near the vagina. Some people prefer to remove hair from the pubic area and use a razor to do so.
Besides a red and itchy rash, other symptoms of razor burn that can last for several days include:
Some studies note that with an increase inpubic hairremoval, razor burn isn’t the only issue. More people with vaginas are injuring themselves enough to require emergency care for a grooming accident. Of 11,704 people with such injuries from 2002 through 2010, 83% said the accident involved a razor blade.
How to Treat Razor Burn
Razor bumpsin the pubic area, often seen with razor burn, can be treated with over-the-counter topicalcorticosteroids.See a healthcare provider to discuss your options if the bumps are inflamed or chronic.
If you have razor bumps or burn, stop shaving until it heals. If you must remove pubic hair, clippers that leave about 1 millimeter of hair are a better option.
How to Prevent Razor Burn
Shaving pubic hair is a fairly simple method of hair removal. That said, there is still a correct way to do it:
Waxing
Waxing is another method of pubic hair removal. It is a physical method of hair removal that uses hot wax to pull hair from the follicles.
Sugar waxing, also known as sugaring, has also become another popular form of waxing.
Pros and Cons of 10 Hair Removal Methods
Not a Shaving Issue? Other Possibilities
Some other conditions may cause symptoms similar to those seen in cases of razor burn, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs),yeast infections, ingrown hair, andpubic lice. Some studies warn of an increased risk of STI due to the potential of skin exposure after shaving the pubic area.
However, the scientific evidence is unclear and a 2019 study found no increased risk ofgonorrheaorchlamydiainfection (the two most common STIs in the United States) among those who groom pubic hair.
STIs
If this is your first outbreak, you can get the above symptoms. All the following outbreaks will look similar to razor burn but will be significantly more painful and last longer.
Yeast Infection
A yeast infection can occur in many places throughout the body, including the vagina and vulva.A vaginal yeast infection won’t give you the same symptoms as a razor burn, but a yeast skin infection of the vulva may present similarly to a razor burn.
Ingrown Hair
An ingrown hair is a strand of hair that grows back into the root after shaving, tweezing, or waxing.Ingrown hairsoften look similar to acne but are an entirely different skin condition.
Those with curly or thicker hair are more prone to having ingrown hairs. That said, there are ways to prevent ingrown hairs, such as using proper hair removal techniques including applying shaving cream, using single-blade razors, and using warm water to shave.
If you have an ingrown hair, treatment options include:
Pimples on Female Genitalia: Causes and Treatments
Pubic Lice
Pubic lice can be treated with a variety of topical medications. There are both over-the-counter and prescription options.
Summary
Other conditions may have overlapping symptoms to those seen with razor burn. This includes pubic lice, ingrown hair, and some STIs. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re unsure about the cause of your particular pubic irritation.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hodges AL, Holland AC.Prevention and Treatment of Injuries and Infections Related to Pubic Hair Removal.Nurs Womens Health. 2017 Aug-Sep;21(4):313-317. doi:10.1016/j.nwh.2017.06.001.Liu B, Jordt SE.Cooling the itch via TRPM8.J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(6):1254-1256. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.01.020Mohiuddin AK.Skin aging & modern age anti-aging strategies.PharmaTutor,7(8), 22-70. 2019.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250UpToDate.Pseudofolliculitis barbae.American Academy of Dermatology.Genital Herpes: Signs and Symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.How to wax.Luster J, Turner AN, Henry JP Jr, Gallo MF.Association between pubic hair grooming and prevalent sexually transmitted infection among female university students.PLoS One. 2019 Sep 4;14(9):e0221303. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0221303.Felix TC, de Araújo LB, Röder DVDB, Pedroso RDS.Evaluation of Vulvovaginitis and Hygiene Habits of Women Attended in Primary Health Care Units of the Family.Int J Womens Health. 2020 Jan 30;12:49-57. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S229366.Prabhune A, Gajanan D, Pradeep V.Systematic review of prevalence, attitude, and practices of pubic hair removal activities.Journal of Behavioral Health8.4 (2019): 170-176.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hodges AL, Holland AC.Prevention and Treatment of Injuries and Infections Related to Pubic Hair Removal.Nurs Womens Health. 2017 Aug-Sep;21(4):313-317. doi:10.1016/j.nwh.2017.06.001.Liu B, Jordt SE.Cooling the itch via TRPM8.J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(6):1254-1256. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.01.020Mohiuddin AK.Skin aging & modern age anti-aging strategies.PharmaTutor,7(8), 22-70. 2019.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250UpToDate.Pseudofolliculitis barbae.American Academy of Dermatology.Genital Herpes: Signs and Symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.How to wax.Luster J, Turner AN, Henry JP Jr, Gallo MF.Association between pubic hair grooming and prevalent sexually transmitted infection among female university students.PLoS One. 2019 Sep 4;14(9):e0221303. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0221303.Felix TC, de Araújo LB, Röder DVDB, Pedroso RDS.Evaluation of Vulvovaginitis and Hygiene Habits of Women Attended in Primary Health Care Units of the Family.Int J Womens Health. 2020 Jan 30;12:49-57. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S229366.Prabhune A, Gajanan D, Pradeep V.Systematic review of prevalence, attitude, and practices of pubic hair removal activities.Journal of Behavioral Health8.4 (2019): 170-176.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hodges AL, Holland AC.Prevention and Treatment of Injuries and Infections Related to Pubic Hair Removal.Nurs Womens Health. 2017 Aug-Sep;21(4):313-317. doi:10.1016/j.nwh.2017.06.001.Liu B, Jordt SE.Cooling the itch via TRPM8.J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(6):1254-1256. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.01.020Mohiuddin AK.Skin aging & modern age anti-aging strategies.PharmaTutor,7(8), 22-70. 2019.Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250UpToDate.Pseudofolliculitis barbae.American Academy of Dermatology.Genital Herpes: Signs and Symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.How to wax.Luster J, Turner AN, Henry JP Jr, Gallo MF.Association between pubic hair grooming and prevalent sexually transmitted infection among female university students.PLoS One. 2019 Sep 4;14(9):e0221303. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0221303.Felix TC, de Araújo LB, Röder DVDB, Pedroso RDS.Evaluation of Vulvovaginitis and Hygiene Habits of Women Attended in Primary Health Care Units of the Family.Int J Womens Health. 2020 Jan 30;12:49-57. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S229366.Prabhune A, Gajanan D, Pradeep V.Systematic review of prevalence, attitude, and practices of pubic hair removal activities.Journal of Behavioral Health8.4 (2019): 170-176.
Hodges AL, Holland AC.Prevention and Treatment of Injuries and Infections Related to Pubic Hair Removal.Nurs Womens Health. 2017 Aug-Sep;21(4):313-317. doi:10.1016/j.nwh.2017.06.001.
Liu B, Jordt SE.Cooling the itch via TRPM8.J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(6):1254-1256. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.01.020
Mohiuddin AK.Skin aging & modern age anti-aging strategies.PharmaTutor,7(8), 22-70. 2019.
Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250
UpToDate.Pseudofolliculitis barbae.
American Academy of Dermatology.Genital Herpes: Signs and Symptoms.
American Academy of Dermatology.How to wax.
Luster J, Turner AN, Henry JP Jr, Gallo MF.Association between pubic hair grooming and prevalent sexually transmitted infection among female university students.PLoS One. 2019 Sep 4;14(9):e0221303. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0221303.
Felix TC, de Araújo LB, Röder DVDB, Pedroso RDS.Evaluation of Vulvovaginitis and Hygiene Habits of Women Attended in Primary Health Care Units of the Family.Int J Womens Health. 2020 Jan 30;12:49-57. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S229366.
Prabhune A, Gajanan D, Pradeep V.Systematic review of prevalence, attitude, and practices of pubic hair removal activities.Journal of Behavioral Health8.4 (2019): 170-176.
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