Ingrown pubic hair cysts are a common type of cyst, specifically found on and around the bikini area. They are generally harmless and easy to treat. Here is everything you need to know about them!
~ Content Table ~
- What is ingrown hair on vag? How Does It Look & Feel?
- What causes ingrown pubic hairs?
- When should you see a dermatologist?
- How can you reduce the pain of ingrown hair on vag?
- Will an ingrown hair on vag eventually go away?
- Home remedies for ingrown hair on vag to try yourself
- Conclusion: how to prevent ingrown hair on vag
What is ingrown hair on vag? How Does It Look & Feel?
To begin, an ingrown pubic hair cyst is a hair along the bikini line that has grown beneath the skin's surface.
It appears in the form of a small bump along the bikini line. These ingrown hairs generally develop one of two types of bumps on the skin's surface: the first is just a small round bump known as a papule, and the second is the same, but filled with pus, called a pustule. Often, the area around the cyst may appear red, especially if it's new.
Another way to identify the ingrown hair cyst is by noticing hair that is trapped under the skin. You won't always be able to see this, as there may be things covering it.
It can be challenging to tell the difference between an ingrown hair cyst and just bumps on the skin, but it's a good idea to learn the difference between the two, so you can monitor and treat a cyst if needed.
The ingrown hair cyst can sometimes feel pain when pressure is applied, and others can sometimes itch a little. Most of the time, however, ingrown hairs don't cause too much discomfort.
Later in this article, you will see the symptoms of infection and, if you are experiencing these, you should speak to a dermatologist or health specialist.
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What causes ingrown pubic hairs?
Ingrown pubic hairs can appear where the hair has been shaved, waxed, or plucked. As mentioned, an ingrown hair like this results from a pubic hair growing back into the skin, rather than above it.
If your hair's removal isn't clear-cut, it can often lead to the strand growing downwards, rather than upwards, or curling over. An additional way in which ingrown hairs are formed is when the new hair grows back incorrectly, either cured over or in the wrong direction. These can cause the skin around them to swell and react, as it sees the unusual hair as foreign. Then, a cyst is formed.
The most common method of hair removal, which results in ingrown hair cysts, is shaving. This is because shaving is often performed carelessly or incorrectly, so it is important to ensure you are shaving correctly and carefully to prevent ingrown hair cysts.
Firstly, the hair around the pubic region is coarser, so it is a good idea to soak in some warm water first, as this can help to loosen up the hair, making it easier to shave. Using shaving cream will also help to shave more gently, and a razor with sharp blades will be more likely to give a clear cut.
Avoid shaving against the direction of hair growth, as this can cause both an uneven cut and the new hair to grow back in the wrong direction. If you are experiencing lots of ingrown hairs using your current hair removal method, trying another alternative way may work better for you, as this may be gentler on your skin or just be more effective.
Scientists and medical professionals have claimed that those with coarse or curly hair are more likely to experience ingrown hairs, so, if this is you, be extra careful when removing hair.
When should you see a dermatologist?
In most cases, you don't need to worry about seeing a dermatologist or health professional, as there are over-the-counter medications and other remedies that are powerful enough to help fight the cyst. Over time, it should go away. However, if you are treating the ingrown hair, but it still isn't healing or fading after a while, it's best to see a dermatologist.
They can rule out any underlying health issues and drain the cyst and remove the ingrown hair. Also, if the cyst is getting annoying or uncomfortable, you should consider seeing a health professional have it removed.
Just like other types of cysts, ingrown hair cysts can also become irritated and even infected. If you are experiencing any symptoms of infection, you should also see a dermatologist. Signs of infection include:
- Swelling
- Extreme redness or irritation
- Itchiness
- Feeling warm when touched
How can you reduce the pain of ingrown hair on vag?
There are many over the counter (OTC) medications you can easily get from pharmacies, drugstores, and other places to reduce an ingrown hair cyst's pain or inflammation.
These OTC medications usually come in a gel formula and are applied directly to the cyst to treat the symptoms, causing you pain. The main ingredients often found in OTC medications to treat ingrown hair cysts include benzoyl peroxide and retinoids. Both of these ingredients are known to effectively reduce inflammation, therefore reducing the size of the cyst.
In some cases, prescription acne medications or similar will be prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist if you are struggling to treat the ingrown hair with just OTCs.
These are often prescribed after a visit to your health specialist if you need them and treat the cyst in the same way as to how they treat acne.
One thing to be aware of is that acne medications, as you may know, can often come with side effects due to how strong they are when it comes to reducing the acne.
The same side effects will apply if you take prescription acne medication to treat ingrown hair cysts. Still, your healthcare professional will let you know about this if these medications are prescribed.
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Will an ingrown hair on vag eventually go away?
As mentioned, ingrown hairs are generally harmless and don't require any serious medical attention. One thing which is important when it comes to ingrown hair cysts is that you avoid squeezing, picking, or popping the cyst, as this can lead to infection and even result in scarring.
As long as the cyst is left to heal by itself, it should heal itself without any medication or prescriptions without any additional irritation or inflammation. If you have noticed that you have developed an ingrown hair cyst, it is good to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't become infected.
If you want to treat the ingrown hair, OTC medications are a good option and consult a health professional if you are worried about how your ingrown hair is healing, or if it isn't making any progress with OTCs after a while.
Home remedies for ingrown hair on vag to try yourself
As well as OTC and prescription medications, there are some home remedies that you can try to reduce pain or swelling.
Natural oils
Some natural oils, including tea tree oil, coconut oil, and castor oil, can be effective at healing an ingrown hair cyst. All of these oils boast strong anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce redness and swelling around the cyst, naturally reducing it. Coconut oil also contains lauric acids, which have antimicrobial properties, which kill microorganisms and prevent their growth, which helps to heal ingrown hair.
Tea tree oil: mix 20 drops of tea tree oil with 8 ounces of warm water and apply to the area with a washcloth. Repeat twice a day.
Coconut oil: apply virgin coconut oil onto the ingrown hair cyst, leave for 15-20 minutes, and wipe off with a clean cloth.
Castor oil: spread a generous amount of oil to the affected area and wash off with a washcloth soaked in warm water after 15 minutes.
Epsom salt
All you need to do is run yourself a bath with 2 cups of Epsom salt and soak for at least 15 minutes. Epsom salt is known to detoxify and purify your skin, you the ingrown hair, will heal much easier afterward.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a powerful anti-inflammatory and a go-to, natural product for so many people. Among its various uses is healing ingrown hairs. Cut open a fresh leaf and spread the gel over the area, leave for 30 minutes, and rinse with warm water.
Sugar scrub
Sugar is often used in cosmetics as a natural physical exfoliator. It isn't too rough but is also effective at unclogging pores and can help to coax out an ingrown hair. Mix one cup of sugar with half a cup of olive oil and leave it on for 2 minutes before rinsing off.
Conclusion: how to prevent ingrown hair on vag
Ingrown hair is on vag, not a pleasant one, and can be even embarrassing and painful. But it's usually easy to treat and healing time is quite short.
But the real secret is in prevention.
- Remove hair carefully and keep in mind the natural direction of the hair growth.
- Use coconut during or after hair removal to soften the skin and reduce irritation.
- Give yourself a break and let the hair grow for some time. (being hairy is very natural )
- Try trimming machines instead of shaving or waxing. It cuts the hair instead of pulling it out with the roots and therefore preventing ingrown hairs.
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