Bumps on the bikini area are one of those things you have to deal with if you prefer removing the hair down there. Shave bumps, ingrown hairs, vagina pimples and boils are a result of openings created in your pores during hair removal or injuries sustained during the same process. When dead skin cells or bacteria clog your pores it leads to bumps.
If the goal of removing pubic hair is to get a smooth pubic skin wouldn't it be counterintuitive to think the same process is the one causing bumps and dents on your pubes? For everything to make sense, there has to be a solution that can create a win-win situation. No bumps! No hair!
Is there a way you can remove your pubic hair and still keep your bikini area bump-free? Of course, there is a way out. If you exfoliate your pubes properly with the right product and at the right time.
In this article, I will introduce you to an exfoliating product and routine that can aid your safe hair removal and keep your bikini area bump-free. But before that, you need to understand in detail the causes of bumps in the bikini area.
Cause of bumps in the bikini area
There are several reasons you may notice tiny bumps or larger ones on your bikini area from time to time. To understand why this may occur, we need to highlight the types of bumps and then what causes them. Types of bumps you may notice on your bikini area include;
- Shave bumps
- Ingrown hairs
- Vagina pimples
- Vagina boils
Now let's analyse the specific causes of these bumps.
Shave bumps
Shave bumps are tiny bumps that appear on your pubes some days after you shave. Shave bumps occur as a result of improper shaving routine. Shaving, unlike other hair removal methods like waxing, does not uproot your pubic hair, it only cuts them to the nearest minimum. It leaves behind tiny sharp edges and hair strands that you can feel with your hands after shaving.
Some of those tiny sharp edges hairs may recoil back into your skin. If you are someone who does not exfoliate your pubes, dead skin cells will block your hair follicles and trap these hairs underneath your skin. Since they are trapped instead of growing out they will start growing inwards.
You will notice shave bumps have tiny hairs beneath them if you examine them closely. Those are the trapped hairs.
Another reason your pubic hair may break and recoil back into the skin is if you shave against the direction of your hair growth. This may also lead to hair breakage and abnormal regrowth.
Ingrown hairs
Ingrown hairs are similar to shave bumps. It is just that their circumstances differ. Ingrown hair is tiny bumps that appear on your bikini area some days after you wax your pubes or remove your hair through the epilation method. Just like shave bumps, ingrown hairs also have beneath them trapped hairs.
What causes ingrown hairs after bikini waxing?
Unlike the shaving method, the bikini waxing and epilation method will uproot the pubic hairs from their follicles. They do not leave behind tiny strands, which is why their results last longer than shaving.
However, after uprooting the hair, the hair follicles from which these hairs were uprooted will be left intact. New hairs will grow out of these follicles. But before new hairs spring out, dead skin cells and debris would have blocked these follicles. As such new hairs will be trapped beneath the skin and they will start growing inwards.
Still a consequence of not getting rid of these dead skin cells.
Vagina pimples or acne
Vagina pimples or acne on the other hand can occur regardless of your hair removal style. Just like your facial skin is prone to develop pimples, so is your pubic skin. But this wouldn't have happened if the hairs are left intact.
According to experts, just like your face your pubic hair follicles and sweat glands can be blocked by excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. When any of these occur, you notice one or a cluster of pimples on your bikini area.
Improper care of your pubes after hair removal is still the culprit here. First, your follicles and sweat glands wouldn't be exposed if your hair weren't removed. Now that you've decided to remove the hair which is a cool decision, you owe your pubes the responsibility to exfoliate it at appropriate times to get rid of this debris and bacteria that might block the opened follicles and cause pimples.
Vagina boil
Vagina boils are different from regular bumps because of their size. Vagina boil is a pus-filled lump that shows up beneath the skin without an invite. It situates itself strategically on the pubes of its host just to cause her discomfort. Unlike bumps and pimples, boils don't come in gangs. I am sure you wouldn't want to handle more than one at a time. I hope you don't have to deal with any, though.
What causes the vagina to boil?
Vagina boil occurs when bacteria gain entry into the skin through an opening. An opening caused by vagina injuries like cuts while shaving, infected ingrown hairs and bumps are the easiest routes bacteria gain entry into the skin and cause boils.
How can you keep your bikini area free of bumps?
If you want to maintain a bump-free bikini area then take steps to get rid of dead skin cells, excess oils and bacteria that can block your hair follicles and sweat glands.
The major cause of bumps on the bikini area is the blockage of the hair follicles by dead skin cells and bacteria. The only solution is to exfoliate your skin properly and at the appropriate time.
The concept of bikini area exfoliation
Exfoliation is the process of scrubbing the skin to get rid of dead skin cells and reveal a newer layer of skin. Normally, our skin sheds old layers of skin from time to time. However this natural shedding leaves behind dead skin cells which require human effort to remove.
If you leave these dead skin layers unremoved, they will block your hair follicles and sweat glands. This will consequently lead to pimples, bumps or ingrown hairs. Not just that, exfoliation will also get rid of bacteria and many forms of germs lurking around your pubic skin.
How to prevent shave bumps after shaving
To prevent dead skin cells from trapping tiny hair strands beneath your skin, you should exfoliate your pubic area before you shave and some days after you shave. Not just that you should apply shaving creams and shave towards the direction of your hair growth to prevent hair breakage
How to prevent ingrown hairs after waxing
Exfoliate your pubes a day before your waxing appointment and some days after you wax your pubes.
How to prevent vagina pimples and vagina boils
This requires routine exfoliation. Exfoliate your pubes at least 3 times every week to get rid of dead skin cells and bacteria that can block your pores. To avoid vagina boils try as much as possible to avoid vulva injuries that can create an opening on your pubic skin. Shave carefully to avoid cuts. If you end up with an injury down there take proper care of it to prevent bacterial infections.
What should you use to exfoliate your bikini area?
Due to the sensitivity of the pubic skin, it is advisable to exfoliate your pubes with a slightly abrasive and mild scrub. You can use homemade scrubs like brown sugar and honey or sugar and coconut oil. You can also get an exfoliating product made specifically for pubic skin.
However, you have to take note of the ingredients that go into your pubic area exfoliator. You should avoid products with fragrances and other harsh ingredients like paraben, sulfate and alcohol. This is to avoid irritating your sensitive pubic skin. You also need natural anti-oxidants and toning ingredients in your exfoliator to get rid of bacteria and reveal a newer skin layer.
Can I use loofah or sponge to exfoliate my pubic area
Those tools will be too hard on your skin and they might bruise or irritate your pubes.
Can I use a chemical exfoliator for my bikini area?
According to experts such chemicals may be too harsh for your delicate pubic skin and lead to irritation.
The best exfoliator for the bikini area
OYO "ingrown out" is a mild unscented pubic skin scrub made with natural ingredients. Its chief ingredients include witch hazel, almond powder and coconut oil. These ingredients are not only reputable for their anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, but they also have skin toning properties.
As such, proper use of OYO" ingrowns out"
will not only keep your bikini area bump-free it will also help you reveal a newer skin layer and get rid of dark skin patches.
How to properly exfoliate your pubic area
- Apply a small amount of your exfoliator to your pubic area and rub gently in a circular motion for a few minutes.
- Rinse off the exfoliator properly.
- Apply a safe moisturising oil to soothe your skin and close your pores.
Final Words
Bumps on the bikini area are largely due to hair removal. However, this shouldn't stop you from removing your hair if you choose to. You can get a bump-free bikini area if you follow a normal exfoliating routine. Not just that, maintain an overall pubic skincare routine by cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising your pubic skin at appropriate times.
