HEALTH

It sounds like you may have folliculitis, or infected hair follicles. It sounds bad, but folliculitis is totally common when shaving a sensitive area. According to Nurse Practitioner, Elizabeth Bobby, who practices at About Women By Women in Wellesley, Mass., “shaving traumatizes the skin, and bacteria that normally live on the skin get into the hair follicles and cause infection.”

Proactive Prevention
Wanna avoid folliculitis in the first place? Try (1) shaving in the same direction that the hair grows, (2) avoiding repeated strokes over the same area and (3) using water with soap or shaving cream. Using a fresh disposable razor every time or changing your razor head often can help. And, offers Bobby, it's best not to share razors with other people.

Awesome Alternatives 
Lotsa women find that the skin in their groin area is just too sensitive for regular shaving and opt for an alternative, like trimming the fuzz short with an electric razor or "bikini trimmer." Bobby also shares that keeping some hair in this area actually protects your sensitive skin from friction caused by clothing! Waxing and laser treatments are other options for hair removal, although these tend to be costly and not-so-painless.
 
If ya ever get bumps that are "red, warm and tender, or painful swelling in the groin from shaving," Bobby tells us, then ya might have a skin infection that you should have your doc check out.

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