So much for shaving and waxing

[cijababe]

Apparently keeping the genitals shaved or waxed, far from being hygenic, is actually irritating and encourages infection according to doctors.

A doctor has launched an appeal to reverse one of the fashion trends of the last decade, seen in the explosion of beauty salons offering bikini waxing, laser hair removal and “vajazzling”– jewelled decoration of the genitals.

Emily Gibson, a family physician and head of a student health centre, called for an end to the “war on pubic hair” claiming it is increasing the risk of infection and of sexually transmitted diseases amongst young people.

“The amount of time, energy, money and emotion both genders spend on abolishing hair from their genitals is astronomical,” she says.

The hair removal market was estimated to be worth $2.1 billion in the US in 2011 and is on a similar scale in the UK. The trend was spawned, she suggests, by the popularity of bikinis and thongs, “certain hairless actors and actresses, a misguided attempt at hygiene or being more attractive to a partner.”

As director of the health centre at Western University in Washington State, US, she has seen the consequences. “Pubic hair removal naturally irritates and inflames the hair follicles, leaving microscopic open wounds. Frequent hair removal is necessary to stay smooth, causing regular irritation of the shaved or waxed area. When that is combined with the warm, moist environment of the genitals, it becomes a happy culture media for some of the nastiest bacterial pathogens,” she writes on the respected US medical website Kevin MD.com.
Surgeons used to insist on shaving the area of the body where an operation was to be performed in the misguided belief that it reduced surgical site infections. Now official advice is to leave hair alone, unless it interferes with the operation, and where removal is necessary to use electric clippers.

Dr Gibson says that whatever method is used on pubic hair – razor blades, electric shavers, tweezers, waxing, depilatories, electrolysis - “hair, like crab grass, always grows back and eventually wins.”

In her practice it is not unusual to find patients with boils and abscesses on their genitals from shaving as well as cellulitis, an infection of the scrotum, labia or penis from shaving or from having sex with someone infected.

Herpes is also an increased risk “due to the microscopic wounds being exposed to virus carried by mouth or genitals.”

“It follows that there may be vulnerability to spread of other sexually transmitted diseases as well,” she says.

“Pubic hair does have a purpose, providing a cushion against friction that can cause skin abrasion and injury, and protection from bacteria. It is the visible result of adolescent hormones and certainly nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.”

“It is time to declare a truce in the war on pubic hair and allow it to stay right where it belongs.”

Dr Bav Shergill, Consultant Dermatologist at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust, said: “I agree that some of the methods of pubic hair removal can lead to damage to the skin itself as well as increasing the risk of infections. Laser hair reduction of pubic hair is safe, provided it is undertaken by a qualified practitioner. ”Bare down there“ is a fashion amongst some groups right now and may pass once people get fed up with the high level of maintenance.”

Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “Different forms of hair removal carry varying levels of risk. In the wrong hands, laser hair removal can cause post-inflammatory pigmentation – this is when the skin becomes inflamed and as a result will be permanently discoloured. The skin could even be burned if lasers are not used properly. For that reason, we would strongly recommend visiting a qualified dermatologist for such treatments.

Any break in the skin, be it through shaving or waxing, could increase the risk of bacterial or viral infections, although the risk is generally fairly minimal. More common are problems such as ingrown hairs, which can become infected.”

[BeastlySoul]

Human beings encounter a number of viruses and bacteria daily. Chances are if you haven't had any problems yet, you're being careful and most likely never will.

Besides, which would you prefer?

[cijababe]

I prefer to stay natural personally, and so does my partner.

[Old Man]

Originally Posted by cijababe

I prefer to stay natural personally, and so does my partner.

....You rascal....

[BeastlySoul]

Originally Posted by cijababe

I prefer to stay natural personally, and so does my partner.

So no foul, just one more reason for y'all to stay natural.

[sidmaxx]

Originally Posted by cijababe

Apparently keeping the genitals shaved or waxed, far from being hygenic, is actually irritating and encourages infection according to doctors.

your post actually made me wonder just when and why shaving and waxing seems to have become the norm ?

i'm not saying i'm against it because i'm not, it looks much better that way. but if you look back only 10 years, or so, ago it was the norm to have a really hairy, or very slightly trimmed bush.
you only have to look at pictures and videos to see that.

now it's either very closely shaved or completely bald.

[sexomaniac]

I can't grow a wolf pussy I'm sorry it's just too nasty for me.

During the winter I keep it trimmed and not shaved. But after winter it's all baby smooth silky peach for me.

[swingerguy95621]

yes..and you should ALWAYS trust a doctor right ?? lol....i'm gonna keep shaving.

[BeastlySoul]

Originally Posted by sexomaniac

I can't grow a wolf pussy I'm sorry it's just too nasty for me.

During the winter I keep it trimmed and not shaved. But after winter it's all baby smooth silky peach for me.

Same for me. Except scratch all the adjectives you used and replace them with manly ones...

[curiousscouser]

That makes a lot of sense. I know I have to be really careful when I use a fresh razor blade as otherise it looks like I've been fondled by Edward Scissorhands. Nicks and cuts are always going to be susceptible to infection, and if I don't exfoliate or if I try to shave every day then I know I'm going to get ingrowing hairs which quickly become infected.

My guy prefers a bit of hair. He's the same age as me, so the porn he grew up with was very hairy porn. Sadly I prefer the sensation of a smooth pubis, and for as long as that's the case I'm going to continue the deforestation of my lady-garden

Interesting article Cija, thankyou!

[Rothko]

Every time the question about pubic hair comes up there seems to be a lot of guys on here who express there total distaste for the idea of girly hair and offer up all sorts of excuses for this position. But it is only fairly recently that the whole shaving thing has been around, which leads me to wonder how all these guys are going to cope when the girls start letting the forest take over again...

I will admit to enjoying the shaved look but having enjoyed having sex with and eating out enough girls who had the full bush It is not going to bother me one way or other.

Im not necessarily convinced by the article though and think there are probably a whole load more factors, and of course there are a lot people in commited relationships who happily shave their pubes.

Surely safe and sensible sexual practice and sexual hygene is better than a commitment to keeping the bush or to becoming overly concerned by the desire to be smooth

[N.E. Woman]

I just loved this quote...

“ Frequent hair removal is necessary to stay smooth, causing regular irritation of the shaved or waxed area. When that is combined with the warm, moist environment of the genitals, it becomes a happy culture media for some of the nastiest bacterial pathogens,” she writes on the respected US medical website Kevin MD.com.

I highly doubt people are going to alter their grooming habits, even if 100 articles come out like this, but it does make you wonder.

Luckily for me, hubby and I both prefer the "trimmed" look/feel to that of a full Brazilian wax. As well as we have been monogamous for 20 years. If there was something to have gotten from each other, we would already be screwed.

[SubmissiveGemini]

Now I am confused. Because there are articles out there what will tell you the hair adds heat and moisture and traps the bad bacteria and what not...

So the thing is I will not stop, at least, keeping a low trim.

[tupelohoney]

I'm going to continue to shave. I like the way it looks, and feels.

[imova]

When I get staph or MRSA, I'll stop burning the forest.


What the article fails to mention, is that the likely hood of getting said infection is pretty slim. You'd have to have the bacteria already on the affected area, and since most of us (at least me) shave in the shower the area for the most part stays clean.

As long as you keep it clean, you won't really have problems. Thats how you avoid infections with cuts on other parts of your body.

[knoxvillainswife]

Originally Posted by imova

When I get staph or MRSA, I'll stop burning the forest.


What the article fails to mention, is that the likely hood of getting said infection is pretty slim. You'd have to have the bacteria already on the affected area, and since most of us (at least me) shave in the shower the area for the most part stays clean.

As long as you keep it clean, you won't really have problems. Thats how you avoid infections with cuts on other parts of your body.

Now the weird thing here, is has anyone ever met someone that has staph in their armpits? It's caused from shaving that area, they had a big thing on The Doctors about it. It's easily possible for the same thing to happen to your privates as well, I'd figure. I've met someone that has it too...granted she lived in Texas, and everyone I met down there had some kind of weird infection..(shudder)..anyway, I'm sure it could happen.
Either way, I'm keeping mine trimmed, I shave for special occasions, but I think I'll be fine.

[hank49]

I've read just the opposite, that the hair holds the natural discharge and urine and allows the bad stuff to grow causing more odder and infections. The only problem I've been able to find is ingrown hair when it grows back out.

[hoses]

So don't bump uglies the day that you shave and be hygenic and you'll be okay.