Red, splotchy shaving bumps, technically known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, are caused by infected hair follicles that have picked up bacteria from your skin and razor. Depilatories, waxing and electrolysis may harm sensitive bikini-area skin, says Allison Vidimos, M.D., a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. According to The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women, doctors recommend using a razor as the best way to remove bikini-line hair, but shave safely to avoid those irritating and embarrassing bumps.
Step 1
Soak in a hot shower or bath to open the pores and soften the hair.
Step 2
Scrub the bikini area before you shave with an antibacterial soap to remove bacteria that could cause infection, says Dr. Allison Vidimos in The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies for Women.
Step 3
Rub a moisturizing shave cream or gel -- never soap -- into a lather and apply it gently to the bikini-line hair.
Step 4
Shave with a new razor with a sharp blade. Slide the razor along the skin in the same direction as the hair grows. Pull skin slightly taut to shave the hair closer to the skin, says BellaSugar's "How to Prevent Red Bumps in the Bikini Area," and avoid going over the same area more than once.
Step 5
Rinse the razor after every stroke.
Step 6
Rinse the gel or cream off when you're finished shaving, then wash the area a second time with antibacterial soap. Pat the area dry with a clean towel.
Step 7
Soak a cotton ball in astringent and dab it over the area you just shaved. If you feel irritation on the skin, apply a light layer of hydrocortisone cream. Hydrocortisone cream also soothes the itch of bikini line razor bumps.
Step 8
Exfoliate the bikini line daily if you continue to suffer from red razor bumps. Use a loofah and moisturizing soap and gently rub the area. Wear loose-fitting panties every day to avoid irritating the area further.
Tips and Warnings
- Ingrown hairs, commonly found in the bikini-line area on women, can cause a itchy, red, pus-filled bump, according to the Mayo Clinic. (new reference 3) Sterilize tweezers with rubbing alcohol, pull out the ingrown hair gently and then wipe the area with alcohol. (ref 1)
- Don't shave the bikini line every day; let the skin heal in between shaves.
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial soap
- Conditioning shaving gel or cream
- New, sharp razor
- Towel
- Astringent
- Cotton ball
- Hydrocortisone cream
References
- Fit Sugar: Take Care of Your Bikini Line
- Mother Nature: Bikini-Line Problems
- Mayo Clinic: Ingrown Hair Symptoms
- Bella Sugar: How-To Prevent Red Bumps in the Bikini Area
- "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women"; Sharon Faelton, Ed.; 1997
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