Those painful, itchy red bumps in your bikini line are probably ingrown hairs--especially if you have shaved or waxed the area recently. Ingrown hairs develop when hair that has been removed starts to grow into the skin rather than outside of it, and they are most common in thick, curly hair, such as that frequently found in the bikini area. The good news is that there are ways to prevent ingrown hairs from developing and ways to treat them.
Step 1
Use a washcloth or soft-bristled toothbrush to massage the bikini area gently, in a circular motion, before shaving or waxing and also at bedtime, advises the Mayo Clinic. You can also remove ingrown hairs by inserting a sterile needle into the hair loops formed by ingrown hairs and pulling the hair out of the skin.
Step 2
Use an over-the-counter cream containing retinyl palmitate. A fraction of all retinyl palmitate molecules convert into retinoic acid (Retin-A), which the Mayo Clinic recommends for treating ingrown hairs. Retinoic acid exfoliates skin and makes it less likely to harbor ingrown hairs.
"Cosmopolitan" recommends other exfoliating creams like those containing glycolic or salicylic acid.
Step 3
Ask your doctor for a prescription cream containing retinoic acid (Retin-A), which is more potent than retinyl palmitate. Prescription corticosteroid creams can also help alleviate the inflammation associated with ingrown hairs, and topical antibiotics may help treat infections that develop after scratching the infected area, according to "Cosmopolitan."
Tips and Warnings
- The best way to stop ingrown hairs is to prevent them in the first place. Laser hair removal kills the follicle, which means that hair cannot later become ingrown. If you must shave, use a new razor blade when possible, and shave in the direction of hair growth, advises to "Cosmopolitan."
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth or soft-bristled toothbrush
- Cream containing retinyl palmitate, glycolic acid or salicylic acid
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