Warning: TMI, female related - cysts/ingrown hairs down *there*
December 29, 2014 11:48 PM Subscribe
I'm sure this may happen to males too. Ever since high school, I've done my best to remain bald through shaving down there. I also get waxed when I have time/funding to do so, but this year I've had more issues with shaving than I ever have before and I want to figure out why and how to avoid these issues in the future while still enjoying being bald. More TMI details behind cut. I know, you're not my doctor. I get that.
Over the summer, first off - I was shaving down there every day. The first time I experienced painful ingrown hairs, I went to my PCP who took a culture and told me I had developed a staph infection. I was given antibiotics and didn't shave for a few weeks and the problems went away.
Then at the end of summer, about 2 months after the Staph infection, I developed a nasty cyst. It became so painful I went to the ER one morning and was told that it had to be operated on - I also had developed celluitis really bad. The cyst was right above my pubic area. They removed the gooey stuff out of the cyst and I was kept for 48 hours in the hospital for observation.
I've gotten several professional opinions - from a home health nurse, several doctors in the hospital as well as my PCP and they all say similar things - if I feel I have to shave my genital area often, I should proceed with caution, shave gently, don't use cheap razors, change your razor blades every time and make sure not to use lotion or perfumes, etc in the area afterwards. Also, I was told not to shave everyday since this can push bacteria into the open pores, but rather a few times a week, or at most - every other day.
The home health nurse recommended either an electric razor or Nair - but Nair burns and I don't think I want to go that route. I can't afford regular waxing @ 50-60 bucks a pop for a Brazilian.
Is this correct? I don't want to have these issues like this again, but I also don't want to give up being hair free down there and I can't afford to buy Venus razor heads every single time I shave.
Currently, I shave every other day, or every 3 days depending. I make sure not to lotion afterwards, I let the area dry - and sometimes as a precaution, I spray bactine on the area - which I don't know is actually a good thing to do, but it does stop the post-shave itch. For the record, I've always gotten ingrown hairs from time to time, and have gotten several cysts under the skin that were painful but ended up taking care of themselves and disappearing.
Are some people just more predispositioned than others to these issues? Are you? Have any tips, tricks, or other experiences you're willing to share? Could this be MRSA related? Should I get further medical opinions about this?
Over the summer, first off - I was shaving down there every day. The first time I experienced painful ingrown hairs, I went to my PCP who took a culture and told me I had developed a staph infection. I was given antibiotics and didn't shave for a few weeks and the problems went away.
Then at the end of summer, about 2 months after the Staph infection, I developed a nasty cyst. It became so painful I went to the ER one morning and was told that it had to be operated on - I also had developed celluitis really bad. The cyst was right above my pubic area. They removed the gooey stuff out of the cyst and I was kept for 48 hours in the hospital for observation.
I've gotten several professional opinions - from a home health nurse, several doctors in the hospital as well as my PCP and they all say similar things - if I feel I have to shave my genital area often, I should proceed with caution, shave gently, don't use cheap razors, change your razor blades every time and make sure not to use lotion or perfumes, etc in the area afterwards. Also, I was told not to shave everyday since this can push bacteria into the open pores, but rather a few times a week, or at most - every other day.
The home health nurse recommended either an electric razor or Nair - but Nair burns and I don't think I want to go that route. I can't afford regular waxing @ 50-60 bucks a pop for a Brazilian.
Is this correct? I don't want to have these issues like this again, but I also don't want to give up being hair free down there and I can't afford to buy Venus razor heads every single time I shave.
Currently, I shave every other day, or every 3 days depending. I make sure not to lotion afterwards, I let the area dry - and sometimes as a precaution, I spray bactine on the area - which I don't know is actually a good thing to do, but it does stop the post-shave itch. For the record, I've always gotten ingrown hairs from time to time, and have gotten several cysts under the skin that were painful but ended up taking care of themselves and disappearing.
Are some people just more predispositioned than others to these issues? Are you? Have any tips, tricks, or other experiences you're willing to share? Could this be MRSA related? Should I get further medical opinions about this?
Every time I've tried to shave there I've ended up covered with big pus-filled white lumps from ingrown hairs. :(
Maybe try switching to just trimming really short for a while, and see if that's tidy enough for you without all the complications from shaving?
posted by Jacqueline at 12:35 AM on December 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Maybe try switching to just trimming really short for a while, and see if that's tidy enough for you without all the complications from shaving?
posted by Jacqueline at 12:35 AM on December 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
At some point, you may have to consider the value of aesthetic considerations versus your health. Continued ingrown hairs and related infections may not be worth the sensation of a hairless vulva.
In the meanwhile, consider a product like Tend Skin. In the long-term, learning how to self-wax, or saving up for laser hair removal, might be more productive options.
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 1:21 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
In the meanwhile, consider a product like Tend Skin. In the long-term, learning how to self-wax, or saving up for laser hair removal, might be more productive options.
posted by Lulu's Pink Converse at 1:21 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
You really shouldn't mess around with staph infections. I would go back to that PCP and find out if you still have staph. I wonder if the antibiotics you were given were enough to get the infection under control, but not enough to get rid of it completely?
For the time being, I think you need to stop shaving.
If/when you can start shaving again, here are some things that helped me get my ingrown hair problem under control:
-The night before shaving, exfoliate gently with an exfoliating glove. Rinse the glove really well afterwards and let it dry completely.
-Use men's razors. My razor of choice is a Schick Hydro 5.
-The day after shaving, apply an ingrown hair serum. If ingrown hairs appear, use the serum as directed on the bottle.
In order to complete these steps properly, daily shaving isn't really possible. Exfoliation before shaving is important, but you don't want to be shaving irritated skin that has just been exfoliated, so the day between is necessary. Ingrown hair serum can be helpful to prevent ingrowns, but it could be really unpleasant to apply straight after shaving, so you need a day after that.
None of these steps will really help you much if the cause of your ingrowns is an ongoing staph infection, so make sure that is sorted first. And it's super important that you do so. If you're sexually active, I imagine that you could be putting sexual partners at risk.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 1:32 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
For the time being, I think you need to stop shaving.
If/when you can start shaving again, here are some things that helped me get my ingrown hair problem under control:
-The night before shaving, exfoliate gently with an exfoliating glove. Rinse the glove really well afterwards and let it dry completely.
-Use men's razors. My razor of choice is a Schick Hydro 5.
-The day after shaving, apply an ingrown hair serum. If ingrown hairs appear, use the serum as directed on the bottle.
In order to complete these steps properly, daily shaving isn't really possible. Exfoliation before shaving is important, but you don't want to be shaving irritated skin that has just been exfoliated, so the day between is necessary. Ingrown hair serum can be helpful to prevent ingrowns, but it could be really unpleasant to apply straight after shaving, so you need a day after that.
None of these steps will really help you much if the cause of your ingrowns is an ongoing staph infection, so make sure that is sorted first. And it's super important that you do so. If you're sexually active, I imagine that you could be putting sexual partners at risk.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 1:32 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Have you tried home waxing? It's really easy. You do need the hair to get to about 0.5cm for the wax to be able to grip it, but you end up much smoother than with shaving, and it lasts a lot longer.
posted by tinkletown at 1:33 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by tinkletown at 1:33 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Waxing, like shaving, causes micro-tears in the skin and increases risk of (re)infection with staph (or even STIs). It may cause even more ingrown hairs than shaving, because waxing, like any hair removal method that involves the hair being pulled from the root, can distort the root, leaving the hair to grow back at weird angles, prompting an inflammatory response. Laser or trimming are least likely to open the window to problems.
posted by cotton dress sock at 3:33 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by cotton dress sock at 3:33 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Stop doing this. Why are you shaving daily? Beyond these huge medical issues you're not even allowing the hair to grow back in. nair or home waxing girl. Stop this now!
posted by k8t at 3:44 AM on December 30, 2014 [15 favorites]
posted by k8t at 3:44 AM on December 30, 2014 [15 favorites]
Sounds like you are having an issue with cleanliness. Do you use alcohol or another disinfectant before/after? There is a reason men use aftershave, and I believe this is one of them. But I have to second and third other comments, it seems like you are really susceptible to infection and wonder if it is really worth it.
posted by Toddles at 3:54 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Toddles at 3:54 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also second k8t - shaving everyday seems excessive. My understanding was that people typically do this once a week? Bimonthly? Monthly? Could help.
posted by Toddles at 3:55 AM on December 30, 2014
posted by Toddles at 3:55 AM on December 30, 2014
Getting laser hair removal nearly ended this problem for me. The price is coming down, and every session helps though it is best to keep to their schedule. I go for a laser session instead of a waxing and it feels good knowing some of the effect will be permanent. I still shave from time to time but the hair is sparse and fine.
posted by txtwinkletoes at 5:04 AM on December 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by txtwinkletoes at 5:04 AM on December 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
I don't shave every day but when I do it, I apply unscented deodorant all over the area. I have been doing it for years an works wonders.
posted by 3dd at 5:06 AM on December 30, 2014
posted by 3dd at 5:06 AM on December 30, 2014
You can try an epilator. I personally think this would hurt like hell, but if you're already used to waxing then you might be OK. You can easily pick up a cheaper one for about 30$, less if you look for a sale/deal. An epilator is basically a bunch of mechanical tweezers that go pretty fast, so it pulls the hair out (like waxing) but mostly doesn't touch the skin (one of the big problems with waxing).
Or, well, it is winter--you could bite the bullet and stop shaving (just carefully trim with scissors--be careful!) and use all the money you save by not buying blades and things to save up for laser removal.
posted by anaelith at 5:08 AM on December 30, 2014
Or, well, it is winter--you could bite the bullet and stop shaving (just carefully trim with scissors--be careful!) and use all the money you save by not buying blades and things to save up for laser removal.
posted by anaelith at 5:08 AM on December 30, 2014
I agree with the advice to not mess around with staph and other skin infections. A few years ago my partner started having awful rashes after leg shaving, and started reacting poorly to waxing and epilating as well. For her it came down to letting it grow (which is a totally fine option) or laser.
Laser looks more expensive up front, but if you compare the cost over years to waxing (or repeated doctor/hospital visits!) it is much cheaper, assuming you have the right skin/hair colors for it to work well. Costs have been dropping and there is a lot of competition -- just glancing at google I am seeing prices around here around $200 for six treatments, and under $100 to treat multiple areas each month, and there are usually super cheap Groupon prices as well. It takes a lot of repeated treatments to get to almost zero hair growth, but the biggest difference was after just a couple -- even if that's all you can afford, you might get enough improvement to then be able to wax or shave the remainder without the constant irritation.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:25 AM on December 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
Laser looks more expensive up front, but if you compare the cost over years to waxing (or repeated doctor/hospital visits!) it is much cheaper, assuming you have the right skin/hair colors for it to work well. Costs have been dropping and there is a lot of competition -- just glancing at google I am seeing prices around here around $200 for six treatments, and under $100 to treat multiple areas each month, and there are usually super cheap Groupon prices as well. It takes a lot of repeated treatments to get to almost zero hair growth, but the biggest difference was after just a couple -- even if that's all you can afford, you might get enough improvement to then be able to wax or shave the remainder without the constant irritation.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:25 AM on December 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
A tip I picked up here on metafilter - immediately after shaving, apply antiperspirant to the whole area. It closes up the pores and voila! no infections or itching! It's magical!
posted by MexicanYenta at 5:34 AM on December 30, 2014
posted by MexicanYenta at 5:34 AM on December 30, 2014
You can try an epilator. I personally think this would hurt like hell, but if you're already used to waxing then you might be OK.
Experienced epilator-user here. This will hurt to a degree you cannot imagine. Given your infection history I'd go with a trimmer and accept that the bare look is no longer viable or safe for you.
posted by kinetic at 5:47 AM on December 30, 2014 [9 favorites]
Experienced epilator-user here. This will hurt to a degree you cannot imagine. Given your infection history I'd go with a trimmer and accept that the bare look is no longer viable or safe for you.
posted by kinetic at 5:47 AM on December 30, 2014 [9 favorites]
I'd just like to point out that the reason they kept you in the hospital for observation for 48 hours is risk of sepsis -- an infection in your blood stream, which can result in organ failure and death. You like to have bare ladyparts, but do you like it more than being alive?
There comes a point when consistent complications mean you have to abandon something you otherwise really enjoy. I really, really loved my IUD for several years, but after lost strings and a perforation, it's plain an IUD doesn't work so well for my body in particular. Likewise, it's plain that total hair removal isn't working for your body anymore. Better safe than sorry.
posted by Andrhia at 6:02 AM on December 30, 2014 [28 favorites]
There comes a point when consistent complications mean you have to abandon something you otherwise really enjoy. I really, really loved my IUD for several years, but after lost strings and a perforation, it's plain an IUD doesn't work so well for my body in particular. Likewise, it's plain that total hair removal isn't working for your body anymore. Better safe than sorry.
posted by Andrhia at 6:02 AM on December 30, 2014 [28 favorites]
Yes to laser or trimming.
I don't know if this actually works or if it was a recurring coincidence for me, but when I notice that an in-grown or cyst-like thing is staring to appear, I apply a little bit of baking soda mixed with water (the consistency is like toothpaste) for a couple of days and the thing just disappears. I do that on my face too, it always works, but you need to be patient.
posted by divina_y_humilde at 6:24 AM on December 30, 2014
I don't know if this actually works or if it was a recurring coincidence for me, but when I notice that an in-grown or cyst-like thing is staring to appear, I apply a little bit of baking soda mixed with water (the consistency is like toothpaste) for a couple of days and the thing just disappears. I do that on my face too, it always works, but you need to be patient.
posted by divina_y_humilde at 6:24 AM on December 30, 2014
Do you do this 100% because YOU like it? It is very hard for me to understand why someone would risk their well-being and deal with hospital stays in order to remove hair that is supposed to be there naturally, unless they were being pressured by somebody's bogus idea of "the way women should be".
I am old enough that this was just not done when I was coming up, and I still find it, quite frankly, offensive that grown women should be obliged to remove one of the signs of their sexual maturity. It's yet another task added to women's plates that they are made to feel they must do in order to be attractive or feminine. I reject this, and I wish more women would have the ovaries to do so.
I'd really take a close look, if I were you, at the risk/reward ratio here. Rather than focusing on how to continue shaving while not having these problems, I'd focus on how to stop shaving--or do it far less frequently--while leaving your self-esteem intact.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 6:47 AM on December 30, 2014 [28 favorites]
I am old enough that this was just not done when I was coming up, and I still find it, quite frankly, offensive that grown women should be obliged to remove one of the signs of their sexual maturity. It's yet another task added to women's plates that they are made to feel they must do in order to be attractive or feminine. I reject this, and I wish more women would have the ovaries to do so.
I'd really take a close look, if I were you, at the risk/reward ratio here. Rather than focusing on how to continue shaving while not having these problems, I'd focus on how to stop shaving--or do it far less frequently--while leaving your self-esteem intact.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 6:47 AM on December 30, 2014 [28 favorites]
I'm impressed/horrified by your dedication to nekkidness but agree with those who say that the only sustainable solution for you is either to give up (trimmed is nice!) or to start saving up for laser hair removal. There are usually Groupons available. If you really feel you must keep shaving, I recommend Dorco razors. They're as good quality as Gilette and much, much, much cheaper (under $1 for most types of refills). I like their men's razors better than the women's razors. They even make a special bikini razor, although it doesn't give a very close shave (by design).
Also if you feel a cyst or something coming on, hot water compresses (like, as hot as you can stand) for 15 minutes two or three times a day can help stop them before they get bad. That's an additional 30-45 minutes a day you're spending on your pubes, but it's better than two days in the hospital!
posted by mskyle at 6:52 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also if you feel a cyst or something coming on, hot water compresses (like, as hot as you can stand) for 15 minutes two or three times a day can help stop them before they get bad. That's an additional 30-45 minutes a day you're spending on your pubes, but it's better than two days in the hospital!
posted by mskyle at 6:52 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Did you ever try the electric razor? There's still the risk of ingrown hairs, but the chances of actually cutting your skin are practically nil.
posted by supercres at 7:05 AM on December 30, 2014
posted by supercres at 7:05 AM on December 30, 2014
Are you shaving against the direction of the hair growth? If so, make an immediate U turn and start shaving with the direction of the growth. It's far less irritating and less likely to cause ingrown hairs.
That said, please seriously consider what mysterious_stranger wrote.
posted by Dolley at 7:18 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
That said, please seriously consider what mysterious_stranger wrote.
posted by Dolley at 7:18 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I work as a stripper. A ton of people see that area, including male customers and female coworkers, and I regularly get compliments from both.
Laser. Laser. Laser.
** I have no medical background, and don't know if laser makes sense for you regarding cysts and staph infections. Please ask your doctor first.
Before I got laser, my only way to avoid irritations and ingrown hairs was to wait and let the hair grow in between shaving. I hated it.
For me, laser doesn't mean that I never have to shave again, but the hair grows in much slower and much finer—more like the hair on my head. This means that I have to shave much less often, and when I do, I don't get ingrown hairs or shaving irritations. For instance, I last shaved over a week ago, and I am still completely bald down there, with smooth, soft skin.
Your results with laser will vary depending on the stubbornness of the hair. My hair is super stubborn, so even though I got laser a couple years ago, I still go back for touch-ups two or three times a year just to be thorough.
Is it expensive? Sure. Prohibitively so for many people, I imagine.
I paid $200 per session at one of the nicest salons in my city, because if someone is pointing lasers where I might have kids someday, I want the best. But you can probably find more reasonable prices if you do research in your area.
Most of my stripper coworkers don't get laser there, but all the ones that do swear by it.
If having hair down there really bothers you so much, I would ask your doctor if laser would be okay given your history of staph infections and cysts.
Best of luck!
posted by Peppermint Snowflake at 7:18 AM on December 30, 2014 [18 favorites]
Laser. Laser. Laser.
** I have no medical background, and don't know if laser makes sense for you regarding cysts and staph infections. Please ask your doctor first.
Before I got laser, my only way to avoid irritations and ingrown hairs was to wait and let the hair grow in between shaving. I hated it.
For me, laser doesn't mean that I never have to shave again, but the hair grows in much slower and much finer—more like the hair on my head. This means that I have to shave much less often, and when I do, I don't get ingrown hairs or shaving irritations. For instance, I last shaved over a week ago, and I am still completely bald down there, with smooth, soft skin.
Your results with laser will vary depending on the stubbornness of the hair. My hair is super stubborn, so even though I got laser a couple years ago, I still go back for touch-ups two or three times a year just to be thorough.
Is it expensive? Sure. Prohibitively so for many people, I imagine.
I paid $200 per session at one of the nicest salons in my city, because if someone is pointing lasers where I might have kids someday, I want the best. But you can probably find more reasonable prices if you do research in your area.
Most of my stripper coworkers don't get laser there, but all the ones that do swear by it.
If having hair down there really bothers you so much, I would ask your doctor if laser would be okay given your history of staph infections and cysts.
Best of luck!
posted by Peppermint Snowflake at 7:18 AM on December 30, 2014 [18 favorites]
I shaved intermittently, when I feel like it, but the only time I had an ingrown hair, I just treated with disinfectant to keep the swelling down and didn't shave for a couple of months. We've gotten really strange as a society about body hair, but it's really not a big deal. Take a break from shaving for awhile and see if it really bothers you that much. It if does, the laser treatments might be worth the $$$ for you.
posted by Kurichina at 7:31 AM on December 30, 2014
posted by Kurichina at 7:31 AM on December 30, 2014
I think the wisest approach would be to let things grow out for several weeks or months or maybe forever. But if you must shave, a treatment with salicylic acid/acetylsalicylic acid like Tend Skin can go a long way towards preventing ingrown hairs. And be extra super scrupulously hygienic. Don't wear tight/stretchy/synthetic pants (I got ingrowns more frequently when I regularly wore yoga pants) and regularly wash anything that comes into contact with your crotch. If you work out, shower and change into clean clothes as soon as you're done to avoid marinating in your sweat. If you're somewhere warm or just sweat a lot, change clothes and undies frequently.
(I take issue with the implication that women only shave their pubes to please others or perform femininity. It should never be an obligation or an expectation, and if someone feels ashamed or grossed out by having pubic hair, or pressured to remove it, that's something that needs examination. But some people like having a bare crotch because it feels good man.)
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:35 AM on December 30, 2014 [4 favorites]
(I take issue with the implication that women only shave their pubes to please others or perform femininity. It should never be an obligation or an expectation, and if someone feels ashamed or grossed out by having pubic hair, or pressured to remove it, that's something that needs examination. But some people like having a bare crotch because it feels good man.)
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:35 AM on December 30, 2014 [4 favorites]
Have you tried electric trimmers/shavers?
Start with this if your hair is longer than a few days' growth.
Follow up with this for bare-skin smoothness.
I still get a few ingrowns in certain areas where my body hair is especially curly or grows in weird directions. I don't think you can really do anything about that if you are removing hair all the way down to the skin, and for that reason I don't go for a completely bald look. But the areas, uh, where the action is don't seem to get ingrown for me so it's pretty easy to keep nicely trimmed or completely smooth, depending on my preference/level of laziness.
With the above Seiko trimmer and shaver combo it's a dry shave and you use (cornstarch based! not talc!) body powder instead of water+cream/lotion/what have you.
posted by misskaz at 7:50 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Start with this if your hair is longer than a few days' growth.
Follow up with this for bare-skin smoothness.
I still get a few ingrowns in certain areas where my body hair is especially curly or grows in weird directions. I don't think you can really do anything about that if you are removing hair all the way down to the skin, and for that reason I don't go for a completely bald look. But the areas, uh, where the action is don't seem to get ingrown for me so it's pretty easy to keep nicely trimmed or completely smooth, depending on my preference/level of laziness.
With the above Seiko trimmer and shaver combo it's a dry shave and you use (cornstarch based! not talc!) body powder instead of water+cream/lotion/what have you.
posted by misskaz at 7:50 AM on December 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
You could use an electric trimmer to cut any long hairs and then finish with a depilatory since slight burns are better than cysts. Veet works better than Nair as long as you keep it on skin with hair and off the sensitive parts and never go over the time on the label. Smells better, too.
posted by soelo at 7:59 AM on December 30, 2014
posted by soelo at 7:59 AM on December 30, 2014
Regarding the MRSA issue, you can ask your primary care physician (who should have a copy of your records from your hospital admission) whether a culture was performed when the abscess was drained. This would tell you if it was MRSA or just regular staph. It is fairly routine to do a culture during an incision and drainage, especially if someone has a particularly bad abscess that requires a hospital stay, or has recurrent abscesses. They would want to make sure your antibiotic selection was appropriate.
I would go back to that PCP and find out if you still have staph. I wonder if the antibiotics you were given were enough to get the infection under control, but not enough to get rid of it completely?
I wanted to highlight this answer because - yes, you still DO have staph! I can tell you that with 100% certainty. We all have staph on our skin, and it hangs out there all the time and doesn't necessarily cause problems unless the right conditions crop up (like an ingrown hair or a tiny cut from shaving) for an active infection to result. You cannot get rid of the bacteria on your skin completely. An active staph infection can't be missed, it causes abscess or cellulitis which tends to progress fairly rapidly, within hours to days - as you experienced. However, you may also be colonized with MRSA, and if you are, there are protocols you could try to follow to decolonize yourself. They're kind of a pain but worth it if you're having recurrent infections. Most of the protocols I've seen involve washing yourself with Hibiclens and using Mupirocin ointment, washing all your towels and clothes, etc. If you find out that your culture was positive for MRSA, you could look into this. As always, I'm not your doctor and this is not medical advice, just some general information on MRSA and staph infections.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:09 AM on December 30, 2014 [4 favorites]
I would go back to that PCP and find out if you still have staph. I wonder if the antibiotics you were given were enough to get the infection under control, but not enough to get rid of it completely?
I wanted to highlight this answer because - yes, you still DO have staph! I can tell you that with 100% certainty. We all have staph on our skin, and it hangs out there all the time and doesn't necessarily cause problems unless the right conditions crop up (like an ingrown hair or a tiny cut from shaving) for an active infection to result. You cannot get rid of the bacteria on your skin completely. An active staph infection can't be missed, it causes abscess or cellulitis which tends to progress fairly rapidly, within hours to days - as you experienced. However, you may also be colonized with MRSA, and if you are, there are protocols you could try to follow to decolonize yourself. They're kind of a pain but worth it if you're having recurrent infections. Most of the protocols I've seen involve washing yourself with Hibiclens and using Mupirocin ointment, washing all your towels and clothes, etc. If you find out that your culture was positive for MRSA, you could look into this. As always, I'm not your doctor and this is not medical advice, just some general information on MRSA and staph infections.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:09 AM on December 30, 2014 [4 favorites]
I'm with everyone else in the sense that it seems to me you should find a way to accomodate this without shaving, or accept neatly trimmed but unshaved pubic hair. However, if you'er REALLY dedicated to shaving, have you considered wet shaving (the old fashioned shave that's so popular with hipster dudes right now)?
I too like to be quite trimmed up in the pants region, and switching to a real, old-fashioned shaving cream (mine is Taylor's of Bond Street, but whatever brand you buy, get unscented and maybe a sensitive skin version too), a safety razor, Feather blades, and a badger hair brush made all the difference. Shaving is a joy now; I don't know why we ever switched to those horrible disposable razors. There's not a lot of wet shave advice or community for women, and what there is also involves very little help in the genital-shaving department, but if you find a set of instructions for wet shaving for a man's face, it's functionally the same thing.
The pros: great, close shave with no razor burn (because you're only going over the area once with one blade, instead of those 5-bladed monstrosities); blades are much, much cheaper; less waste because you only dispose of a single small blades, not the whole razor; shaving goes from a chore to a luxury; far fewer cuts and when I do cut myself, it's much less painful because the blades are razor (ha) sharp.
The cons: a bit more time, a not-insignificant initial financial outlay, a bit of a learning curve. There would also be more things to sterilize and clean regularly. If you are concerned about germs, I don't see why you couldn't just pop the razor blade itself into a sterilizing agent-- since the blade is flat and comes off the handle, there are not really nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide in like there would be with a disposable razor. (Of course, that doesn't take care of the bacteria on your skin, but most wet-shaving instructions suggest using soap first, so maybe a mild non-irritating soap before shaving would help?) Your brush you could clean with any anti-bacterial natural-bristle makeup brush cleaner, and if you wanted to, you could even partition out your shaving cream into separate containers so you got a new, clean cream every day or every few days.
Also, one of my friends used to get terrible infected in-grown hairs on his face... now he uses hand sanitizer as aftershave lotion. (For some reason alcohol doesn't work, but gel alcohol-based hand sanitizer does.) That might be an option for your bikini area, although obviously do not put it on your vulva/labia, unless you'd like a Very Uncomfortable Time. It works wonders for him.
Even with all of this, it is madness to be shaving your pubic hair every day. I don't know anyone who can do that and not get horrible, horrible razor burn, even with the best fresh blades and the most cushion-y shaving cream in the world. Your skin needs time to recover. Try switching to three times a week if you can make yourself do so, and see if that helps.
posted by WidgetAlley at 9:52 AM on December 30, 2014
I too like to be quite trimmed up in the pants region, and switching to a real, old-fashioned shaving cream (mine is Taylor's of Bond Street, but whatever brand you buy, get unscented and maybe a sensitive skin version too), a safety razor, Feather blades, and a badger hair brush made all the difference. Shaving is a joy now; I don't know why we ever switched to those horrible disposable razors. There's not a lot of wet shave advice or community for women, and what there is also involves very little help in the genital-shaving department, but if you find a set of instructions for wet shaving for a man's face, it's functionally the same thing.
The pros: great, close shave with no razor burn (because you're only going over the area once with one blade, instead of those 5-bladed monstrosities); blades are much, much cheaper; less waste because you only dispose of a single small blades, not the whole razor; shaving goes from a chore to a luxury; far fewer cuts and when I do cut myself, it's much less painful because the blades are razor (ha) sharp.
The cons: a bit more time, a not-insignificant initial financial outlay, a bit of a learning curve. There would also be more things to sterilize and clean regularly. If you are concerned about germs, I don't see why you couldn't just pop the razor blade itself into a sterilizing agent-- since the blade is flat and comes off the handle, there are not really nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide in like there would be with a disposable razor. (Of course, that doesn't take care of the bacteria on your skin, but most wet-shaving instructions suggest using soap first, so maybe a mild non-irritating soap before shaving would help?) Your brush you could clean with any anti-bacterial natural-bristle makeup brush cleaner, and if you wanted to, you could even partition out your shaving cream into separate containers so you got a new, clean cream every day or every few days.
Also, one of my friends used to get terrible infected in-grown hairs on his face... now he uses hand sanitizer as aftershave lotion. (For some reason alcohol doesn't work, but gel alcohol-based hand sanitizer does.) That might be an option for your bikini area, although obviously do not put it on your vulva/labia, unless you'd like a Very Uncomfortable Time. It works wonders for him.
Even with all of this, it is madness to be shaving your pubic hair every day. I don't know anyone who can do that and not get horrible, horrible razor burn, even with the best fresh blades and the most cushion-y shaving cream in the world. Your skin needs time to recover. Try switching to three times a week if you can make yourself do so, and see if that helps.
posted by WidgetAlley at 9:52 AM on December 30, 2014
Oh, sorry, just realized you were only shaving every day over the summer and are now doing every other day or 3x a week. I would keep that schedule going, it absolutely can't hurt to give your skin a break between shaves. Good for you for taking charge and trying to find a solution.
posted by WidgetAlley at 9:55 AM on December 30, 2014
posted by WidgetAlley at 9:55 AM on December 30, 2014
WIth a lot of experimenting I found that I can only tolerate at most 2x a week, and 1x is ideal. I exfoliate with a gritty scrub on slightly damp skin immediately beforehand and use a brand new razor (mach 3 turbo) every single time. Instead of alcohol-filled shaving cream/gel I use shaving soap with clay in it. Sticking to this regimen faithfully means I haven't had an ingrown hair there for ages. I still get terrible ones in my underarms, alas.
posted by poffin boffin at 10:01 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by poffin boffin at 10:01 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
you are shaving WAAAAAY too often. i used to get terrible cysts/boils/ingrown hairs in my armpits because i would shave every day. a couple things have almost completely eliminated this problem: i shave only once a week, MAAAAAYBE twice if there is a special reason i need bare pits; i use a tea tree soap bc it has antibacterial properties; i was given an antibiotic for it once and while i know i still have staph bc everyone does, i think the antibiotic helped kick it down to a level my body can deal with on its own.
i also used to get cysts in my genital area. i cut down on the shaving and that helped. i also started changing my panties ALL THE TIME. obviously i normally would wear a fresh pair every day. but i started changing them as soon as i got home from work or if i went out and got sweaty because it was hot or whatever i would change as soon as i got home. in the summer this meant 3-4 changes a day, but it REALLY helped. i was no longer marinating in sweat and bacteria. also, if you sleep in panties or tight sleepwear, stop, for the same reason.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 10:31 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
i also used to get cysts in my genital area. i cut down on the shaving and that helped. i also started changing my panties ALL THE TIME. obviously i normally would wear a fresh pair every day. but i started changing them as soon as i got home from work or if i went out and got sweaty because it was hot or whatever i would change as soon as i got home. in the summer this meant 3-4 changes a day, but it REALLY helped. i was no longer marinating in sweat and bacteria. also, if you sleep in panties or tight sleepwear, stop, for the same reason.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 10:31 AM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I get ingrown hairs even when I use Nair. some of us are just special that way I guess. The Seiko trimmer linked above is the best solution for me. It is simple and quick, you feel like you shaved but your skin is never touched and I never had an ingrown hair. Worth a try imho.
posted by fshgrl at 12:23 PM on December 30, 2014
posted by fshgrl at 12:23 PM on December 30, 2014
Have you tried throwing out ALL panties that you wore during the time of the previous infection? I have found that can help stop the cycle of being re-infected. In my experience, getting repeated infections in the same area means either you never really cured the first one OR (more often) you are somehow being re-infected.
Also, I am wondering if you wear tight clothing in that area. If so, maybe go for looser clothing?
posted by Michele in California at 1:11 PM on December 30, 2014
Also, I am wondering if you wear tight clothing in that area. If so, maybe go for looser clothing?
posted by Michele in California at 1:11 PM on December 30, 2014
Shave with the hair, use organic coconut oil as a moisturizer, change your razors regularly, don't shave daily, wear underwear that breathes easily.
posted by heyjude at 2:35 PM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by heyjude at 2:35 PM on December 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Does this ever happen under your armpits? Ask your doctor if you could have hidradenitis suppurativa even if it doesn't. It's often misdiagnosed and can seem just like ingrown hair cysts.
posted by IndigoRain at 3:56 PM on December 30, 2014
posted by IndigoRain at 3:56 PM on December 30, 2014
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That said, it is worth examining *why* shaving so frequently is so important to you. I can understand liking the feeling but if it has already led to a multi-day hospital stay (!) and other recurrent issues, the painful cysts etc. would outweigh the day-of nice feeling in my own mental math.
posted by charmedimsure at 12:06 AM on December 30, 2014 [31 favorites]