Health Removing pubic hair is an underestimated health risk

What are the dangers of trimming the pubic area??

Most younger people today remove their pubic hair at least partially or completely. This is now completely normal, but the pubic hair removal also carries some risks. In addition to an increased risk of infection with venereal diseases such as tiny skin injuries, the risk of major injuries is also discussed. More recently, US scientists have found that many thousands of people each year suffer from pubic hair removal, some of which are so severe that people need to be treated in clinics.

Researchers at the University of California, the University of Texas Dell Medical School and the Washington University School of Medicine found that more and more people are being hurt by the consequences of shaving or pubic hair growth. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "JAMA Dermatology".

The pubic hair removal is quite common today, but the risk of injury is often underestimated. (Image: pathdoc / fotolia.com)

Researchers evaluate data from more than 7,500 participants

For the study, a survey of 7,570 volunteer subjects was evaluated for their removal of pubic hair. The participants were between the ages of 18 and 65 years. The researchers found that removal of all pubic hair and frequent hair removal were the most likely to result in injury. In the survey, participants were asked about the habits of taking care of their pubic hair and related injuries. The results were then analyzed to determine the extent and nature of the problem. This should identify the facts that increase the risk of injury.

Why are more and more people removing their pubic hair??

In recent years, the removal of pubic hair has become more common. This could be due to the misconception that this type of care is more hygienic. Some experts also attribute the removal of pubic hair to the influence of pornography, where shaved genitals are the norm.

Women are more likely to be injured

The researchers found in their study that 66.5 percent of the survey participants and 85.3 percent of women remove or trim their pubic hair. Of these, 1,430 (25.6 percent) sustained injuries in the care of their pubic area. The injuries were more likely to affect female subjects (27.1 percent). In men, however, the value was only 23.7 percent. However, most injuries were very minor and only 1.4 percent of the injuries required medical attention.

Removal of pubic hair favors sexually transmitted infections

The most common injuries included cuts, burns, rashes and infections. Growing seemed to cause fewer injuries compared to a shave, the scientists explain. However, even the smallest injuries can have a far-reaching effect. Earlier research had shown that pubic hair removal favors sexually transmitted infections.

With that, most of the participants removed their pubic hair?

The most common methods used for hair removal were normal razors, followed by electric razors, scissors and waxing. More frequent removal of hair increased the risk of injury and when women and men regularly removed all pubic hair (more than ten times a year), most of the injuries occurred, the researchers concluded (as)