How to Naturally Get Rid of Ingrown Pubic Hair and Bumps

Ingrown pubic hair commonly appear around the genital area, or the bikini line after removing hair by shaving, waxing, or plucking. Sometimes, when your hair regrows it doesn’t break through the skin, instead, it curls around and grows back into the skin. This can cause ingrown hair bumps (also called razor bumps) and inflamed pimples around your pubic region that are very often red, itchy, painful, and irritated. If the bumps on the pubic area become infected, they can turn into inflamed boils or cysts that can fill with pus.

The best way to deal with ingrown hair bumps around your pubic area and bikini line is to prevent them in the first place. This is usually done by using proper hair-removal techniques.

However, if the ingrown hair causes a follicle to become an infected swollen bump, there are many effective home remedies to soothe the inflammation and infection. For example, aloe vera, tea tree oil, witch hazel, and apple cider vinegar all have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that work as great natural remedies for treating ingrown pubic hair. You can also use baking soda or sugar with natural oils to make your own exfoliating scrub to help remove dead skin cells and lift out the ingrown hair out of the skin to get rid of it.

In the article, you will learn how to treat ingrown pubic hair using natural home remedies and what to do to cure the red bumps. First of all, let’s look at the symptoms and causes of ingrown pubic hair and bumps in the pubic area.

Ingrown Pubic Hair Symptoms

It is common that hair removal irritates the skin and can result in razor burns which can leave the skin red and irritated. The bikini zone, and pubic area can be quite sensitive, and because coarser hair grow there, people tend to have more razor burns in those areas. However, a hair that curls round and grows back into the skin will result in more irritation and cause razor bumps (ingrown hair bumps) to appear. The medical term for razor bumps is pseudofolliculitis barbae.

Dermatologist Dr. Stephanie Gardner says that ingrown hair often become infected which can cause a pimple to appear in the hair follicle. The first sign of an ingrown hair in the pubic area as well as other skin areas may be itchiness and a small red bump in the skin. In time, this can grow into a painful, boil or cyst under the skin that fills with pus. Sometimes, the ingrown hair is visible in the swollen red bump.¹

Ingrown hair can occur in your pubic area, bikini line as well as in any part of the skin where hair is removed. Because ingrown hair form by the hair growing back into the skin, they tend to affect skin areas with short, coarse, curly hair such as the pubic area.

Causes of Ingrown Pubic Hair

Hair removal is generally to blame for ingrown hair in the pubic area and in other skin areas. But, there are some factors that can increase your risk of hair growing back into your skin.

Waxing or shaving

Trying to get a very clean shave by waxing or shaving your skin around the pubic area against the hair growth can result in ingrown hair. Dr. Gary Cole on MedicineNet says that having a close shave leaves a sharp tip on the end of the hair that can easily grow back into the skin. Dr. Cole also says that waxing can worsen the situation.²

Hair type

Dr. Stephanie Gardner on WebMD says that people with naturally thick curly hair tend to get bothered more with ingrown hair. This commonly results in razor bumps – a cluster of little bumps on the area where hair was removed.¹

Clogged hair follicles

Another reason for ingrown pubic hair causing bumps in the skin is clogged hair follicles. Doctors from the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom say that dead skin cells can easily clog a hair follicle. This prevents the new hair emerging from the skin and causes the hair to curl into the skin and results in an infected red bump.³

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Ingrown Pubic Hair and Bumps on the Pubic Area

In some cases ingrown hair issues will clear up on their own but in other cases you will need to treat them to get rid of the ingrown pubic hair. Here are the general steps required to treat the ingrown pubic hair (the next part of the article has a more detailed explanation).

1. Stop removing the hair around the ingrown hair bumps as this will aggravate the sensitive pubic area even more.
2. Apply warm compress to increase blood circulation to your pubic hair bumps and accelerate the healing process of the bumps. This can also help to bring a blind pimple to a head.
3. Gently pull the ingrown pubic hair.
4. Exfoliate dead skin cells around the ingrown hair to prevent clogged hair follicles that can aggravate razor bumps in the pubic area.
5. Use natural ingredients to reduce redness and inflammation around the hair bumps.

If you are trying to get rid of an ingrown pubic hair, here are some of the best home remedies to remove the irritating bump from your pubic region.

Warm compress

You can use a warm compress to naturally get rid of ingrown hair in your pubic area. The heat from the compress helps to increase blood circulation to the affected skin area and help to speed up the healing process of the painful ingrown hair bumps. The warm compress also helps to reduce swelling, redness, and tenderness around the ingrown hair. It can also help to bring a blind pimple to a head to get rid of it.

Dr. Debra Jaliman on WebMD says that a warm compress is a great home remedy to treat boils. This can help bring the ingrown hair boil to a head and help drain the pus from it, thus easing the pain and discomfort it causes.⁴

How to use:

It is very easy to use a warm compress to help draw out a pubic ingrown hair from an infected bump in your pubic area. This is what you should do:

1. Soak a clean washcloth in hot water.
2. Press the warm compress on the red bump or boil with the ingrown pubic hair.
3. Every so often, dip the cloth in the hot water to keep the compress warm.
4. Apply for 10 minutes and repeat twice a day.
5. Continue doing that until the boil comes to a head and starts to drain.

If you notice the ingrown hair just under the surface of the skin, you can try to gently coax it out. This is what you should do:

1. Sterilize a needle and a pair of tweezers by running the tip through a flame and wiping with an alcohol wipe.
2. Carefully put the needle under the loop of the ingrown hair to lift out the hair.
3. Use the tweezers to pluck out the offending hair in your pubic area.

Doctors from the NHS warn to always use sterile equipment and never try to dig out the hair if it lies deep below the surface of the skin.³

Essential oils to treat ingrown pubic hair

You can use tea tree oil and lavender oil to help kill off infection caused by an ingrown pubic hair. As well as being antimicrobial, both essential oils also have soothing anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce inflammation and remove redness from the bump.

Tea tree oil. The journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews reports that tea tree oil kills off skin infections because it is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. Tea tree oil is commonly used as an active ingredient for treating acne and healing many topical skin infections.⁵

Lavender essential oil. Lavender oil can also help to reduce swelling in skin infections. A study from 2015 found that the therapeutic properties of lavender oil help reduce pain, have natural antioxidant properties, and are effective in reducing inflammation.⁶

The reason that these two essential oils are so great for treating the symptoms of ingrown hair is that they can be used directly as a spot treatment on a small area of skin.

If you have an infected bump caused by an ingrown hair, put a drop or two of tea tree oil or lavender oil on the end of a cotton swab. Gently apply the essential oil to the infected ingrown pubic hair. Repeat 2-3 times a day until the infection has gone completely.

You can also mix 2-3 drops of tea tree oil or lavender oil to a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil to make a soothing skin salve to help prevent an ingrown hair becoming infected.

As you will see in this article, these two essential oils can be added to other natural home remedies to get rid of ingrown hair in any area of your body and not just the pubic area.

If you have acne-prone skin that breaks out in pimples and sore pustules, you can check out my article on the best essential oils for acne.

Baking soda and coconut oil scrub to remove ingrown pubic hairs

Mixing baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and coconut oil together into a homemade scrub can help remove dead skin cells that clog pores and aggravate ingrown hair problems. Also, the exfoliating action of baking soda can help to draw out hair that have curled around and grown back into the skin. The antibacterial effect of coconut oil helps to remove infection-causing bacteria from open hair follicles. Virgin coconut oil contains many antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which help to get rid of spots, pimples, and zits.

The grainy texture of baking soda makes it an effective gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells. However, studies have shown that baking soda can help destroy many bacteria strains and can help prevent the spread of infection.⁷ Also, coconut oil provides soothing relief to inflamed skin and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties with a mild analgesic (pain relief) effect.⁸

How to use:

To get rid of ingrown pubic hair naturally and prevent further infection and bumps on the inner thigh, this is what you should do:

1. Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda and 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil to make a thick paste. (If you have sensitive skin around your genitals, you could increase the amount of coconut oil).
2. Add a drop or two of tea tree oil to boost the antimicrobial properties of the natural scrub.
3. Gently massage the homemade paste to the pubic area around the ingrown hair.
4. Leave for a few minutes.
5. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
6. Repeat the exfoliation 2 times a day until all symptoms of the ingrown hair have gone completely.

Olive oil and sugar scrub for razor bumps on pubic area

Another natural exfoliator to remove dead skin cells that can be clogging up hair follicles is an olive oil and sugar scrub. These two ingredients combine to make a natural scrub that also nourishes your skin at the same time.

Studies have shown that olive oil has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect in the body and on the skin. For example, the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine reported that olive oil contains antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds that can help to treat various skin infections like acne, dermatitis, and eczema.⁹

How to use:

Use a mixture of essential oils, olive oil, and sugar to help keep your skin free of infection and get rid of ingrown pubic hair naturally. This is how to do it:

1. Mix 1 tablespoon olive oil with enough sugar to create a paste.
2. Add two drops of tea tree oil and one drop lavender oil to the natural scrub.
3. Apply the olive oil remedy to the affected skin in the pubic area using circular motions to remove any dead skin cells.
4. Rinse with warm water.
5. Use the natural ingrown hair treatment 2 times a day until the inflammation has gone down and you can pluck out the ingrown pubic hair.

Alternatively, you can use the antibacterial power of sea salt in this scrub. All you should do is replace the sugar with sea salt.

Aloe vera

Pure aloe vera gel is beneficial in reducing the symptoms of an ingrown hair in your genital region. Aloe vera is one of nature’s amazing ingredients that soothes skin inflammation and helps infected skin to heal quicker. Aloe vera also contains many nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that can keep your skin healthy and free of irritation.

Scientific research has backed up claims that aloe vera is great for improving the effects of skin infection. For example, the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology reported that the soothing effect of aloe vera gel is just as effective as 1% hydrocortisone cream.¹⁰ Hydrocortisone creams are usually prescribed to treat skin inflammation, redness, and swelling.

How to use:

You can boost the ability of aloe vera to get rid of an ingrown hair bump in your pubic area by adding some essential oils or mixing it with coconut oil.

1. Add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil or lavender oil to a tablespoon of aloe vera gel.
2. Gently massage into the affected area to help relieve redness and itchiness around the ingrown hair bump.
3. Apply the aloe vera remedy 2-3 times a day until you no longer have a red bump.

You can also help prevent ingrown hairs by making a natural aftershave balm with aloe vera and coconut oil. For more information, please see my article about the health benefits to your skin of aloe vera and coconut oil.

Witch hazel

The natural astringent effect of witch hazel can help to get rid of redness, swelling, and inflammation from a bump caused by an ingrown pubic hair. However, witch hazel will do more than just reduce the size of an infected bump or boil. Witch hazel also contains effective antiseptic properties to reduce skin infections and help improve healing time.

The Journal of Inflammation reported that witch hazel has been used for centuries to treat various skin disorders like pimples, acne, and other inflammatory skin diseases. This is due to its astringent and antiseptic properties.¹¹

Doctors from WebMD also say that witch hazel is used directly on the skin to reduce itching, pain, and swelling.¹² You can also use it to reduce irritation on your razor bumps that tight-fitting underwear or clothing might be causing.

How to use:

To use witch hazel to treat the symptoms of an ingrown pubic hair (such as bumps and boils), all you need to do is this:

• Soak a cotton pad with some pure witch hazel.
• Gently apply to the affected area where you have razor bumps or ingrown pubic hair boils.
• Repeat this 2-3 times a day until the bumps have gone and there is no sign of infection.

Black tea / green tea compress

Using old tea bags to soothe irritation that ingrown pubic hair bumps cause is a great way to reuse them. Like witch hazel, tea contains tannins which are naturally astringent to soothe skin inflammation. What’s more, used tea bags make an easy natural compress to heal your skin.

The journal Pharmacognosy Research reported that the tea plant (Camellia Sinensis) contains compounds that are also antioxidant and antibacterial as well as anti-inflammatory. The researchers found that both green tea and black tea kills off various bacteria strains and can help prevent inflammatory responses in the skin.¹³

How to use:

It’s very easy to quickly soothe the irritation and inflammation that an ingrown pubic hair causes. This is what you should do:

1. Dip a black tea bag or a green tea bag in a cup of warm water. This helps to release the anti-inflammatory tannins.
2. Hold the tea bag onto the ingrown pubic hair bump for a few minutes.
3. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day to help reduce redness, draw out pus from the bump or boil and release the ingrown hair from the infected follicle.

Apple cider vinegar

The acidic property of raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a useful natural ingredient to treat the signs of an infected ingrown hair. The infection-busting effect of ACV can help get rid of bacteria from infected hair follicles and speed up the healing process.

The antimicrobial property of apple cider vinegar is thanks to the high amount of acetic acid in it. The journal Burns reported that acetic acid acts as a natural antiseptic and has bactericidal properties even at low concentrations. It is especially useful in treating an infection on the skin and helping damaged skin heal quicker.¹⁴

How to use:

When using raw unprocessed apple cider vinegar to treat an ingrown hair bump in your pubic region, you should always dilute it to prevent further irritation to your sensitive skin. This is what you should do:

1. Mix equal parts raw ACV with clean water.
2. Using a cotton ball, apply the apple cider vinegar remedy to the area in and around the ingrown pubic hair.
3. Hold the cotton ball on the red razor bump for a few minutes to help reduce redness and kill off the infection.
4. Leave the apple cider solution to dry, then after 10 minutes, rinse off with warm water.
5. Repeat 2 times a day to help reduce irritation, infection, and redness from an ingrown pubic hair.

Remember to do a small skin test with the apple cider vinegar to test your skin’s response to the remedy. If it stings too much, you could try diluting it with a bit more water.

To make an aftershave lotion to help prevent skin infections and razor bumps, you can add some witch hazel to the apple cider vinegar. Apply after removing hair to help close the hair follicles and prevent infections from getting in.

How to Prevent Ingrown Pubic Hair and Pubic Area Bumps

For many people, hair removal or trimming from around the pubic area or bikini line is a necessary part of their beauty treatment. There are various practical ways to prevent hair curling around and growing back into the skin after shaving, waxing, trimming, or plucking.

Dr. Stephanie Gardner on WebMD recommends the following steps to prevent ingrown hairs and bumps on your pubic area:

• Soften the pubic hair by wetting your skin with warm water and apply a lubricating oil before shaving.
• Always use a sharp, single-bladed razor and don’t shave against the direction of hair growth.
• After shaving, rub a wet washcloth in circular motions to help coax out ingrown pubic hair.
• Apply a cool washcloth to your skin to reduce irritation and prevent razor burns or razor bumps.

Read these related articles:

• How to Get Rid of Razor Bumps and Razor Burns Naturally
• Ingrown Hair Vs. Herpes: Find the Differences
• The Most Effective Ways to Get Rid of Bumps on Inner Thigh (Backed by Science)
• The Top 10 Home Remedies for Vaginal Itching (Research Based)

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