Folliculitis & Brazilian wax vs shavin

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-27-2003
Folliculitis & Brazilian wax vs shavin
9
Tue, 05-10-2005 - 7:29pm

I really want to be smooth down there for my new BF but my first (and probably last!) time trying to shave the area resulted in a bad case of folliculitis.

I had shaved the morning of the day that I was going to see him. It's a long distance relationship. It was kinda ok that day. By the next morning I had lots of razor sharp stubble. I was annoyed by it even though he never said anything. So I shaved again. No matter how close of a shave I tried to get I still had sharp stubble.

Then two days later I wake up with the rash all over the area and an infection.
My doc diagnosed it as folliculitis and put me on anti biotics.

That was two weeks ago. It has cleared up, but now I'm terrified to shave the area again. Also, I hate the stubble it causes. I want to try waxing but it seems that waxing would put me at even higher risk for getting folliculitis again.

Any suggestions or advice regarding waxing or shaving.
My BF will be here in a week and a half and I don't want to look like a cave woman when he sees me. And I like no hair because I can feel him more without a bunch of hair in the way.

Sorry for the long post.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-26-2004
Tue, 05-10-2005 - 7:41pm

Does it really affect the sensations of sex? I didn't find that to be true when I went bald for a short time, either during intercourse or oral. I've been having sex with hair for thirty years so I'd think that I would notice if it made much of a difference.

Maybe you should give yourself a good amount of time to heal before you go annoying your skin again. Leave the poor baby alone...;-)(from one cave woman to the other). tee hee

Imagination is more important than knowledge." (Albert Einstein )
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2004
Tue, 05-10-2005 - 8:26pm

I've experienced everything you are saying. From the infected hair follicles after waxing (looks like a disease) to the sharp stubble - no matter how close I tried to shave. DH also told me that even when freshly shaved, the stubble would give irritate him terribly.

For these reasons, I simply trim. I've got a great little battery operated bikini trimmer that trims short enough to keep it tidy, but long enough to avoid stubble. And I've never had a problem with infections and rashes since. I also agree with Rain Dancer that you need to give your skin a break for now and just let it heal for a bit.

Being bald may be attractive, but having infections is just gross.

Dress Up Games, Doll Makers and Cartoon Dolls @ The Doll Palace
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-27-2003
Tue, 05-10-2005 - 8:54pm
Thanks for the advice. I think I will just lightly use my trimmer and find out what he thinks about it.
Avatar for phoenixmama
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 05-12-2005 - 8:56pm
I have very coarse hair & thin skin and I'm VERY prone to ingrown hairs & irritation. I got one of those rechargable shavers with several attachments for trimming 'sensitive areas' and it works great. Lady Remington, I think it's called Trim & Shape, it was something like $40 and worth every penny. It's not super-bald-skin smooth but the stubble is very short & soft. Definitely give it time to heal before you try anything else! Good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2005
Sat, 05-14-2005 - 4:07pm
I posted this earlier today.. GET THE BRAZILLIAN. I don't know why people shave anything on their body, it's a waste of time and it's not good for you. You will be as smooth as a baby for a MONTH and the hair will not grow back as thick, it grows back whispy and in patches. It doesn't hurt, it's all in everyone's head about the pain.. also depends on the person who is waxing you. It took me 15 minutes and I was out of there and all baby soft. The only thing I will warn you about.. don't have sex for two days after you have it. Be sure to get it done a few days before you see him. =) Good luck
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-27-2003
Sat, 05-14-2005 - 7:07pm

I will definately look into the Brazilian. Just not now.
I need more time for my skin to heal. I want to be sure I've given it enough time.

My BF will have to endure my hair this time around.

And thanks for the tip to not have sex right after shaving or waxing.
Yeah, I already found that out the hard way last time. :-(

BTW my hair is also naturally very coarse and hard and curly.

I'm so jealous of women who can do these things and never get infections.

When I get the Brazilian, maybe one day next month, I let you guys know how it goes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2005
Sat, 05-14-2005 - 7:42pm
Great! I also took an Advil 1/2 hour before I went in to ease the swelling that may occur. I have very fair skin, I am on Retin-A and I took the chance to get waxed. I also have coarse and curly hair down there. There was a little bleeding since I am on the Retin-A, but I put Neosporin on my entire area and it was better.
Avatar for katmandoo2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 05-14-2005 - 8:28pm

I've been shaving for years and never had a single problem.

One person's pain threshhold is not another's either!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2004
Sat, 05-14-2005 - 11:45pm

Madame K,

If the OP is prone to folliculitis, I think that advising to wax is very unwise. Like the OP, I also get folliculitis - and waxing leaves my pubic area looking like I have a disease....and it takes months to clear up. It's great that you can do it, but remember that different people's skin will react differently to yours.

To the OP: Please make sure that you understand all the risks. If you're prone to infections, those pus filled, red lumps aren't an attractive look. And in my experience, they are much worse from waxing then they are from shaving.

Dress Up Games, Doll Makers and Cartoon Dolls @ The Doll Palace