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Relax, You Won't Get An STD From Bikini Waxing

But 'genital injuries' from hair removal are on the rise.
Volanthevist via Getty Images
Volanthevist via Getty Images

The Question: Summer is officially here, and for many people, beach trips and sexy, sunny getaways mean either regular trips to the waxing salon or a steady date with a razor. But is it safe to go bare down there?

Yes. Mostly.

Whether you get a bikini wax at a salon or just shave in the shower, we’re not here to dissuade you from your depilatory mission.

While the scientific literature is sprinkled with super-scary case studies about things that can go wrong, like the immunocompromised woman who developed herpes and sepsis after getting a Brazilian at a salon or the college football players whose antibiotic-resistant staph infections were linked to cosmetic body shaving, the truth is that hair removal is relatively safe.

Even reports that suggest pubic grooming may be linked to the rise of molluscum contagiosum, a viral skin infection that results in painless pearlescent skin growths, are still speculative in nature. Interestingly, there’s some evidence that rates of one STI -- pubic lice -- have gone down around the world because trimming, waxing and shaving is destroying their “natural habitat" in body hair.

“There’s no data that says grooming is associated with STIs that’s large scale and solid,” says Dr. Benjamin Breyer, chief of urology at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. "Nothing out there exists."

That being said, there is evidence that the number of people with genital injuries related to hair removal is increasing as the grooming practice becomes even more mainstream. Breyer conducted a study that found that visits to the emergency department for genital injuries linked to pubic hair grooming -- most of them cuts and tears to the skin -- increased fivefold from 2002 to 2010. In total, they made up three percent of all genital injuries seen in the emergency department.

But the truth is that most people who decide to do a little trimming (according to a recent study, this includes 84 percent of American women) will likely just have to deal with minor problems: itchy, irritated skin, razor burn, ingrown hairs and whiteheads.

Going bare? Try these tips

If you’re going to go bare down there, Breyer and dermatologists Dr. Lauren Ploch, who has a private practice in Augusta, Georgia and Dr. Jessica Krant, who practices in New York, says there are a few ways to keep yourself as safe and comfortable as possible when deforesting your nether regions.

1. Shave in the direction of the hair growth, not against it

This helps protect your skin from irritation, as it lessens the likelihood of nicks and ingrown hairs. Breyer also says you should always use a clean razor, and plan ahead so that you don’t feel rushed while grooming such a sensitive area.

Krant, a dermatologist at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York, also says that the timing of the shave could also make a big difference in your skin's recovery period. Shave right when you step into the shower to have fewer razor bumps afterward.

"Hot water and steam swell and soften the hairs, making for a great day one result because the hairs will shrink a lot after the shower, pulling beneath the surface and keeping things smooth," Krant said. "But this also leads to a much bigger problem with razor bumps on day two or three, since the hair tips have a hard time finding the follicle openings in the skin and can irritate while trying to grow back out."

2. Treat irritated skin gently