The surprising dangers of grooming your pubic hair

August 17, 2017  23:59
ONE in four people who trim their pubic hair have been injured in the process, a study found.

A non-electric razor poses the greatest risk – especially if used while lying down.

Those who got a partner to help with their de-fuzzing routine were also more likely to be hurt.

Doctors quizzed 7,570 men and women aged 18 to 65 on their grooming habits.

They found 85 per cent of women and 67 per cent of men have trimmed or shaved their bush.

Younger people were more likely than older people to keep themselves tidy down below.

Most groomed themselves, while standing, and used a non-electric razor.

Others got a partner, friend or beautician to help – and used wax, scissors or electric trimmer.

The most common injuries were cuts (61 per cent), burns (23 per cent) and rashes (12 per cent).

Men were most likely to hurt their scrotum (67 per cent) or penis (35 per cent).

And women mostly hurt their pubis (51.3 per cent), inner thigh (45 per cent) or vagina (43 per cent).

Some 1.4 per cent of groomers were so seriously injured that they needed medical attention.

Researchers say medics should use the findings to identify people at “high risk” of injury and to develop guidelines for “safe pubic hair removal".

People who go for the bald look are at greater risk of harm than those who merely prune.

Waxing proved the safest method, the journal JAMA Dermatology reports.

Study leader Benjamin Breyer, from the University of California, San Francisco, said: “People groom their pubic hair for different reasons, including sexual appeal, oral sex, partner preference, or routine care and hygiene.

“Reasons for removing all pubic hair in women have been linked to feelings of sexual attractiveness and self-enhancement.

“Reasons for removing all pubic hair in men have not been studied to our knowledge, but pubic hair grooming in general has been linked to increased sexual activity and improved self-perception of appearance.

“We found significantly greater prevalence of grooming among younger groups.

“This finding could signify a generational trend, indicating that this behaviour may continue to become more universal as the population ages.

“Lying on one’s back while grooming and having someone else groom one’s pubic hair were associated with injuries that required medical attention.

“Lying on one’s back may make visualisation more challenging and thus predispose the groomer to injury.

“Having a partner perform one’s grooming eliminates a self-tactile sensation, which may predispose to injury.

Alternatively, a grooming partner may encourage the injured to seek medical attention.”

He added: “Clinicians may use this data to identify patients at high risk for injury.

“This study may contribute to the development of clinical guidelines or recommendations for safe pubic hair removal.”

 

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