How do I get rid of irritation/pimples on my labia?

[Anonymous]

It's not an STD, my boyfriend is my only partner and we're monogamous and clean. I sometimes get razor burn but now it's BAD. I've started going to the pool regularly last week, having more frequent sex and shaving more often as well. I've sweated a lot recently and kinda neglected cleaning up after sex/masturbating, so it might be acne. Now I have some pretty bad rash and zits on my outer lips towards my thigh, nowhere on my vulva. It's itchy because of the irritation, but bearable. How do I heal that? I'll be embarassed to receive oral until it's gone. I was thinking of letting it breathe, stop using product on it aside from over-the-counter hydrocortisone, and to stop shaving down there. What do you recommend? Should I be worried? I kinda am :(

[Ubetiburn]

There are quite a few reasons that this could be happening. For instance, shaving. Are you going with the hair, against or across? Always soak whatever place you are shaving with warmer then an average warm water. After a few minuets of this, take your shaving cream and really work it in to the area that needs to be shaved and let it sit there for a couple of minuets. Then shave with the hair. Always follow through with the stroke and do not stroke the blade down the same run twice in a row, the skin will heat up and get irritated. Move on and then come back. Some people go against it and when you do that it cuts the hair off at an angle that leaves you more prone to an ingrown hair. If you are moderate to out of control with your hair, use something like a personal trimmer. Using the largest and working to using no guard, you will get pretty close to nothing and then you soak, lather, shave( remember - go in one direction only and to move and come back later), rinse, soap rinse and pat dry. There are some creams and other type of items (gel, lotion, oil) that slow or inhibit growth and after you get the areas how you want them, they will help you keep it that way with out getting ingrown hairs or razor burn. Razor burn is from shaving to much in one area, or to fast. That is another thing, slow down. It is not a race, if it is delicate skin then you might be happy that you are going slow.

Another thing is a lot of girls but the cheapest shaving cream that they can. It is not all made equal, or even made for females. Never mind made for underarm skin or pubic areas. They can irritate or cause a change in your Ph balance or infection. There are some in cakes(that you have to add water, lather with a feather application brush) that work great besides regular shaving cream.

It could be from an allergy from the elastic in your underwear, the fabric or even from rubbing one area to long.

It could be a soap your shower with.

It could be from skin rubbing an area and causing ingrown hairs, it could be the shaving cream or simply that you think shaving your legs, shaving your arm pits and shaving your pubic/vaginal area all need the fast and furious approach. Take it slow, take your time. Hell pre-soak in a hot tub. Make sure you use a new blade every other time. The hair between these three places are different, thicker, some with more oils, some grow in different hair flow patterns/directions. Take your time, the results alone will be worth it. Maintain it regularly. Also do not forget to use a daily application of baby oil or body butter to keep those areas soft and supple when you are done and on days between shaving. It is like any other skin on your body, treat it right - protect it and it will do you right!

If these do not help, they get worse then please see a doctor. Although any zit if squeezed hard enough, will bleed. If you do not let them seep they can get marble sized under the skin and cause an infection.

Also could be the pool chemicals.

[MrOracle]

I think you are on the right track. It probably isn't necessary to stop shaving, but if you do shave, you need to follow the process of exfoliating (scrubbing away the dead skin cells) and using an aftershave lotion. Different girls use different things, but my girlfriend swears by Coochy Cream.

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Otherwise, make sure you wash up after sex/masturbating and let it air out as much as you can. That will accelerate the healing process.

[Asker]

Do you think I'm right to think it's just acne? I'm on the pill so it surprises me. Isn't it supposed to make my hormones more regular? I don't have a spot on my face. Might be externally caused because of lack of hygiene too, but still... I'm a little paranoid and STDs terrorize me, so I'm worried.

[Asker]

Also, how do I know it's not herpes? I've never had STDs so I'm clueless.

[MrOracle]

Yes, it's almost certainly just acne. Great sex is often messy sex, and that's just fine, but when it's over, you need to clean up, or bacteria and such can grow. It doesn't take all that long to start having problems; a day or so can be enough. But improving your hygiene will clear it up pretty quickly too.

[MrOracle]

Herpes causes open sores, like a cold sore, not pimples. I seriously doubt this is an STD.

[Hyped_up_on_coffee]

you need bikini bump cream or better shaving problems or just switch to better hair removal products or methods but first leave your hair alone for a little bit .

[Anonymous]

The "zits" that you're talking about are probably ingrown hairs. Follow Oracle's shaving advice and see what that does for you. Otherwise, you might try waxing. I know it sucks, but I hear it gets better after the first few times, as long as you keep it up regularly.

[Anonymous]

Let it grow out. Shaving is not for you. Explain it to your lover if need be. A Real Man will be OK with it.