Ingrown hair in the genital area

Introduction

Ingrown hair can occur in everyone and is favored by different conditions, such as particularly frizzy and thick hair or previous hair removal. In general, ingrown hair is not a dangerous disease. The hair curls and grows into the skin instead of straight out. An inflammatory area around the hair usually develops, which can also appear purulent and is therefore both painful and disturbing.

Cause of ingrown hair in the genital area

The most common cause of ingrown hair is hair removal. When the hair grows back, it can grow under the skin instead of growing straight out through the skin. It is also important that the edge of the growing hair is sharper than the edge of the uncut hair.

In addition, when hair is removed or shaved, the hair channel can be blocked by sebum or skin scales, which causes the hair to remain under the skin. Therefore ingrown hairs are usually only found in adults who have previously undergone hair removal. Furthermore, tight and abrasive clothing also favors ingrowing hair in the corresponding area.

The condition of the hair also plays a role. Thick and/or frizzy hair is more likely to grow in than thin, straight hair. In general, the hair in the genital area is often thicker than in other parts of the body. Finally, the hormonal balance also plays a role, since increased sex hormones lead to increased hair growth and therefore the risk of in-growing hair is increased.

Symptoms

An ingrown hair usually makes itself noticeable by pain. A reddened swelling develops, which impresses as a lump under the skin and hurts when touched. In addition, it can lead to an accumulation of pus and itching can also be present.

Scratching the affected area can cause permanent scars in the long term. In dark-skinned people, an increasingly pigmented skin area often remains. While most ingrown hairs heal on their own, in some cases an inflammation of the hair follicle can occur.

A boil develops, which should be treated medically. An abscess (cavity filled with pus) or blood poisoning can also occur in individual cases as a result of ingrown hair. An ingrown hair often presents itself as a reddened and painful lump.

The lump is a sign of the inflammation taking place. Inflammatory cells migrate and pus forms. The pus cavity is formed in the area of the previously melted tissue, but also bulges outwards a little, making the inflamed area appear as a lump.

In addition, an inflammation always leads to increased water retention in the tissue, which also leads to swelling. An ingrown hair is often accompanied by pain. This is the case when the area with the ingrown hair becomes inflamed due to the foreign body reaction of the body or due to additionally immigrated bacteria. The body releases messenger substances that sensitize pain receptors and are thus involved in the development of the pain.