Last updated on October 2, 2020
Question:
I’ve got these weird pimples at the side of the groin (where pubic hair grows) and I have no idea what they are. They itch horribly and I only saw them after shaving off the pubic hair.
Can you help me here please?
Answer:
There can be numerous causes of itching and the symptoms can be similar. You didn’t give me enough to go on regarding what you see.
Shaving can nick the skin, allow a way for bacteria or fungus to get under the skin, and cause problems. The skin on the genitals is very thin, which makes it particularly vulnerable to nicks. This is why I don’t recommend shaving the groin region. If you don’t like long hair down there, then you can keep it trimmed, but not shaved.
The most common cause of itching is a fungus. It can cause pimples, but usually, areas around the pimples are also red. There are several bacterias that can cause itching as well. One simple reason for itching that people often overlook is when you shave closely, as the hairs grow back, it becomes very itchy.
You can try putting an antibiotic ointment on the area that is itching twice a day. If it clears up, great! Keep using it until several days past the last symptom you’ve seen.
If the antibiotic ointment doesn’t show improvements in a few days, then try something made for jock itch to see if that clears it up. Again, follow the instructions on the package — generally it is applied twice a day.
If it doesn’t clear up in a few days, then you need to see your doctor.