Razor bumps in the intimate area: how to get rid of them and prevent them

Razor bumps are irritated or mildly inflamed hair roots after shaving. To get rid of them, take a few days off shaving, cool the area, don't squeeze and care for your skin gently. Exfoliation, a sharp blade, shaving gel and immediate aftercare prevent them. Intimate skin is thinner. After intimate shaving, an alcohol-free oil that softens regrowing hairs helps.

You have just shaved, and the next day small red spots appear that itch or burn. The bikini area is affected most often, but legs and underarms get them too.

What are razor bumps?

Razor bumps are usually irritated or mildly inflamed hair follicles. When you shave, the blade injures the top layer of skin. Bacteria get into the hair root, and the skin reacts with redness and small bumps. Sometimes a freshly shaved hair grows back into the skin. This creates an ingrown hair, which also feels like a pimple.

Typical signs are:

• small red spots or bumps one to two days after shaving
• pustules with a white head
• itching, burning or a feeling of tightness
• red, rough patches, often together with razor burn

Why do I get razor bumps?

Razor bumps are almost always caused by a mix of friction, small injuries and bacteria. The most common reasons:

• A blunt blade pulls at the hair. This irritates the skin and lets bacteria in.
• Without gel or oil, the blade doesn't glide well and puts more strain on the skin.
• If you shave against the grain, you get a closer shave. This cuts the hairs below skin level, and they become ingrown more easily.
• Too much pressure and every extra stroke over the same area wear away skin.
• Dead skin flakes clog the pores and trap regrowing hairs under the skin.
• Tight clothing straight after shaving rubs, and sweat irritates the freshly shaved skin even more.

How do you get rid of razor bumps?

Once the bumps are there, your skin mainly needs rest. These steps help:

1. Shaving break: Only shave the area again once the redness has gone down. Every shave on irritated skin makes the discomfort last longer.
2. Cooling: Place a cool, clean cloth on the area for a few minutes. This calms redness and itching.
3. No squeezing: Squeezing pushes bacteria deeper into the skin and makes dark marks more likely.
4. Gentle cleansing: Wash the area with lukewarm water and a mild, pH-balanced wash gel. Soap dries out the skin.
5. Care: An alcohol-free care oil moisturises the skin and softens regrowing hairs. The Glow Below Oil is made for exactly this: 75% of test participants confirm the reduction of razor bumps and razor burn.¹
6. Loose clothing: Wear cotton underwear and skip tight trousers for one or two days.

Aftershave containing alcohol, perfume and harsh home remedies such as undiluted tea tree oil tend to irritate the skin more than they help.

How do you get rid of razor bumps in the intimate area?

The skin in the intimate area is thinner and more sensitive than on your legs. The hairs are thicker and often curly, so they become ingrown more easily. On top of that, underwear causes friction, and the skin there has its own pH value.

Regular shower gel and shaving foam are not matched to the pH value of the external intimate area. The 2in1 Intimate Wash & Shave Gel cleanses mildly with a pH value adapted to the intimate area. It also works as your shaving gel.

After shaving, apply the Glow Below Oil once your skin is dry. It is clinically, gynaecologically and dermatologically tested and awarded the top rating “sehr gut”.¹

Only shave and exfoliate the area where hair grows. Leave the mucous membrane untouched.

Our guide to intimate shaving shows you how to shave your intimate area step by step.

How long do razor bumps last?

Mild razor bumps usually clear up within a few days if you leave the area alone. If you keep shaving over them, they often last a week or longer. An ingrown hair sometimes needs more time to reach the surface on its own. Don't pull it out of the skin with tweezers while the area is inflamed.

How to prevent razor bumps: your routine in 3 steps

With these three steps, shaving irritates the skin in your intimate area as little as possible:

1. Prepare by exfoliating

Gentle exfoliation once or twice a week before shaving removes dead skin flakes. This makes it easier for regrowing hairs to reach the surface. The Intimate Pre-Shave Peeling is adapted to the pH value of the external intimate zone. It cleanses deep into the pores and prevents ingrown hairs and small razor bumps.

2. Shave with gel and a sharp blade

First take a warm shower for a few minutes to soften the hairs. Then apply the 2in1 Intimate Wash & Shave Gel and shave with light pressure in the direction of hair growth. Rinse the blade after every stroke. Change it as soon as it pulls. Disposable razors go blunt quickly. If you use a razor with replaceable blades from our Shaving range, you only change the blade, ideally after 5 to 10 uses.

3. Care for your skin after shaving

Rinse off the gel with warm water, finish with a short cool rinse and pat your skin dry without rubbing. Then massage in 2 to 3 drops of Glow Below Oil. You can read more about aftercare in our guide to skin care after shaving.

You get all three steps together in the Glow Below Trio. If you don't need the scrub, the Glow Below Duo with gel and oil is enough. You can find all products in the range in the Glow Below routine.

What helps with razor bumps on your legs and underarms?

On your legs and underarms, razor bumps develop for the same reasons. Exfoliating your body before shaving helps here, and so does a shaving oil that lets the blade glide. You get both in the Body Crush Duo with the 2in1 AHA Body Scrub and Body Shaving Oil. It prepares your skin for shaving and cares for it while you shave.

Small pimples on the bottom, on the other hand, often come from friction and sweat, even without shaving. Our guide to pimples on the bottom explains what helps there.

When should you see a doctor?

Razor bumps are harmless and usually go away on their own. Have a doctor look at the area if:

• a lump becomes large and hard and hurts a lot
• pus collects or the redness spreads
• you develop a fever
• the bumps don't heal after two weeks without shaving
• blisters, warts or open sores appear

In that case, something else may be behind it, for example a boil, herpes or genital warts. Your gynaecologist or dermatologist can help.

¹ Clinical-dermatological application study under gynaecological supervision with 20 participants, applying the intimate area oil once daily over a period of 4 weeks.