Shaving can cause sores in genitalia
THE last place any person would want to get sores or blisters of any type is in their genitalia.
By Joan Mugenzi
THE last place any person would want to get sores or blisters of any type is in their genitalia.
The first impression of such sores is that one has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and the idea of explaining one’s history to a doctor is no easy talk. Never mind that this is strictly in private and confidentiality is highly respected.
Sores for an STI? Not always.
Nina rushed to a dermatologist, worried that she could have developed Herpes genitalia.
Having widely read about STIs, she likened the blisters to what she had read about on genital herpes. The blisters would present with blood and puss. What confused her even the more, is that she was not a sexually active woman.
To her relief, the blisters had nothing to do with genital herpes.
“The doctor told me that it had to do with the way I shave,†says Nina. “The doctor identified the condition as folliculitis.â€
Folliculitis is an infection characterised by inflammation of hair follicles.
Dr. Fred Kambugu, a consultant dermatologist at Mulago Hospital says the conditions that present inflammation of the follicles are many. Some are infections with puss, which means the person carries bacteria with them.
The other type is scaling, also referred to as aninoclecloid in medical terms. In this state, in- growing hairs provoke foreign body reactions and they form pimples or blisters.
Like Nina, there are some people who mistake folliculitis for STIs.
Dr Sam Kaggwa, a urologist with Mulago Hospital, says there are a few people who report with pimples in their genitalia thinking that it is an STI, when it is not.
“The complications that people get after shaving vary from individual to individual. There are people who don’t get any problem and there are those who get irritable pimples,†observes Kaggwa.
Dr Kambugu says the pimples that people develop in their genitalia, are likened to the ones some people get after shaving a beard.
Dr Donna Kabatesi, the director of programmes at the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Uganda office, says, “People should not shave at all. “When you shave, you are likely to injure the skin and in the process introduce bacteria to the skin,†she explains. “The hair is there for many purposes. It is some kind of cushion to maintain a certain temperature in that area,†says Kabatesi.
She advises that those who feel bothered by the hair in the genitalia, if they must shave, then they should use a curved pair of scissors to trim the hair and simply keep it short.
THE last place any person would want to get sores or blisters of any type is in their genitalia.
The first impression of such sores is that one has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and the idea of explaining one’s history to a doctor is no easy talk. Never mind that this is strictly in private and confidentiality is highly respected.
Sores for an STI? Not always.
Nina rushed to a dermatologist, worried that she could have developed Herpes genitalia.
Having widely read about STIs, she likened the blisters to what she had read about on genital herpes. The blisters would present with blood and puss. What confused her even the more, is that she was not a sexually active woman.
To her relief, the blisters had nothing to do with genital herpes.
“The doctor told me that it had to do with the way I shave,†says Nina. “The doctor identified the condition as folliculitis.â€
Folliculitis is an infection characterised by inflammation of hair follicles.
Dr. Fred Kambugu, a consultant dermatologist at Mulago Hospital says the conditions that present inflammation of the follicles are many. Some are infections with puss, which means the person carries bacteria with them.
The other type is scaling, also referred to as aninoclecloid in medical terms. In this state, in- growing hairs provoke foreign body reactions and they form pimples or blisters.
Like Nina, there are some people who mistake folliculitis for STIs.
Dr Sam Kaggwa, a urologist with Mulago Hospital, says there are a few people who report with pimples in their genitalia thinking that it is an STI, when it is not.
“The complications that people get after shaving vary from individual to individual. There are people who don’t get any problem and there are those who get irritable pimples,†observes Kaggwa.
Dr Kambugu says the pimples that people develop in their genitalia, are likened to the ones some people get after shaving a beard.
Dr Donna Kabatesi, the director of programmes at the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Uganda office, says, “People should not shave at all. “When you shave, you are likely to injure the skin and in the process introduce bacteria to the skin,†she explains. “The hair is there for many purposes. It is some kind of cushion to maintain a certain temperature in that area,†says Kabatesi.
She advises that those who feel bothered by the hair in the genitalia, if they must shave, then they should use a curved pair of scissors to trim the hair and simply keep it short.