Quarter of groomers injure themselves while removing pubic hair

A quarter of people who shave, wax or use scissors to remove their pubic hair injure themselves in the process, according to a new survey by Jama Dermatology.

The most common accidents were cuts, rashes and burns, the report found, and 1.4% of respondents admitted they had sustained injuries that required medical attention.

Dr Benjamin Brever, a urologist at the University of California San Francisco, conducted the web-based study of 7,570 people (55.5% men and 44.5% female) to try and determine which method of hair removal was the safest.

Around 26% of men and women who groom their pubic hair have been injured at least once, while 32% said it has happened five times or more, he found.

Unsurprisingly, more women reported grooming their pubic hair than men (85.2% vs 66.5%) and had a higher rate of grooming-related injuries (27.1% vs 23.7%).  

However, hairier men – or those who perceived themselves as hairier – also had a higher risk of injury.

It was also revealed that 60% of injuries were related to cuts, which Brever says is a cause for concern as cuts in the pubic area can leave people more vulnerable to infections such as STIs.

The study also discovered that 3% of adults who came to A&E at the university’s hospital had grooming injuries.

Injuries requiring medical attention occurred more commonly when the person was grooming while on his/her back, or when someone else was doing the grooming, the study reported.

Brever believes waxing is the safest option as it may prevent repeated injuries since it removes the whole hair follicle and extends the period before the hair grows back.

Watch our video with Wax Daddy Andy Rouillard on the 5 common waxing mistakes therapists make and how to avoid them.