Ingrown pubic hair in men: what it looks like, what helps and when to get it checked

Shaving or waxing your pubic hair can leave a sore or itchy bump, and an ingrown pubic hair is one possible cause. The NHS says ingrown hairs are more likely in areas you shave and names the pubic area as one of them. The Primary Care Dermatology Society (PCDS) adds that razor bumps can have a significant psychological impact and may affect daily life, including work.

What is an ingrown hair?

In the NHS's words, it's a hair that has grown back into the skin. Usually, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) says, a hair cut too short slips back into its follicle (the tiny pocket each hair grows from) and can break through the follicle wall as it grows. Other hairs curl back and pierce the skin from outside, which PCDS guidance for GPs links to stubble left too long, especially if it's curly.

The inflammation this causes is called pseudofolliculitis, or razor bumps, and the PCDS says it isn't usually caused by infection. In the beard it's pseudofolliculitis barbae, but it can happen anywhere coarse hair is shaved or plucked, the pubic area included.

What causes ingrown hairs, and why do some men get so many?

The NHS links them to hair removal: shaving, waxing, plucking and threading. It says you may be more likely to get them if your hair is coarse or curly, though pubic hair varies: an NHS page for young people says it can be coarse or fine, straight or curly.

The BAD says razor bumps are more common in men of sub-Saharan African heritage, and DermNet, a New Zealand skin site, says the same of people with darker skin. But men of any background can get them, the BAD adds.

What does an ingrown hair look like?

The NHS says ingrown hairs can look like raised, itchy bumps. On white skin an ingrown hair bump may look red; on black or brown skin the redness may be harder to see, but the bump may be a different colour from the skin around it. Sometimes you can see the hair trapped under the skin. The PCDS says razor bumps are usually several firm bumps and pus-filled spots that can itch or burn within 24 to 48 hours of shaving.

Can you get an ingrown hair on your penis, balls or groin?

The NHS says ingrown hairs are more likely in areas you shave, the pubic area among them, and NHS inform in Scotland says hair follicles around the genitals or groin can become inflamed (folliculitis), which may be more common if you shave there.

Anywhere on the penis, shaft or tip, the NHS says lumps or spots are not usually caused by anything serious, but always get them checked by a GP or at a sexual health clinic. It says don't try to diagnose them yourself: some are normal, but others can be a sign of an STI or a skin condition, and rarely of penile cancer. Our guide to pearly penile papules and Fordyce spots covers two that PCDS guidance for GPs calls normal.

Skin cysts can form on the scrotum (balls), the NHS and BAD say. The NHS says lumps in the testicles aren't usually serious, but always get them checked by a GP: they can be a sign of testicular cancer, which is easier to treat if found early. If your groin or scrotum itches more than it bumps, our guide to itchy balls and groin covers the usual causes.

How do you get rid of an ingrown pubic hair?

Usually you don't need medical help, the NHS says, but see a GP if there are signs of infection. The PCDS leaflet says ideally stop shaving if you can and avoid waxing or plucking: the skin will often settle 4 to 6 weeks after you stop. When you do remove hair, the NHS steps below help prevent ingrown hairs and help them get better quicker.

The NHS says a pharmacist can advise on ingrown hairs, including what helps itching and a mild antiseptic to help prevent infection. As treatment, a GP may remove the hair with a sterile needle or scalpel, or give you a steroid cream for swelling and irritation, or antibiotic cream or tablets for an infection.

Should you squeeze or pop an ingrown hair?

Tempting as it is, no. The NHS says don't scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs, as this can damage your skin and lead to infection. The BAD and PCDS say don't pluck them either. The NHS says don't pick, squeeze or pierce a boil, and warns that a squeezed cyst could burst and become infected. If a trapped hair needs to come out, a GP may be able to remove it.

Do ingrown hairs go away on their own, and how long do they last?

Most don't need a doctor, the NHS says, and NHS inform says folliculitis around the genitals or groin clears up on its own in most cases. If you stop removing the hair, the inflammation may take several weeks to settle (DermNet), or 4 to 6 weeks (BAD).

Will the hair eventually grow out? US dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), writing about beard razor bumps in men with darker skin, say the short hairs grow and spring out of the skin once you stop shaving. New bumps can appear at first, they add, but the bumps should be gone after three months.

How do you stop ingrown hairs after shaving?

The NHS says the best way to prevent ingrown hairs is by not shaving, and Brook, a sexual health charity for under-25s, says lots of people leave their pubic hair as it is. If you shave again once your skin has settled, the NHS suggests you:

1. wet your skin with warm water and use shaving gel
2. shave in the direction the hairs are growing
3. use as few strokes of the razor as possible
4. rinse the razor after every stroke, and don't use a blunt one
5. leave at least 1mm of stubble, which can help reduce ingrown hairs
6. don't shave every day, if possible
7. try an electric razor rather than wet shaving
8. hold a cool, wet cloth to your skin after shaving to reduce irritation

The BAD and PCDS add: don't stretch the skin, and use a single blade for wet shaving. Our guides to shaving your balls and razor burn after manscaping cover the grooming side.

What about waxing or hair-removal creams?

Waxing, plucking and threading can lead to ingrown hairs too, the NHS says. On hair-removal creams, the PCDS says irritation can darken the skin. US dermatologists at the AAD, in general advice not about genital skin, recommend testing a product first. A 2023 review by German dermatologists says there is only very limited evidence on genital hair-removal methods and their risks. Our guide to pubic hair removal for men compares the methods.

Infected ingrown hair: what are the signs?

An infected ingrown pubic hair can be painful, and you may see pus in the bump. The NHS says see a GP if an ingrown hair or the area around it is very painful, hot or swollen, or you have an ingrown hair and a high temperature, or feel hot, cold or shivery or very unwell.

Razor bumps usually aren't infected, but damaged follicles can pick up an infection (folliculitis): a tender red spot, often with a small head of pus. A boil (some people call it an ingrown hair boil) is a hard, painful lump of pus from an infection deep in a hair follicle.

Infection from a boil can occasionally spread into the skin around it (cellulitis), and less commonly cause sepsis. The NHS says cellulitis makes the skin painful, hot and swollen, and usually red, though this may be less obvious on brown or black skin.

Necrotising fasciitis is a very rare infection of the deep layers of the skin. The NHS says it usually happens near a cut or wound, though sometimes there's no obvious damage; there may be intense pain or loss of feeling, and the pain may seem much worse than you'd expect. It gets worse quickly, can be fatal and needs hospital treatment as soon as possible (999 signs in the table below). Around the genitals it's called Fournier's gangrene, which European urology guidance for doctors says typically brings painful swelling of the scrotum or the area between it and the anus.

Is it an ingrown hair cyst, a boil or something else?

A hard lump under the skin, the kind people describe as an ingrown hair that's turned into a lump or an ingrown pubic hair cyst, can be one of several things. The NHS says don't self-diagnose a lump; see a GP if you're worried or it's still there after 2 weeks.

A boil is an infected hair follicle, while a cyst is a sac under the skin that isn't an infection, the BAD says. Its cyst leaflet says epidermoid and pilar cysts can form without a clear cause or after skin damage or irritation, and doesn't mention ingrown hairs. Some cysts become infected, which can make them red, sore and enlarged. If a lump feels like a deep ingrown hair, or looks like an infected cyst, a GP may be able to tell you what's causing it.

What else can be mistaken for an ingrown hair cyst?

The NHS says hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a painful, long-term skin condition that causes abscesses and scarring, could be mistaken for ingrown hairs. The BAD says it's often misdiagnosed at first as an infection or inflammation of the hair follicles. If you keep getting boils, or they scar, the BAD says see your GP, who may consider referring you to a dermatologist.

The NHS says a swollen gland in the groin feels like a tender, painful lump and should go down within 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the cause. Swollen glands are often caused by common illnesses and rarely by something more serious, such as lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system). A hernia can cause a groin lump that may get bigger when you cough, sneeze or cry and smaller when you lie down. The NHS says see a GP if you're worried about swollen glands or think you have a hernia.

Is it an ingrown hair, herpes, warts or syphilis?

The NHS says not to try to diagnose penis lumps or spots yourself, and many STIs have no symptoms. Genital herpes symptoms include small blisters that burst to leave red, open sores (they may be less red on brown or black skin), and burning or itching. Genital warts are usually small, rough lumps, alone or in groups that can look like a cauliflower, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be passed on even when no warts can be seen.

Syphilis symptoms are often mild and hard to notice at first, and can include small, usually painless sores (ulcers) on the penis or around the bottom; NHS inform says a single sore could be a sign of recent syphilis, especially if there's no pain. Sometimes symptoms improve or go away, but if you haven't been treated the infection is still in your body and can still be passed on. A test is the only way to confirm syphilis, and STI tests are free on the NHS (clinics are listed at the end of this page).

When should you see a GP or get urgent help?

Most ingrown hairs don't need a doctor, the NHS says; the table lists the signs that do, and who to contact.

Ingrown hairs, lumps and spots in the groin: signs and who to contact

	What to do.
An itchy ingrown hair; questions about irritation or infection when you remove hair	Ask a pharmacist
An ingrown hair, or the area around it, that's very painful, hot or swollen; an ingrown hair and a high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery or very unwell	See a GP
A boil you've had for 2 weeks that the things you've tried aren't helping; boils that keep coming back or scar; a group of boils (carbuncle)	See a GP
A lump that's getting bigger; a lump that's hard and doesn't move; a lump that grows back after it's been removed, or is still there after 2 weeks; a lump that worries you, or that you don't know what it is; a lump when you have a weakened immune system or a long-term condition such as diabetes	See a GP
Swollen glands that are getting bigger or haven't gone down within 1 week, feel hard or don't move when you press them, come with night sweats or a very high temperature (feeling hot, cold or shivery), or come with no other signs of illness or infection; a lump you think is a hernia	See a GP
A lump in a testicle; swollen testicles; a change in the shape of your testicles or in the way they feel; one testicle that has become bigger than the other; aching or discomfort in your testicles that doesn't go away	See a GP
On your penis: a lump, sore or ulcer; a rash or spots; the tip swollen, itchy, sore and red (redness may be less obvious on brown or black skin); any changes to how it looks; symptoms that aren't going away	See a GP or go to a sexual health clinic
Symptoms of genital herpes	Go to a sexual health clinic as soon as possible
One or more painless lumps or growths around your penis or anus; itching or bleeding from your genitals or anus; a change to your normal flow of pee (for example, it's begun to flow sideways) that doesn't go away; a sexual partner who has genital warts, even if you don't know if you have them	Go to a sexual health clinic
Symptoms of syphilis in you or a sexual partner; a sexual partner who has told you they have syphilis or another STI; recent sex with a new partner without a condom; injecting drugs with a needle that's been used by someone who might have syphilis	Go to a sexual health clinic or see a GP
Spots near your genitals; spots you're not sure are molluscum contagiosum; spots that are very itchy, painful, swollen or covered with crusts; a weakened immune system and possible molluscum contagiosum	See a GP
Scabies with skin you think may be infected, or another skin condition such as eczema; a crusted, flaky rash on your elbows, knees, hands or feet; itching 2 to 4 weeks after finishing pharmacy treatment for scabies	See a GP
Skin that's painful, hot and swollen; a boil with hot, painful, swollen skin around it, or with feeling hot, cold or shivery, or a weakened immune system; a lump that's painful, red or hot, or with feeling hot, cold or shivery, or with swelling or redness spreading away from it (the redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin); a sore or red lump on your skin	Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 (Northern Ireland: your GP, or the GP out of hours service if it can't wait until your surgery opens)
A hernia with pain in or around it, a bloated tummy, feeling or being sick, vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, constipation, a high temperature or feeling hot, cold or shivery, or sudden confusion	Get help from NHS 111 (Northern Ireland: your GP, or the GP out of hours service if it can't wait until your surgery opens)
Becoming very ill with genital symptoms and severe pain, a high temperature, or feeling or being sick	Phone 111, NHS inform says (Northern Ireland: your GP, or the GP out of hours service if it can't wait until your surgery opens)
Pain, swelling or inflammation around the testicles when gonorrhoea or chlamydia may have spread to the testicle	Get treatment urgently from a sexual health service: book online or phone for advice, NHS inform says (for testicle pain that needs A&E or 999, see the last row)
A red or swollen area of skin (redness may be harder to see on black or brown skin), or a cut or wound, much more painful than you'd expect, or with symptoms like a high temperature, headache, tiredness and muscle aches; black, purple or grey blotches or blisters near a cut or wound, or a red or swollen area of skin; sudden confusion, feeling dizzy, or feeling like your heart is pounding, beating very fast, fluttering or missing a beat	Call 999 or go to A&E
Cellulitis (painful, hot, swollen skin) with a very high temperature or feeling hot, cold or shivery; a fast heartbeat or fast breathing; purple patches on your skin (this may be less obvious on brown or black skin); feeling dizzy or faint; confusion or disorientation; cold, clammy or pale skin; or unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness	Call 999 or go to A&E
Sudden, severe pain in a testicle; testicle pain along with feeling sick, being sick or pain in your tummy; testicle pain that has lasted more than an hour or continues when you're resting	Go to A&E immediately or call 999

From the NHS, with NHS inform for Scotland, nidirect for Northern Ireland and the British Association of Dermatologists for scarring boils. The NHS says the cellulitis signs are symptoms of serious complications, which can be life threatening, and the testicle signs in the last row can be signs of a serious problem that needs to be treated in hospital as soon as possible. If you go to A&E, bring any medicines you take with you. If you're not sure what to do, the NHS in England says call 111 or get help from 111 online. This table can't tell you what a lump is: get anything you're unsure about checked.

Where can you get help in the UK?

Anywhere in the UK, call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. The NHS in England says A&E is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies, and not to drive yourself there: ask someone to drive you, or call 999 for an ambulance.

• England: clinics are free and confidential unless staff think someone is at risk of harm, and even then they'll talk to you first; you don't usually need a GP referral or appointment, but contact the clinic first.
• Scotland: services are free and your GP won't be told without your permission; phone a service for an appointment, or book online where offered.
• Wales: clinics are free and confidential on the same terms as England; many offer a walk-in service, where you don't need an appointment.
• Northern Ireland: clinics are free and confidential unless you share something that indicates someone is at risk; you don't need a doctor's referral, but in most cases you need an appointment.