Praised by nearly a quarter of French women, full hair removal nevertheless exposes a significant risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Hair is unwanted on beaches. The French have understood this well. One in five chose full-length hair removal for their summer swimsuits, survey finds Ifop for Daily (1). Wearing a swimsuit probably explains this choice. In the spring, fewer women opt for this form of hair removal.
But making the hair disappear is not the rule for all that: 74% of French women plan to wax their bikini line. And the majority understood that the integral did not only have interests.
The argument comes up regularly in the mouths of followers of full hair removal: it is more hygienic to wear a hairless vulva. According to a study published in the JAMA Dermatology, 60% of women agreed with this statement.
Herpes, fungal infections and others
The aesthetic question can be the subject of debate. But this is not the case for that of health. Because the hairs are very useful to protect the private parts from bacteria and viruses. Pulling out hairs and bulbs thus opens a royal route to pathogens.
In fact, the vulva provides an ideal environment for the development of infectious pathologies. The environment there is humid and hot. Without this hair protection, mycoses, urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) find a refuge there to say the least welcoming.
A study, published in 2017 in Sexually Transmitted Infections, confirms the risk of full hair removal. Its followers are 2.6 times more at risk of cutaneous STIs – such as herpes – and 70% more at risk of STIs causing secretions. The higher the frequency of waxing, the greater the probability.
Assaulted skin
This is explained by the quality of the skin after shaving or waxing. Hair removal is the cause of small lesions, ingrown hairs. 80% of women suffer from itching associated with their practice.
And these little inconveniences sometimes open the way to other pathologies that are much less inviting. This is the case of Molluscum contagiosum, sexually transmitted virus responsible for small benign flesh growths. According to a study, also published in Sexually Transmitted Infections, followers of hair removal would be more sensitive to it.
Full hair removal therefore has little interest … except for one element. The disappearance of the hair has endangered a species: crabs. Because these pubic lice are endangered. And it is thanks to the democratization of razors, wax strips and other epilators.
In view of these studies, one conclusion is nonetheless necessary. Depilate yes, but leave the area around the vulva alone. The hairs play an essential protective role there.
(1) Ifop survey conducted among 2,011 people representative of the French population, interviewed via the Internet.
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