Whether you brave the bald eagle or boast the bush, everyone has their own grooming preferences when it comes to pubic hair.
But one doctor has suggested you might want to reconsider your preening antics if you regularly shave your behind – and it actually makes a lot of sense. Posting to TikTok, NHS surgeon Dr Karan Raj said: “After watching this video you'll never look at your bum whiskers the same way again.”
Speaking to his 5.1 million followers, the doctor, who goes by @drkaranrajan online, explained that your bum hair provides more than just warmth, it actually has a specific purpose. He added: “The perianal skin which contains hair follicles also contains apocrine glands, which secrete an oily substance.
“Now, your tufted tailpipe can trap these oily secretions to keep your crack nicely lubricated to reduce irritations and rashes from your gluteal cheeks rubbing together.”
But that’s not all, another benefit of trapping those oily secretions is because these oils 'feed the good bacteria around your derriere'.
Dr Karan concluded: “Remember, a strong and healthy perianal microbiome is a very good weapon to have in your arsenal."
Is it safe to shave pubic hair?
According to a Californian study quoted by the NHS in 2017, found that cuts, burns, rashes and infections are the biggest risks when shaving pubic hair. Previous studies have found that removing pubic hair can also make it easier to contract sexually transmitted infections.
A study by JAMA Dermatology in 2017 found that 25.6% of the 7,570 participants reported grooming-related injury. Pubic hair is there for a reason – it protects the genitals from foreign bodies, bacteria, dirt and germs.
Dr Shree Datta, an expert at My Healthcare Clinic, added: “Some studies have also suggested that hair removal may increase your chance of contracting some STIs by making it slightly easier for bacteria to enter the body through the skin – but on the other hand, for some infections such as pubic lice (crabs) I would recommend hair removal, as this may aid treatment.”
Although pubic hair removal is common practice, it is not without risk, and should be done as safely as possible.
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