Shaving bikini area light hearted but HELP!

[Pleaseenterausername]

ladies I’m desperate 😂 I have NC for this and I’m not a vagina troll. I have kept this lighthearted but I’m losing my mind.

im 30 weeks pregnant so the bikini area is already unseen land for me as I have a huge stomach in the way which makes this whole escapade more annoying because I can’t properly see the hellfire that I have caused.

I needed to shave my bikini area as the hairy yeti look as getting abit unsexy. I had the (not so bright) idea of using palmers body oil to shave, thinking this would make me silky smooth. So I began hacking at my nether regions like some kind of angry mountain climber.

well … (I believe) a short time later I had an awful reaction. I can’t remember if it was a few days or a few hours but I had/have what looks like shaving rash on the kind of creases where my knicker line would be combined with some kind of spots but they look like little grazes (imagine a popped spot). I am itchy and irritated and abit puffy. Not the sexy look I was hoping for. It’s been about 3 weeks now and has slightly improved but I’m now worried incase it wasn’t a reaction and is something more? I have an “itch” relief type cream from the pharmacist which stings but takes the itching away but it doesn’t seem to be getting better. Tried Sudocream to no avail also. Aware I’m using the word vagina and not vulva. Whatever - the itch is external not internal and I’m desperate

I cant get a doctors appointment as they have a stupid rule where you request an appointment and they take 4 working days to call you back to book your appointment so I wouldn’t be seen for some time now, plus we are coming up to half term and I don’t want to drag the kids to a doctors appointment to discuss vaginagate because my 8 year old would absolutely repeat this drama at the most arkward time (probably the dinner table at Christmas time? “Mummy do you remember the time you had an itchy vag?” )

does anyone have any idea what this could be or if 111 could help? Or do I call the midwife? I’m at my wits end now and clearly nothing is helping! I have no reason to suspect DH is cheating so feel confident to rule out an STD but I’m stumped? Please tell me I’m not the only person experiencing this.

dying of embarrassment. Also - I’m prone to shaving rash and have sensitive skin.

HELP

Have you taken piriton to stop the itch?
Aloe Vera gel can be soothing and reduce redness.
It does sound like a reaction - either to the oil or if you cut yourself and the oil got in the cuts.... maybe you also now have ingrown hairs?
Can you lay on bed legs as though you are having a smear test and use a mirror to see it properly?

You probably need to take the GP appointment. You might need a prescription cream. I don't think 111 or a midwife will be able to help with a skin reaction.

I know you said shaving was motivated by wanting to look sexy but in case you're worried about giving birth with natural hair, don't be! Midwives do not care, you don't have to be 'neat' or trimmed or tidy; hair isn't messy or dirty or unattractive so don't feel like you need to try any further hair removal. Get treatment, let your skin heal and recover.

Sounds like shaving rash to me. You couldn't see what you were doing so the skin will have become more irritated than usual, it can be very painful and could be a mixture of irritation and ingrowing hairs. I would gently exfoliate to get rid of the ingrowing hairs, and I have to say the yeti look works just fine for both me and DH. Maybe rock it at least until you aren't pregnant any more.

It could just be an irritated shaving rash?! My skin gets extra sensitive when pregnant. Have you bought any baby stuff yet? The yellow metanium nappy rash cream is amazing on rashes (but be aware it will dye your pants/pj’s yellow so wear old ones).

I'd be worried there's a bacterial infection in the follicles, if it's been that long and it's 'puffy' as well. How red is the skin around the spots, is it painful?

If just itchy, probably a combination of shaving rash and ingrowing hairs. As PP said, exfoliating and put something like sudocrem on afterwards may help. I get awful shaving rash and ingrowing hairs if I shave badly/with the wrong thing.

Sudocrem

I had similar near the end of my pregnancy and it got worse and worse. After birth I was prescribed canesten antifungal cream and it sorted it out very quickly. I think hot and sweaty and chafing let to something! I would get a gp appointment to check and I remember wishing I had gone sooner!

Mines always like that when I shave. Put some ice on the area then try the Sudacrem again over night. Keep pants off as much as possible.

You need something anti-fungal, methinks. Dakacourt is relief from the itch plus anti-fungal!

Thank you all for the responses! @Aria20 no, no piriton as they advised me against it in pregnancy.!

glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s experienced this, it’s put my mind at rest a lot!

I will give the Sudocream another go and if not try something anti fungal - Thank you all so much for the helpful replies 💜

Would a pharmacist be able to advise?

@Pleaseenterausername I was told piriton is safe in pregnancy as my hayfever is horrendous!