“The hair becomes ingrown and infected, usually after shaving or waxing,” she says. You can treat it with a wash containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid, or try an over-the-counter antibiotic cream (with all, avoid inner areas). The only surefire prevention is to leave the hair alone or use a laser to remove it, though some women find that switching to an electric razor helps. If your bumps are itchy, painful, large, or don’t clear up with treatment, Lupo advises seeing a gynecologist or a dermatologist. Those “pimples” could be from a blockage of the sweat glands, called hidradenitis suppurativa, which usually requires antibiotics. Or you could have a viral infection like molluscum contagiosum (caused by a poxvirus) or even herpes. More from Prevention: 15 Awkward Questions You Only Ask Dr. Google
