The hygiene of armpit and pubic hair for people of all genders.

 

Once upon a time, the Gillette company realized it could double its market if women bought razors. Because most ladies don’t have beards, however, the company hunted for a new female beauty standard they could fabricate. They zeroed in on armpit hair. With the help of advertisements in ladies’ magazines and the growing popularity of sleeveless dresses, they convinced American women that they’d look sleeker and generally more “feminine” if they shaved their underarms.

As skirts got shorter and World War II caused a shortage of stockings in the 1940’s, women began shaving their legs and drawing a line up the back of each leg, to simulate the look of stockings. The fashion of smooth, sleek legs stuck. Women were hooked on razors.

And now, with the advent of the teeny-weeny bikini and pornography, beauty standards call for the removal of pubic hair (aka “pubes”) – not just in women, but across all genders.

Which begs the question: Is there any point to having body hair, anyway? Why did nature give us hair just to make us pluck, wax, shave, or laser it away?

Let’s talk about hair, and why it’s awesome.

 

Fast-drying technology

Body hair – underarm and pubic hair in particular – does, indeed, serve several practical functions. One such function is that of a rather ingenious cooling system. As we exercise or feel heat, our bodies produce sweat. Body hair effectively wicks sweat away from the body, allowing it to evaporate more efficiently. This helps keep our skin dry and cool.

Without body hair, we are left to slosh about in our own sweat, which is not only uncomfortable, but more likely to lead to chafing, pimples, and other types of skin irritation in the underarms, groin, and anal regions.

Without a moisture-wicking mechanism, furthermore, the sweat pooling under our arms is likely to seep into our clothing, resulting in wet “pit stains.”

It may be no coincidence that we start growing underarm and pubic hair around the same age that our sweat glands begin producing more sweat.

 

Stink control

Because armpit hair absorbs sweat, it can also absorb the “stink” of body odor too. For that reason, it’s important to clean underarm hair well with soap and water. Some people find that they’re less stinky (though more sweaty) if they shave their armpits.

Some argue that body hair is important for the transmission of pheromones, chemicals secreted out of the body that affect the behavior of others. It is thought by some that pheromones help attract or repel a sexual mate. (Pro tip: Your sexual partners should smell good to you.)

With pubic hair, however, the opposite is more often the case: Folks who shave or wax their pubes are more likely to have stinky nether regions.

That’s because pubic hair creates an “air gap” around the genitalia. The tuft of hair holds clothing just a little father from the skin, allowing for small channels of air to flow around the body.

In the absence of pubic hair, clothes sit closer to the skin, choking off air supply, trapping moisture in the crotch area, and generally promoting “body funk.”

 

Chafing prevention

Underarm and pubic hair can also prevent friction associated with exercise and other activities, thus reducing skin irritation, discomfort, and the formation of skin tags.

Pubic hair also comes in handy during sex. The tufts of hair on each partner serve to reduce external friction during intercourse – after all, it’s easier to rub hair against hair than it is to rub skin on skin. Reduced skin-on-skin friction may also reduce the risk of transmitting some types of infections.

Pubic hair may also serve to keep the genitals warm, thus helping with sexual arousal.

 

Protection against infections

The damp, warm, and dark environment of a hairless crotch increases the risk of microbial imbalances and infections.

As the “lawn” around the genitalia, pubic hair serves a practical purpose quite similar to that of eyebrows, eyelashes, and nose hair – namely, to trap debris, dirt, and microbes so they stay away from one’s sensitive parts.

The hair follicles also produce sebum, a type of oil that slows the reproduction of bacteria on the skin.

In my practice, I see that vagina owners who shave or wax their pubes and/or wear tight, synthetic underwear or pants are much more prone to getting bacterial vaginitis, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections. Penis owners who shave and/or wear tight, synthetic underwear or pants are more prone to “jock itch,” a fungal infection caused by the fungus Tinea cruris.

For this reason, I typically recommend that folks who remove their pubic hair either wear loose, cotton underwear, or “go commando” to let their skin breathe. (Note: If you go without underwear, please zip your jeans very carefully!)

There is no scientific evidence showing any health benefits associated with removing pubic hair.

…That being said, get rid of those pubes if you catch crabs (pubic lice)! (But then let the hair grow back once the lice have been treated.)

 

A buffer against sexually transmitted infections

Even when one is very gentle and careful when they shave, shaving causes tiny little abrasions in the skin. These cuts compromise the barrier of the skin and can serve as the routes of entry for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs or STDs) like herpes simplex virus (HSV, or herpes), genital warts (caused by human papilloma virus, or HPV), and molloscum contagiosum.

Keeping razors away from the genitalia and anus may therefore reduce the risk of contracting certain sexually transmitted infections. It’s also important to never share razors, as they can transmit hepatitis C – sometimes even more than sex can.

(Check out my article on herpes myths, and guidelines on safe anal sex for more information.)

 

It’s how you know you’re an adult

Body hair develops on most people during puberty (hence the clever name “pubic hair”). In fact, when I perform physical exams on adolescent patients, I use a guide called the Tanner Stages of Puberty, which uses characteristics like body hair distribution to determine how a young adult’s hormones are coming online. Regardless of their biological sex or gender, a fully-developed human has pubic hair not only over their genitalia, but also on their upper inner thighs.

Body hair is a sign that sexual maturation has occurred.

The standard of beauty that calls for no underarm or pubic hair may therefore be an extension of the sexualization of children (girls, in particular) that runs rampant throughout our culture. (Ever wonder why strip clubs advertise “Girls, girls, girls,” and not “Ladies, ladies ladies?”)

 

So, what to do with all this body hair?

Do whatever the heck you want with it! Your body, your rules.

If you choose to leave your hair as it, do not let anyone label you as dirty, unhygienic, or unhealthy. On the contrary: Unless you have crabs, there is no scientific evidence supporting any health benefits of removing pubic hair.

Body hair helps keep us cool, prevents skin irritation, may play a role in pheromone signaling, fights crotch odor, reduces the risk of infections, and signals the sexual maturation of adulthood. Nature may very well have put hair under your arms and in your nether regions for a reason.

But if you do choose to mimic Mr. Bigglesworth and go hairless, remember to disinfect your razor between shaves, and never share your razor with others – even with sexual partners. It may also be better to choose a method other than shaving when grooming the genital and anal regions, to prevent the abrasions that happen from razors. Always groom your body with care, as hair removal injuries are a fairly common reason for folks visiting the emergency room!

To allow for air flow around the crotch, it’s also a good idea to opt for looser-fitting underwear made of breathable fibers, or skip wearing underwear altogether (and zip your jeans carefully).