Doctors urge men to stop making same dangerous mistake when shaving 'down there'

Doctors have issued a warning to men about a common mistake many of them make when shaving their pubic area.

Intimate grooming is a personal choice - some people like to get rid of their pubic hair entirely, while others prefer to let it grow wild and free, and then there's those in the middle that just neaten it up with a trim.

While there's no right or wrong option - that's entirely down to whatever you feel most comfortable with - most people tend to lean towards keeping the area neat and tidy.

Meridian Grooming says: "Grooming your pubic hair boosts your hygiene routine leading to greater below-the-belt confidence. When you feel good in your body, you just feel better overall.

"Shaving your pubic hair, or even slightly trimming it, helps keep your goods cleaner by exposing skin to soap and water that’s normally covered by hair."

Doctors have issued a warning about shaving your pubic area. Credit: Pexels/Castorly Stock

There's also the aesthetic benefits of keeping it all nicely maintained, as they added: "Some people groom because they like the way trimmed assets look, and you might also trim because it’s what your partner wants.

"As long as you’re true to your preferences and what looks and feels beautiful to you, it’s all good."

However, for those that choose to shave the area with a razor, doctors have issued a warning before they go to town on their pubic hair.

According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dermatology, injuring yourself while shaving with a razor is pretty common.

Thomas Gaither, one of the authors, shared a warning, telling Inverse: "What took us aback are how common injuries are.

"About one percent of groomers have sought medical attention because of an injury."

The study looked at 7,456 adult between the ages of 18 and 65, of which 66.5 percent of men and 85.3 percent of women reported a history of grooming.

Of those, 25.6 percent reported having injured themselves while grooming, with almost two-thirds of those having cut themselves.

Injuring yourself while shaving is never fun. Credit: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty

Intimate areas can be inherently tricky to shave, due to the delicate nature of the skin as well as the fact you can't see all of the areas you're shaving without the help of a mirror.

As such, many of the men reported cutting or injuring their scrotum while shaving, which is something nobody wants to do.

Of course, the risk of shaving doesn't mean you have to let everything grow out as nature intended if you don't want to, but there are ways to minimize the chance of slicing your skin in the process.

Meridian Grooming suggests using a trimmer instead of a razor, explaining: "Body hair groomers offer the safest, healthiest way to groom."

Using an electric trimmer can make the process easier and more customizable, as you can often adjust the guide combs to select the length of hair you prefer, and get a great result without any pain or pulling.

They added: "Remember that removing your body hair is a personal choice, and we’re all for boosting self-care on your terms so that you feel your best every day.

"We encourage you to embrace down-there grooming with confidence – find a routine that works best for you and enjoy the results."

Using an electric trimmer can be far safer. Credit: Pexels/Misho Chachanidze

They also reiterated: "This is really the only reason to take on a grooming routine: trim because you can, you like how it looks, and even more important, trim because you feel cleaner and more confident as a result.

"Grooming isn’t about meeting someone else’s beauty or hygiene standards – it’s about setting your own."

Featured image credit: Pexels/Castorly Stock