[ickydog2006]

May be triggering.

I recently shaved down there for the first time, and got a lot of bumps, so I started picking at it and tweezing the hairs. I keep telling myself that I've been only doing it for a few days, it's not a big deal, I could quit anytime I want; but I don't think I can. I've had a lot of stress and mental junk going on lately and I think I'm using this to cope. Everything seems so confusing and complicated right now. Has anyone had this issue before? Do you think it will go away? My OCD has been really well under control since I got put on meds in 2006/07. I keep thinking maybe once all the bumps are gone I'll quit. Normally I'm so good about detecting slippery slopes. I feel like I don't know anything anymore.

Hello there,

I do have a few compulsions, but not this one. However, I can relate to having the bumps...I used to struggle with this until someone told me to shave in the down direction instead of upwards against the direction of where the hair grows.

It doesn't get rid of the hair as perfectly as shaving upwards, but this way there are no bumps. It still looks fine, just sort of has a 5 o'clock shadow look.

Although it's more expensive, perhaps waxing may be an option? Just a thought.

Best of luck to you.

Hi ickydog2006

I do have a problem with compulsive skin picking but ive waxed down there for so long now that most of the hair has stopped growing back (eww to much information i know) which means i no longer get the whole ingrown hair/bumps problem - is there a lotion/ointment you could use to coax the hairs out and reduce the bumps slightly so your less inclined to pick them?

[Silent_tsol]

I agree that it you go downwards.

I'm not so bothered by the bumps, but if there's a hair that is darker, thicker or grows too close to the others I've been known to tweeze it. It feels just like the top of that slippery slope.

You do still know everything you did before you started. Can you use any skills you've learned for other compulsions to apply here.