Q: I am a 48 years old female. I shaved my pubic hair 5 months back and developed small red and itchy bumps in the pubic area, within an hour of shaving. A few days later, the bumps turned into big knots, they kept recurring on the pubic area and have now left big red rashes there. It itches a lot and worsens with scratching. What can this be?

A:The possible consequences of shaving of pubic hair are itching, razor burns, nicks, cuts, bumps, blisters/pimples, genital infections, ingrown hair and folliculitis- an infection in the hair follicle usually caused by the bacteria, staphylococcus (staph) or a fungus. A common cause of folliculitis is recently shaved hairs re-growing out of the follicle and curling back around to irritate the skin. What you currently have is probably Folliculitis, for which a topical over-the-counter antibiotic will work, such as sisomycin, or mupirocin. If you have already any of the above problems, there are general treatment procedures to help. Itching/irritation: Apply 1 percent hydrocortisone two or three times per day. Avoid shaving for two months. Razor burn: Use aloe vera to soothe sensitive skin and help alleviate the pain. Bumps: Take a warm bath, and see your doctor if the bumps don't clear up after one week. Blisters/pimples: As long as they're not painful and don't bother you, there's no problem. Keep them clean and dry, and do not pick them. Ingrown hair: Do not pick at them as this could cause infection. To prevent ingrown hairs, shave downward with the angle of the hair, or clip hairs instead of shaving. Also, some creams can help exfoliate the skin and relieve ingrown hairs. Check with your doctor about these topical treatments. Please remember that these treatments are simply recommendations and are not a diagnosis of any condition. If the symptoms don't clear up, I strongly recommend you consult your doctor.